Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.

What is this? This is your new daily guide to the latest LGBTQ sports news as well as other fun things. It just so happens MLB pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training camps beginning today, on the same day Outsports is launching On Deck Circle.

Don’t worry: The Huddle will surely return this fall!

Your need to read time today is 90-seconds.

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Today’s LGBTQ Sports History Highlight:

Nike did the right thing this week in 2016 and dropped Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao after he said that gay people are “worse than animals.” Read the Outsports story by clicking here.

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Today’s Outsports Headlines:

How this gay champion gymnast helped start the #FreeBritney movement

Photo provided

Have you been out to teammates? Please take this important survey

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Other LGBTQ Sports stories making news...

Our own Alex Reimer writes for Forbes.com: Transgender Athlete Bans Are Gaining Momentum In State Legislatures

Journalist Donovan Dooley writes in Deadspin: Laws requiring genital examinations for transgender youth have no place in sports or society

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Today’s SB Nation’s top story...

Jalen Johnson doesn’t owe Duke anything

Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

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Top LGBTQ News...

CDC: Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Adults at Greater Risk from COVID-19

• The study notes that the number of respondents identifying as transgender or nonbinary was too small for reliable estimates.

Family says 8th grade student banned from school bus for saying ‘I’m a lesbian’

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Today’s OutShout:

College basketball forward Jaide Hinds-Clarke talks about Black History Month in a new video from Sports Equality Foundation on TikTok. Click here to watch:

If you’re an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! SPACE to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.

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Social Media Spotlight:

Chris Mosier asks, “Y’all okay down there in Arkansas?

“Have you all figured out COVID, gotten your economy up again, everyone has jobs & food & housing... no other issues to prioritize but harming trans kids & hurting all girls in sports?

“Really?!”

Billie Jean King says put this date on the calendar in your smartphone:

If you want your social media post to be included here, or to share one showcasing LGBTQ sports, email us the link at outsports@gmail.com or tag @Outsports on Instagram or Twitter!

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Today’s Outsports Podcast:

Nearly every day of the week, Outsports has a new podcast for your enjoyment. Today, the Trans Sporter Room catches up with wrestler Mack Beggs — now wrestling as the man he is in college — and sports chiropractor and trans rights advocate Tori Gleason of Kansas. They’ve teamed up to fight for transgender inclusion in sports and to generate opposition to state legislatures trying to ban trans girls from competing. Plus Mack comes out... as a fan of Star Wars! Listen here:

This and all Outsports podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and on every platform where you find Outsports!

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Today’s Sports Calendar:

MLB Spring Training:

Pitchers and catchers workouts begin today, Wed., Feb. 17; Full-squad workouts start next week beginning Mon., Feb. 22. Click here for MLB’s guide to your favorite teams’ schedules.

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NHL:

Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s pro hockey action today.

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NBA:

Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s pro basketball action today.

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NCAAM:

Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s college basketball action today.

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NCAAW:

Click here for ESPN’s schedule of women’s college basketball action today.

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SOCCER:

Click here for ESPN’s schedule of soccer action today.

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Share your thoughts in the comments below or email us at outsport@gmail.com

A new On Deck Circle posts every weekday morning on Outsports.com