:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67685421/Screen_Shot_2020_10_24_at_8.36.37_PM.0.png)
Every day in October we’re looking back at the athletes, coaches and events that made LGBTQ sports history. Today, we look back at the almost 21-years of Outsports with its co-founders, who spoke with LZ Granderson at the virtual convention of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists on Saturday night. After Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler were inducted into the LGBTQ Journalists Hall of Fame, they reflected on the history they have told through Outsports.
Jim and Cyd’s favorite stories:
Two gay West Virginia high school athletes attend senior prom as couple
By Jim Buzinski Apr 27, 2015
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15346549/nuzzle.0.0.1495707623.jpg)
Michael Martin and Logan Westrope danced to ‘Stay With Me’ on a night to remember. ‘When the slow songs played, we would just stare into each other’s eyes.’
Click here to read the full story
Gay Kentucky basketball player comes out at a game, gets chased by opposing team
By Cyd Zeigler Apr 1, 2015
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3557196/11084325_770685209694135_245859526_n.0.jpg)
Kentucky high school basketball player Dalton Maldonado came out at a game after being called a gay slur. When the opposing team chased him in a car, his team rallied to his defense. Now he wants to help other young athletes in Indiana, Kentucky and the world.
Click here to read the full story
‘The eagle has landed’
By Cyd Zeigler Feb 9, 2014
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3958202/CL2DsR_UkAAvQpf.0.jpg)
The exclusive behind-the-scenes story of how NFL prospect Michael Sam came out.
Click here to read the full story
Former Patriots and Chiefs tackle Ryan O’Callaghan comes out as gay
By Cyd Zeigler Jun 20, 2017
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19122382/Ryan_O_Callaghan.jpg)
O’Callaghan had always planned to commit suicide after football, until Kansas City Chiefs staffers stepped in.
Click here to read the full story
Anthony Castro, R.I.P.
A tribute to a friend and an athlete
By Jim Buzinski Jan 24, 2007
It’s hard to write about a friend who has just died, but people need to know about Anthony Castro, killed in a crash in the Southern California mountains on Jan. 21. He was 19.
Anthony was that rarest of people – an athlete out to his team. In Anthony’s case, he was out in high school to his football and wrestling teams, our two most macho team sports. It took guts to take such a step but Anthony never thought too much about it – he was not ashamed of who he was and if you were uncomfortable, that was your problem.
Click here to read this moving obituary
The story Jim cited as raising public awareness of Outsports
Mike Piazza announces, ‘I’m not gay. I’m heterosexual.’
By Cyd Zeigler
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21987116/97297314.jpg.jpg)
New York Met catcher Mike Piazza held a press conference to declare, “I’m not gay. I’m heterosexual.” And in doing so made many think he is in fact gay.
Click here to read the full story
Two stories that made an indelible impact on Cyd Zeigler
Tim Hardaway tells radio host, ‘I hate gay people’
By Cyd Zeigler
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21987119/640566306.jpg.jpg)
Of all the homophobic actions by sportspeople in recent years, this may have been the stupidest. Just days after former NBA player John Amaechi came out of the closet, former NBA star Tim Hardaway told radio host Dan Le Batard he would not welcome a gay teammate.
Click here to read the full story
Tony Dungy Raised Money For Anti-gay Organization
By Cyd Zeigler Jan 31, 2006
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/4796032/110385427.jpg)
Indianapolis Colts coach in bed with Indiana Family Institute.
Click here to read the full story
Stories that Jim recalls proudly as unique to Outsports
Why NFL Said No To Brokeback Mountain
By Cyd Zeigler Mar 2, 2006
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21987152/121871930.jpg.jpg)
It Wasn’t the Gay Theme, League Memo Says.
Click here to read the full story
‘Gay’ Not Allowed On NFL Jerseys
Online NFL shop bans many words, including ‘gay,’ on their customized jerseys.
By Jim Buzinski Mar 1, 2005
Click here to read the full story
The video of LZ Granderson’s interview of Jim and Cyd is restricted to attendees of the Virtual Convention held by NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. But as one of those who did get to watch, I can share that Granderson complimented the co-founders for telling the stories of “those guys who are not household names,” he said. “You also write about high school kids. You write about college kids in Division III, people who will never be superstars in their sport. But their stories still have a home on your website.”
“At the end of the day, LZ, what are there? Five-, maybe six-thousand professional athletes in North America? There are millions of high school athletes,” Zeigler said. “We understand that the impact that we can have is much greater on those high school and college students. And they’re impacted when they read stories about them.”
“The visibility is so important,” added Buzinski. “To me, the visibility among high school and college, I find those stories much more revealing than just a pro athlete story.”
You can read more memories from Jim and Cyd by clicking here for a 2019 story celebrating the 20th anniversary of Outsports as well as LGBTQ History Month.
If you are out in sports in any capacity as openly LGBTQ and want to be featured in Outsports, drop Jim an email (kandreeky@gmail.com).
If you’re an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! Space to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.
Look for another story celebrating LGBTQ sports history tomorrow and every day this month.
