Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Friday, March 19, 2021. It’s once again the most fun date to write: 19/20/21!
When I started writing this, I was watching No. 16 Hartford take on the number one seed Baylor in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament south region. It was the Hawks’ first-ever men’s college basketball tournament following their American East conference championship victory earlier this week! And as a professor at UHart, of course I cheered on our guys, but as predicted, Baylor beat Hartford soundly, 79-55.
Your need to read time today is 90-seconds.
Today’s LGBTQ Sports History Highlight:
On this day in 1915, the IOC informed the Associated Press that the 1916 Summer Olympic Games would not take place because of the armed conflict that pitted Germany and a Turkish army against allied forces — Russia, Britain and France. This would ultimately come to be known as World War I. A month and two years would pass before the U.S. entered the fray. After canceling the Berlin games, the IOC awarded the next Summer Olympics to Antwerp, Belgium in 1920. Germany would have to wait until 1936, a delay of 20 years, before the nation would play host for the first time in the modern era of the Olympics.
As our Cyd Zeigler has reported, gay athletes have competed going all the way back to 1928!
- Amsterdam 1928: Otto Peltzer of Germany made his Olympic debut as the first gay Olympian. He was the 800- and 1,500-meter world record holder and team captain.
- Berlin 1936: Stella Walsh, born Stanisława Walasiewicz, a Polish-American track and field athlete and an Olympic 100-meter champion, who won a silver medal racing in front of Adolf Hitler.
- Helen Stephens won two golds in those same 1936 summer games.
One can only hope that if the 2020 Olympic Games are played in Tokyo this summer, that there will be a new record number of out LGBTQ Olympians competing, including for the first time ever, transgender athletes! You know we’ll keep you up to date!
Today’s Outsports Headlines:
BREAKING: Out wrestler Joshua Wavra exits pro wrestling following allegations of racism and abuse
Also on our homepage: Straight allies come to the defense of transgender student-athletes.
These voices must be heard: Don’t ban trans girls
Other LGBTQ Sports stories making news…
Morecambe’s Yann Songo’o gets six-game ban for homophobic slur
Bill to ban transgender HS athletes from girls sports would upend landmark N.J. policy
S.D. Gov. Noem sends lawmakers revised transgender sports bill
- ACLU responds: “Gov. Noem’s decision not to issue a full veto of this anti-transgender bill into law is disappointing. We are relieved, however, that the organizing by trans youth and pressure from business leaders, educators, and parents has given us the chance to fight to block this bill from passing.”
Wave Of Bills To Block Trans Athletes Has No Basis In Science, Researcher Says
The latest form of transphobia: Saying lesbians are going extinct
Today’s SB Nation’s top story…
How Oral Roberts shocked Ohio State in March Madness
Top LGBTQ News…
Louisiana Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of a Gay Man and Plot to Kidnap and Murder Other Gay Men
New Mexico lawmakers unanimously pass ban on ‘gay panic’ defense claim
Your truly is quoted here: Zero Hope’: LGBTQ Catholics Feel Conflicted and Abandoned
Today’s OutShout:
Colorado State hurdler Kamal-Craig Golaube debuted a new TikTok video for the Sports Equality Foundation: A Day In The Life of An LGBTQ athlete! Click here to watch:
@sportsequalityfdn Day in the Life #trackandfield #gaytiktok #queerathlete #sportsequality
♬ original sound – Sports Equality Foundation
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:
Kudos to these amazing women of the WNBA Players Association and Stephen Curry, too!
Well deserved 👏
— WNBA (@WNBA) March 19, 2021
Congrats to all our players, the @TheWNBPA and @StephenCurry30 for being awarded the Jackie Robinson Sports Awards. #CountIt #PowerOfWomen pic.twitter.com/KHE07uBLjH
Our friend Chris Mosier shared this meaningful post on Instagram by DJ Zeke Thomas:
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, our Ken Schultz followed up on his review of Singled Out, the Glenn Burke biography by Andrew Maraniss with an interview with The New York Times bestselling author himself! Listen to the Outsports podcast 3 Strikes You’re Out by clicking 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:
Exhibition games are underway! 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 on Outsports.com
