What a turnaround from the previous week for LGBTQ Americans! Although there were more deadly incidents of racial injustice, protests against systemic racism continue and cases of the coronavirus are spiking in several states, there were two landmark rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court this week, including one that gay and transgender workers are protected from workplace discrimination. And to us, that extends to lesbian, bisexual, queer, gender non-conforming and non-binary Americans, too. Now, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, some sports leagues are moving ahead, other owners and players continue to squabble about how and if to play again in 2020. So, let’s just take a moment to pause, and look back at the week that was.
My weekly list begins with our stories stemming with that historic ruling by the highest court in the land:
Winner: How support from gay softball teammates carried Gerald Bostock through historic Supreme Court win
Bostock was fired from his dream job for playing in a gay softball league, but says he wouldn’t change anything for the world. He spoke with Alex Reimer on The Sports Kiki podcast.
More winning: This gay softball player helped win SCOTUS employment case
Gerald Bostock was fired from his job after joining a gay softball league. He won his case in the Supreme Court.
Winners: LGBT athletes celebrate Supreme Court decision: ‘Thank you so much, Aimee Stephens’
Out athletes, like everybody in our community, are celebrating the landmark decision that applies civil rights protections to LGBT workers.
Winners: Supreme Court gives sports owners the signal: It’s good to hire LGBT
By a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that LGBT employees have the same protections from discrimination as anyone else. How will this decision impact the major sports leagues?
She Once Lost But Now She’s A Winner: Coach fired for being lesbian says this SCOTUS decision is bigger than marriage
Lisa Howe coached soccer at Belmont Univ. until 2010, when she told the school she was having a baby with her wife.
Undecided: British Premier League captain says there’s ‘probably’ at least one gay or bi player on every team
Watford striker Troy Deeney says an openly gay active player would receive a bigger platform than ever before.
Winner: How a gay soccer player was hired as first out teacher at a Christian Science school
Ross Furbush was able to be his authentic self with the help of his mentor, whose acceptance of LGBTQ people mirrored that of his church.
Winner: Chilean pro basketball player Daniel Arcos comes out as gay
‘I decided to love and value myself,’ pro basketball player Daniel Arcos says about coming out as gay.
Winner: For gay hockey player and referee, ‘on the ice was where I felt free’
Gordie Mitchard wrestled with the hyper-masculinity of hockey but learned to broaden the definition with the help of a popular gay fellow referee.
Losers: Dept. of Ed condemned by members of Congress for attack on trans students while CT governor remains silent
A week after saying he wasn’t going to let Connecticut lose federal funding because of a threat by the Department of Education, Gov. Ned Lamont hasn’t clarified his support for transgender student athletes.
Winners: These 2 WTA players are girlfriends who played each other once. ‘It was tough’ when they saw the draw
Alison van Uytvanck and Greet Minnen are doubles partners, as well as partners off the court.
Winner: This Yankees Stonewall Scholarship winner wants to study counseling so he can help trans kids like himself
Tamia “Tee” Barnard of the Bronx is one of five recipients of this year’s Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship.
Winner: LGBTQ ally Sean Doolittle trying out new baseball glove dyed with Pride
The Wilson glove is an experiment, and Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle says he is “so stoked with how it came out.”
Winner: Nick McCarvel talks with gay former ATP player Brian Vahaly
Outsports is teaming up with Nick McCarvel to continue inclusive conversations in pro and amateur tennis.
Winner: NCAA says it’s thinking about pulling March Madness games from Idaho due to anti-trans law
The NCAA issued a statement Monday reiterating its opposition to HB500, which will bar trans student-athletes from competing in accordance with their gender identities.
Winner: How my first console lit the fuse of the modern sports video game explosion
A story of The Blue Sky Rangers, the “running man”, and the legacy of the Intellivision.
Winner: How a video game introduced me to an LGBTQ sports legend
In many ways, Microsoft Decathlon was laughably primitive. But in one key aspect, it was ahead of its time.
Winners! Outsports conversation: How to work with your favorite team to embrace LGBTQ fans
5 out employees at pro-sports teams joined us to talk about how to push for more LGBTQ inclusion from your favorite team.
Winner: Gay Sacramento Kings exec says he ‘just wants to be heard’
Kings Special Events Sales Director Karl Crudup was part of Outsports’ conversation Thursday about how to push for more LGBTQ inclusion in pro sports.
Loser: Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette upset that Spongebob might be gay
The Las Vegas Raiders rookie was bothered by the idea that a cartoon sponge might be gay.
Winner: WNBA announces it will start its season next month
The league will play a shortened season with all games at a single site without fans.
Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Glenn Burke unveils the high five
Before he came out as gay following his career, Glenn Burke brought a new way of celebrating to baseball and the world.
Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Derrick Gordon is first person to play in March Madness with 3 teams
Gordon played for Western Kentucky and UMass before coming out and playing for Seton Hall.
Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Amelie Mauresmo (finally) wins a Grand Slam title
Amelie Mauresmo doubled down on Grand Slam wins just six months after winning her first Major title.
Winners: 30 Moments of Pride: The Brians rule the world
Brian Orser and Brian Boitano enthralled the sports world in 1988 with one of the great Olympic competitions.
Winner: 30 Moments of Pride: Megan Rapinoe wins World Cup Golden Boot
Soccer star Megan Rapinoe won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball as she helped the USWNT defeat the Netherlands to win the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
Winner: U.S. Soccer apologizing to Megan Rapinoe for kneeling policy shows we’ve reached new era of athlete activism
The act of corporate contrition shows athletes now hold the power.
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!
