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

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.

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, left, is an out gay college soccer captain, and Collin Martin is a soccer player in San Diego.

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.

@sportsequalityfdn

What is our purpose? #gaytiktok #queerathlete #closetedtiktok #gay #fyp

♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]

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