This weekend the president of the United States is hospitalized after being infected with the coronavirus. Whatever your politics — and I acknowledge there is a lot of Schadenfreude right now — I hope you’ll join me in hoping that everyone fighting COVID-19 recovers and survives. Here’s this week’s list of winners and losers, beginning with our coverage of the Collin Martin incident.


Winners: San Diego pro soccer team forfeits game after gay player allegedly called a slur

The San Diego Loyal walked off the field in protest when openly gay player Collin Martin said he was called a slur.

Winner: ‘We have a long way to go,’ says Collin Martin, target of anti-gay slur on the pitch

Support is streaming in for out soccer player Collin Martin, who reported a player’s homophobic slur to a referee. His San Diego Loyal teammates forfeited the match in protest.

Losers: Conspiracies attached to Collin Martin story are ridiculous

Phoenix Rising co-owner Brandon McCarthy suggested there may be a conspiracy behind Martin’s allegation that one of the team’s players called him a gay slur.


Winners: No gay slurs used by MLB players on field for first time since 2016

MLB enters its playoffs after the first season since 2016 where there were no recorded gay slurs uttered by a player. The only blemish were remarks by a broadcaster.


Be A Winner: What’s the best way to come out to your teammates? Join our Oct. 8 conversation

On Oct. 8, ahead of National Coming Out Day, five out athletes share their coming-out insights and experiences.


Winner: Hunter Gallagher enters pro wrestling inspired to advance LGBTQ progress

Growing up, I was looking for someone like Sonny Kiss, Fred Rosser or any LGBTQ person that was wrestling… I would love to be any type of representation.’


Winner: College golfer is a proud gay man and a proud Christian

Growing up in small-town Nebraska as gay wasn’t easy, but Trevor Kosch found the strength to come out to his college golf team and his parents.


Winner: Pernille Harder’s triple victory at UEFA Awards, Danish Rainbow Awards

The Danish footballer was honored by both the Danish Rainbow Awards and UEFA for her landmark year on and off the soccer pitch.


Winner: Celebrating LGBTQ sports history: Kye Allums, NCAA’s first D1 out transgender athlete

Every day in October we’re looking back at the athletes, coaches and events that made LGBTQ sports history


Winner: Billy Bean continues to improve baseball’s LGBTQ outreach

The Washington Nationals bullpen’s response to shut down an anti-gay heckler demonstrates how Bean’s message has an impact on today’s players.


Worried: LGBT athletes and advocates are alarmed at prospect of Russia hosting international sports competition

Russia is set to host the Arctic Games in 2026.


Winner: October is LGBTQ History Month, and it’s full of sports history

Outsports is looking back at 31 key moments in LGBTQ sports history all month long.


Winner: This Black, gay football player is turning his heartbreak into action

Etienne Aduya has been numb from recent events involving police and Black people. Now he’s doing something about it.


Winner: Inspirational gay paddleboarder wins man of the year award

Mike Shoreman lost his sense of balance from a neurological condition, but his story of grit and perseverance has proved compelling.


Hopeful: Could former NFL player Jason Bell be ‘Dancing’ with a male partner?

Jason Bell will appear on the next season of Britain’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ and one male dancer wants to tango with him.


Winner: After becoming first active college football player to publicly come out, Conner Mertens dove into advocacy

Mertens is currently advocating for chronically ill patients. He says understanding healthcare is vital to LGBTQ advocacy.


Winners: Vikings celebrate gay employee’s engagement with video board shout-out

Amy Werdine was floored to see her engagement to her girlfriend celebrated on the Vikings’ video screen.


Winners: USA Rugby stands against proposed World Rugby trans ban

Feedback from players and club pointed USA Rugby to uphold pro-inclusion stance.

Winner: How this trans satanist anarchist won the Republican nomination for sheriff in a small New England county

Aria DiMezzo received more than 4,000 votes in the Republican primary for sheriff in Cheshire County, New Hampshire.


Winner: Charlie Martin reaches new milestone for this season and for a new challenge for 2021

Martin announces a move to Praga for ‘21 and made history at the Nürburgring, finishing 4th in the 24-hour race.


That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you a fresh list of winners and losers next Saturday. Got a name I missed, or want to challenge my choices? Comment here or on Facebook or Instagram, tweet at us, message me via any social media, or just plain email me at [email protected] Thanks!

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