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It’s your turn in the On Deck Circle for Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021

On Deck Circle is a round-up of what’s new in LGBTQ sports news along with today’s social media spotlight.

A baseball player stands in the on deck circle ready to face a pitcher in an MLB game at what was once known as AT&T Park in the San Francisco Bay Area. Shelby Weldon/Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021.

Your need to read time today is 90-seconds.

Today’s LGBTQ Sports History Highlight:

It was this week in 2019 that Martina Navratilova opined that trans women are men who are cheating by competing with cisgender women in sports. A month later, she apologized for using the word “cheating,” but has persisted in misgendering and opposing trans inclusion.


Today’s Outsports Headlines:

For once, let’s not allow Spring Training to obscure MLB’s privilege problem

Gay swimmer overcame racism and won the respect and acceptance of teammates

After a career as a highly competitive high school and college swimmer, Dwight Robinson is now a model living in Chicago.

More than 800 pro soccer players in Germany pledge to support LGBTQ teammates


Other LGBTQ Sports stories making news...

“...the hard truth is that sports aren’t fair”

Newsweek op-ed: The Case of Transgender Athletes. Why Sports Aren’t Fair and That’s OK by Robyn Ryle, a professor of sociology and gender studies and author.

Utah passes ban of transgender athletes from girls sports


Today’s SB Nation’s top story...

Carson Wentz has become the NFL’s biggest gamble

Washington Football Team v Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Washington Football Team at Lincoln Financial Field on January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

And from The New York Times overnight: How Naomi Osaka Beat Serena Williams at the Australian Open


Top LGBTQ News...

Democratic lawmakers hope to enact statewide nondiscrimination law and ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ Texans


Today’s OutShout:

Couper Gunn wears the LGBTQ Pride flag and Collin Martin plays soccer for the Loyals in San Diego.
Couper Gunn, left, is an out gay college soccer captain, and Collin Martin is a soccer player in San Diego.
Sports Equality Foundation

The San Diego Loyals’ Collin Martin will be on TikTok tomorrow talking with out gay college soccer captain Couper Gunn of the Sports Equality Foundation, LIVE on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. EST.

Watch their conversation tomorrow night via the Sports Equality Foundation TikTok account, which you can find by clicking here!

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.


Social Media Spotlight:

Our friend Coach Anthony Nicodemo can’t take his boat out, so he did the next best thing: Snowmobiling with friends in the Adirondacks:

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!


Today’s Outsports Podcast:

Nearly every day of the week, Outsports has a new podcast for your enjoyment. Today, LGBT In The Ring is back with AC Mack talking with our Brian Bell. Listen here:

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


Today’s Sports Calendar:

MLB Spring Training:

Pitchers and catchers workouts are underway! Full-squad workouts start next week beginning Mon., Feb. 22. Click here for MLB’s guide to your favorite teams’ schedules.


NHL:

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


NBA:

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


NCAAM:

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


NCAAW:

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


SOCCER:

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


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