Here it is, the day after Christmas, Boxing Day for y’all in the U.K. and Kwanzaa for those who celebrate. For everybody, this is the last Saturday of 2020, which means it’s time to review the week’s winners and losers.
For the complete 51-week list of 2020 winners and losers, click here to view the stream. Come back next Saturday for my top-ten list of the year 2020, but first, here’s this week’s winners and losers:
Winners, all: QWI 100: The year’s best LGBTQ pro wrestlers, 1 through 20, and 40, and 60
Outsports’ chronicle of the top 100 LGBTQ pro wrestlers of 2020 started on Christmas Eve and runs through Monday. Kudos to our Brian Bell for curating this comprehensive resource.
Losers trying to become winners: USA Powerlifting’s new ‘MX’ category raises big hopes and bigger questions
Supporters see the all-inclusive division as a positive step, but critics says it’s more of the same discrimination. Our Karleigh Webb devoted her week to deeply reporting this development, accurately and fairly.
Winners: John Mara Jr., son of New York Giants owner, engaged to his boyfriend
John Mara Jr. announced his engagement to George Sholley with a quote from Taylor Swift. Thanks to our Cyd Zeigler for bringing us this wonderful story!
Winner despite losing: This gay Stanford volleyball player came out to his team, and then his sport got cut
Justin Lui says he’s cherishing the final weeks he’ll spend with his teammates, and deputy managing editor Alex Reimer reports he is enraged at Stanford’s decision to cut the program.
Winners: WNBA’s Layshia Clarendon and wife Jessica welcome new baby
The Clarendons announced the birth of their child on Christmas Day. Our Shelby Weldon spotted the post on Instagram and reported the joyous event.
Winner: Layshia Clarendon sent birthday wish to newly out trans boy when his family didn’t
When the boy’s mom tweeted none of their family members reached out, Clarendon offered her support.
Loser: Tulsi Gabbard, whose former interns asked her to disavow support of anti-trans athletes bill
Co-founder Jim Buzinski reported how the interns called out Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for bill that would discriminate against female trans athletes.
Winner: Gay cricket star Alex Blackwell says she’s tired of lesbians in sport being ‘profiled as predators’
Blackwell, who became the first female international cricket player to publicly come out as gay, is fighting to change perceptions.
Winner: Bi surfer Tyler Wright adopts Pride jersey, triumphs in Maui Pro tourney
After coming out following a 14 month battle with illness, Wright dominates the surf representing the LGBTQ community. Fine work by our Ken Schultz despite his closest body of water being a Great Lake.
Winner: Meghan Duggan has won World titles and Olympic gold. Fighting for women in sports is her focus now
Meghan Duggan and Gillian Apps traded World and Olympic titles before marrying
Winner: Out Olympic medalist Yulimar Rojas named World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year
Rojas seeks gold in competition, and champions LGBTQ rights in her native Venezuela.
Winner: Clemson Tigers celebrate out LGBTQ athletes and coaches in ‘My Story’ campaign
9 athletes and coaches come out publicly, supported by Clemson. ‘I’ve never experienced anything like this,’ says one.
Winner: The Legend of Pat Patterson
Outsports reader Gabe Julien wrote a FanPost looking back at the life of Pat Patterson, who overcame early challenges and became the first Intercontinental Champion for the WWE, starting a legacy that lives on.
Winner: Soccer captain Jordan Henderson’s tweet exemplifies the spirit of Rainbow Laces
The Liverpool captain not only wore a rainbow armband to support to LGBTQ community, his message of welcome to one fan showed what the campaign is all about.
That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you the final list of 2020 winners and losers next Saturday as we start 2021. 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!
