Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Your need to read time today is 2-minutes.

Today’s LGBTQ Sports History Highlight:

It was on this day in 1874 that the National Association of Professional Baseball Players officially adopted the batter’s box. And in July 2020, out high school coach Krystal Brazel told the story of how that’s where she took a knee and proposed to her partner, on the softball field at Lutheran High School of Indianapolis.

“I got her in the batter’s box and I got down on one knee,” Brazel told the Indy star. “I read something to her and it was just symbolic, that our whole relationship was about being ready to step up to the batter’s box and swing for the fences.”

Despite working at the high school for five years as an out coach and athletic trainer, the school fired Brazel last June for being gay. A few days after we told their story last July she married her partner.

Fortunately, Brazel remains employed with Franciscan Health and is a part-time ATC at a middle school in Pike Township, Ind., while continuing in multiple roles with OrthoIndy in Greenwood, Ind. We send her and her wife our best wishes.

Today’s Outsports Headlines:

Gay college diver finds friends, support and sense of family with new team

Austin Campbell

Thank you, Andy Towle, for over two decades of amazing work in gay media

Andy Towle

New documentary ‘Lioness’ highlights out bisexual boxing icon Nicola Adams

Nicola Adams celebrates retaining her belt after a split decision draw in the WBO World Flyweight Championship Title fight between Nicola Adams and Maria Salinas at Royal Albert Hall on September 27, 2019 in London.

This gay former college volleyball player is thriving on OnlyFans

Chance Wheeler

Other LGBTQ Sports stories making news…

Seattle Storm re-signs Sue Bird

Tennessee Senate passes bill barring transgender students from playing high school sports under their gender identity

Today’s SB Nation’s top story…

$4.6M Luka Doncic card is the most valuable sports card of all time

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 1, 2021 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

Top LGBTQ News…

Major Evangelical Adoption Agency Will Now Serve Gay Parents Nationwide

For Minnesota’s U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, the Equality Act is personal

Russell T Davies On How The Queer Casting Rule On HBO Max’s ‘It’s A Sin’ Proved A Triumph

Concerns raised over anti-transgender Burlington City, Vt. Council candidate

Brain Imaging Study Paused After LGBTQ+ Advocates Complain

Gender Nonconformity and Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analytic Review

Today’s OutShout:

Congratulations, Timothy LeDuc and pairs partner Ashley Cain for being added to the World Team!

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc perform in the Skating Spectacular following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Orleans Arena on January 17, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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:

Thank you for sharing your story with Sports Equality Foundation via TikTok, Ben Quinn!

@sportsequalityfdn

I am- Ep. 16 #gaytiktok#queer#queerathlete#sportsequality

♬ Listen – TikTok

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, D.Gil is taking The GAMEDAY TEA listeners back to his high school days in Georgia with the softball standout Nikki Goodson. They discuss challenges they endured in their high school years, homophobia at the high school level, Nikki’s own personal viewpoints on discrimination while in high school and the change we hope to see for LGBTQ+ people at the youth level. 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:

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 morning on Outsports.com