This has been a really sucky week to be a transgender American. For that matter, it hasn’t been a picnic for any American who believes Black Lives Matter, who wants to see an end to structural racism and injustice, and longs for a day that you can leave your house without worrying if you’ll return infected with a contagious deadly virus. But as doctors and scientists and government leaders learn re-opening has come with a cost — a predictable spike in coronavirus cases — and as sports leagues, owners and players squabble about how and if to play again in 2020, let’s just take a moment to pause, and look back at the week that was.

My weekly list begins with a report from my home state that was one of several discouraging stories for transgender folks this week.

Loser: Is CT’s gov. willing to throw trans athletes under the bus to avoid losing federal funds?

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters Thursday: “I don’t want to lose any federal funds, that’s for sure!” According to the Associated Press, Lamont said he “is not willing to lose federal education dollars over a state policy that allows transgender athletes to participate as girls in high school sports.” Outsports has several questions for the governor regarding this issue, and despite two weeks of attempts to reach his spokesperson, I have received nothing but silence. All we know right now is what he told reporters, that he is looking to the NCAA and Olympics for guidance. We’re waiting, Gov. Lamont.


Winner: Adam Rippon tells Russian skater who wished for his death where to shove his gold medal

The famous fabulous figure skater showed a Russian troll who’s the better man, by making a donation to a black trans charity in the transphobic and homophobic skater’s name.


Winner: A gay college tennis captain is liberated after coming out to his team

Any fears Mitchell Thomas had about coming out melted away when he was embraced by his teammates.


Winner: Out tennis player Tara Moore accuses WTA of secrecy and ‘insider trading’

Tara Moore says the WTA is keeping the majority of its players in the dark about its plans to resume play.


Winner: Nick McCarvel talks with out LGBTennis players on Instagram

Outsports is teaming up with Nick McCarvel to continue inclusive conversations in pro and amateur tennis.


Winner: ‘I’m gay’: College hockey player came out to two teams with a simple statement

“A key moment for me was being able to take my team head shot with my Pride flag draped over my shoulders,” says Adam Fyrer.

Adam Fyrer has been able to be his authentic self and also play a sport he loves by being honest as he gained self-confidence in his identity.


Winner: For gay runner, trusting a coach with her secret started coming out process

Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell, left, with girlfriend Julia Lester, a Florida soccer player.

When Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell decided to open up to a trusted University of Florida coach about her girlfriend, it gave her the strength to come out.


Winner: Layshia Clarendon shares her coming out story

The WNBA player, now playing for the New York Liberty, reflects on coming out to her parents and identifying as gender nonconforming in a new podcast interview.


Winner: Gritty Kate Weatherly blazes trails on the bike and off

An aggressive, direct, transgender mountain biker from New Zealand is turning heads and changing minds with grit on the bike and grace off of it.


Winner or Loser? The Olympics say they may soften the ban on demonstrations. They don’t have a choice.

Demonstrations and protests are coming to the 2021 Olympics, despite the IOC’s decree.


Winners: Athletes and advocates call for NCAA to pull March Madness out of Boise in 2021

Athletes, students, and civil rights groups draft letter calling for NCAA to move Final Four in protest of Idaho’s ban on transgender student athletes.


Winner: Natasha Cloud’s social justice activism is amplified through her new shoe deal with Converse

While taking a stand in support of Black Lives Matter, Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics lands a supportive endorsement deal with Converse.


Winner: Community advocate Akil Patterson is working on proposal for Black combat athletes to train police

Patterson, an openly gay former Greco Roman Wrestler, says Black athletes should take the lead on revamping police training.


Winner: T.J. Callan: If White police learned this lesson from football, it could change how they treat Black lives

T.J. Callan

Former University of Miami running back T.J. Callan, the gay son of a police officer, finds talking about police brutality “extremely exhausting and frustrating.”


