Here’s a look back at the big Outsports stories of the week that was, a period that saw political upheaval and a dramatic change for the worse in the pandemic, a new crop of out LGBTQ athletes and several stories that prove Courage Is Contagious.
Winner: Gay pro basketball player Marco Lehmann comes out
Marco Lehmann has played pro basketball for 8 seasons and also plays on the national 3×3 team.
Losers: New year, same transphobia: Montana legislators propose anti-trans bills
Lawmakers will consider a ‘carbon copy’ of Idaho’s HB500 in the first wave of potential legal assaults on transgender people nationwide.
Winners: They met while with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Now they’re engaged to marry
KC Cross proposed to Megan Pearson. Now they’re looking ahead to a marriage and life together.
Loser: Justin Thomas’ apology for anti-gay slur falls short
Thomas apologized for using an anti-gay slur on the golf course, but used the same clichés they all do.
Winner: This gay college basketball coach became an overnight celebrity after coming out
Matt Lynch, who came out in a viral essay last April, says there’s a lot more joy in his life.
RIP, Loser: Tommy Lasorda should’ve followed Minnie Miñoso’s example of supporting his gay son
Lasorda and Miñoso are baseball legends from the same era. But while Minnie learned how to love his son, Tommy remained stuck in the past.
Winner: Wearing a Pride shirt inspired gay college soccer captain to come out
@sportsequalityfdn What is our purpose? #gaytiktok #queerathlete #closetedtiktok #gay #fyp
♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic
Couper Gunn gained strength on and off the field after deciding to stop hiding.
Loser: USA Powerlifting hit with lawsuit by Trans athlete JayCee Cooper
The next arena in transgender powerlifter JayCee Cooper’s two-year fight will be a courtroom.
Winner: Corinne Humphreys wants to empower LGBTQ youth as she eyes the Tokyo Olympics
Humphreys has battled injuries and the COVID pandemic. Now in her late 20s, she wants to race in her first Olympics.
TV Viewers Are Losers: Why are there so few out LGBTQ sports broadcasters?
With the LGBTQ community being represented in so many aspects of sports, the lack of out play-by-play voices is striking.
Winner: Gay pro rugby player inspired to come out by love of his boyfriend
“I have no doubt that without Fergus I never would have had the resolve to put myself out there in this way,’ writes pro rugby player Devin Ibañez.
Winner: Gay basketball player Kena Gilmour was out to his college team for 3 seasons
@sportsequalityfdn NCAA Division III LGBTQ Athlete of the Year: Kena Gilmour! #NCAA #gayathlete #gaytiktok
♬ Changes – Instrumental – RockItPro
Gilmour was named NCAA Division III LGBTQ Athlete of the Year after captaining the Hamilton College basketball team.
Winner: Trailblazing trans swimmer Schuyler Bailar shuts down attacks on his genitals in powerful post
The former Harvard swimmer is standing up for his body.
Winner: Gay Buffalo fan goes viral wearing his Bills Pride shirt
Adam Dryfhout rocked his Buffalo Bills Pride shirt for the team’s first playoff win in 25 years.
Our Readers Are Winners: Celebrating Alex Reimer’s first year at Outsports
Today marks one year that Outsports readers have enjoyed the contributions of our deputy managing editor, Alex Reimer!
That’s all for this week! I’ll bring you another 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!
