Another week, and most of us remain under lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. But that won’t stop me from bringing you my weekly look at the week that was: the glorious victories, the ignominious defeats, and the players and personalities in LGBT sports who made them, lived them or just couldn’t avoid them.
Of course, my roster may differ from yours, and so I welcome your comments, contributions and critiques. I read them all! Details on how to reach me are below. We begin with a hopeful as the NFL Draft winds down.
Hopeful: Scott Frantz now awaits the final round of the Draft, his NFL future uncertain
The college career of Scott Frantz, who came out as gay in 2017, was stellar, although a couple of question marks linger.
Winner: How out soccer coach Kelly Lawrence received the push to be visible from one of her players
When one of Lawrence’s players came to her for advice on coming out, she decided she was tired of being invisible.
Winners: USWNT power couple Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger speak on the importance of visibility
After a celebration in December, the married soccer stars are spending quarantine reflecting on the need to show that famous LGBTQ couples ‘get happy endings too.’
Winners: Netflix ‘Secret Love’ documentary chronicles hidden six-decade romance behind ‘League of Their Own’
Terry Donahue’s story as a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is well-known, but she kept her relationship with partner Pat Henschel secret until late in life.
Winner: This gay hockey player was sick of hearing slurs from his team. So he came out to them with this speech
Brock Weston knew it was time to come out to his hockey team. ‘I didn’t choose this, and I hope you won’t turn on me.’
Winner: Gay athlete found his niche and his husband through rowing
Erik Limpitlaw had great success in rowing even as he struggled with his sexuality. Years later, he is happy and fulfilled.
Winner: Champion British sprinter Ethan Akanni says coming out as gay helped propel him to the gold
In a first-person essay for SkySports, Akanni attributes his newfound confidence on the track to coming out publicly.
Will You Be A Winner? Join us for Outsports Trivia Night! April 29
How much do you know about LGBTQ sports history and recent stories? Join us and compete for Outsports supremacy.
Hopeful: Former amateur baseball star Kacey Edenfield on life as an essential worker during coronavirus pandemic
Edenfield goes to work every day as a car salesman in Tennessee, where he regularly encounters customers who think the pandemic is a hoax.
Winner: Pro wrestling and drag helped Corinne Mink find the ‘One Tough Broad’ inside herself
Pro wrestler and LGBTQ ally Corinne Mink points to drag culture as an inspiration to enter the ring and overcome lifelong issues with traditional gender norms.
Winner for putting her own health first: UFC double champion Amanda Nunes pulls out of proposed May 9 UFC event
The dominant out fighter stated the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on her ability to complete a full fight camp fueled the decision to pull out.
Feeling the Loss: For high school hockey player, ‘everything has been turned upside down’ by coronavirus
LGBTQ coronavirus impact: Anthony Arnoni used to live and breathe hockey, but now the shutdown has ended that.
Hopeful: Diver Joey Cifelli returns to the pool, aims for his second Olympic Trials
Joey Cifelli dove for Purdue and thought his career ended when he graduated. Now he’s back and focused on big things.
Hopeful: Will gay bars survive the coronavirus shutdown?
Many gay bars were already struggling before they were ordered to close due to the coronavirus. Will they be able to survive?
We Feel the Loss: A summer return to sports looking less feasible
The postponement of Billy Dixon’s ‘Paris is Bumping,’ along with major sports leagues’ inability to forecast their return, puts plans of a summer coming out party on increasingly shaky ground. Prepare yourself for the Voids of Summer.
Still Hopeful: Gay Bowl and other LGBT championships are canceled, Gay Softball World Series still on
Countless sporting events for LGBT athletes are now off the table for 2020. Currently the Gay Softball World Series is still on.
Winner: Ken Schultz for his essay, “When Ryne Sandberg made me proudest”
As a Cub fan in the 1980s, it was natural to choose Ryno as a favorite player. In 2016, a simple gesture showed how he could step up in the biggest way.
Be a Winner: Join the QuaranTeam this Friday night for another Zoom video chat
Outsports is hosting 2 more Zoom video conferences Friday night for anyone and everyone who wants to join us in conversation, shared stories, and to feel connected.
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!