WATCH these winners: 2 LGBTQ athletes in Minneapolis share their life stories being Black in the Midwest

Kaitlyn Long and Justin Rabon

Kaitlyn Long and Justin Rabon live in Minneapolis where they have watched life turned upside down.


WATCH this winner: Transgender, lesbian, Latina softball player has a message for White trans people

Melody Maia Monet

In her latest video, YouTube personality and athlete Melody Maia Monet says White privilege has become ever more visible since the protests following the murder of George Floyd.


WATCH this winner: Jason Collins’ historic coming out story is featured in new Hulu series

Just in time for Pride Month, Jason Collins — the first professional American major sports athlete to come out while actively playing for the Nets — was featured on the latest episode of Hulu’s “Defining Moments.”


WATCH this winner: Gay college basketball coach featured on ‘Tamron Hall’ show

Matt Lynch, an openly gay men’s basketball coach, was featured in a Pride episode of the “Tamron Hall” show.


WATCH these winners: Expressing Pride and Solidarity through spoken word and song

Four LGBTQ people from sports will share their voices through spoken word and music: Former NFL player Esera Tuaolo; NFL player Ryan Russell; Outsports journalist Karleigh Webb; Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Kyle Tanguay.

Members of the Outsports community share their support for black and LGBTQ people.


Winners: USWNT demands apology from US Soccer for banning kneeling during anthem

BuzzFeed is reporting that in 2017, US Soccer proposed a 1-year suspension for any player who violated the kneeling ban more than once.


Winner: Out former soccer player Michael Martin wins seat on West Virginia school board

He’s only 23, but Michael Martin is already an elected official after his win on Tuesday in West Virginia. He told his coming out story as a gay soccer player in 2014.


Winners: How gay runners on Brown’s men’s track & field team helped lead fight for reinstatement

Brown University reinstated its men’s track & field and cross country teams to varsity this week, following outcry and public pressure.


Winner: Out fighter Jessica Andrade to rematch Rose Namajunas on ‘Fight Island’ at UFC 251

The highly anticipated rematch of former UFC Strawweight champions was originally scheduled for April’s UFC 249 before its cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic.


Wicked Winners: How the Red Sox, who were the last team to integrate, became champions of LGBTQ Pride

The Red Sox were planning their biggest Pride Night this season to coincide with Boston Pride’s 50-year anniversary.


Winner: Sonya ‘Daddy’ Deville optimistic on positive LGBTQ representation in WWE

Self-dubbed ‘Daddy Deville’ believes a genuine same-sex relationship storyline on WWE programming could come before 2021.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Michael Sam records first NFL sack against Packers

For Pride month, we’ve dedicated each day of June to an individual athlete or coach whose shining moment changed LGBTQ sports. At one point during the 2014 NFL preseason, Michael Sam was tied for third in the league in sacks.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Harrison Browne wins 2nd NWHL Championship

Harrison Browne

In 2018, trans NWHL player Harrison Browne and his new team won the Isobel Cup Championship.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Mack Beggs wins his 2nd Texas state wrestling title

Mack Beggs persevered against antiquated anti-trans rules before finally being allowed to compete according to his gender identity in college.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Billie Jean King wins ‘The Battle of the Sexes’

If 2020 feels like we’re living through history, just imagine what it was like to attend the 1973 tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Amanda Nunes becomes first female UFC double champion

The “Lioness” triumphed over the “Cyborg” and etched her name into the annals of MMA as the greatest ever, all while being a gay role model.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Caster Semenya awarded 2nd Olympic Gold Medal… PLUS baby news!

The South African track star received her second Gold Medal after the winner of the 2012 Olympic event was stripped of her award for doping.


Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Chris Mosier makes Team USA

The transgender All-American duathlete, Hall of Fame triathlete and Olympic trials race walker earned a spot in the men’s 35-39 sprint duathlon world championship in 2015 and competed with Team USA.


That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you a fresh list of winners and losers next Saturday, at the end of our “sporting events that made you cry” theme week. 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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