This has been an especially challenging time for the transgender community, particularly for our out athletes. Trans girls and women have been targeted, misgendered, mistreated and worse. And trans boys and men have not been exempt from hate.
In response to the growing and unprecedented level of anti-transgender venom that has spread all around the world, Outsports partnered with NCLR — The National Center for Lesbian Rights — to introduce a new set of awards, to salute the perseverance of trans athletes, and call attention to their inspiring decision to soldier on, and reach for the stars. We call them The Outsports Triumph Awards.
There are seven awards in all, and each one recognizes and pays tribute to the bravest of the brave, culminating in a special honor for one out transgender sports legend on the Trans Day of Visibility.
Although we typically announce awards in December, when the year winds to a close, we announced a new winner every day for the last week of March. Some names you know; others are only now making a name for themselves in LGBTQ sports. They are young, old and in between, and each one identifies as trans.
My colleagues and fellow editors at Outsports worked together to narrow down the many possibilities to find winners in seven categories: Pro athletes, Student-athletes, Coaches, Crusaders, Journalists, Ringleaders and Pioneers.
And as we did so, we recognized that every out transgender athlete is worthy of tribute, to recognize their triumph, their achievements and how they have made a difference in the world of LGBTQ sports. So, we share with you the list below. Each name, and the ones that will follow, belongs to an individual who bears witness to the Outsports motto, Courage Is Contagious.
Student-athlete trailblazer: Quill Graham
Pro athlete winner: Tiffany Abreu
Crusaders: Raquel Willis and Jennifer L. Levi
Now that the seven winners have been announced, we invite you to scroll through an alphabetical list of other transgender heroes — athletes, coaches, activists, advocates, attorneys, journalists and trailblazers. Each one is a superstar in their own right. Please join us in honoring their triumph over adversity, and their work toward inclusion of all athletes.
Stephen Alexander
Kye Allums
Chloe Psyche Anderson
Mianne Bagger
Schuyler Bailar
Jillian Bearden
Mack Beggs
@sportsequalityfdn I Am – Episode 6 #alphabetmafia #transathlete #gaytiktok #sportsequality
♬ Changes – Instrumental – RockItPro
Zach Brookes
Harrison Browne
Molly Cameron
Bryson Cavanaugh
JayCee Cooper
Layshia Clarendon
Maria “Remilia” Creveling, RIP
Christine Daniels, RIP
Matt Dawkins
Elliot Dean
Bobbie Dittmeier
Juniper Eastwood
Taylor Edelmann
Natalie Fahey
Sandra Forgues
Amelia Gapin
Shoshauna Gauvin
Christina Ginther
Keelin Godsey
Mara Gomez
Isaac Grivett
Madison Hall
Joanna Harper
Jacqueline Harper-Grubb
Mitch Harrison
Lindsey Hecox
Rebecca Heineman
Stephanie Helms
Sarah Huckman
Laurel Hubbard
Sam Hunt
Dr. Veronica Ivy
Caitlyn Jenner
Maria Joaquina
Mason Johnson
Chloie Jönnson
Bobby Jones
Christina Kahrl
Adebayo Katiiti
Stella Keating
Gabriel Kris
Janae Marie Kroc
Bobbi Lancaster
Lana Lawless
Caroline Layt
Molly Lenore
Elin Lindström
Miguel Lozano
Gabrielle Ludwig
Isabella MacBeth
Pat Manuel
Charlie Martin
Max
Grace McKenzie
Kirsti Miller
Terry Miller
Melody Maia Monet
Chris Mosier
Jessica Firinn
Hannah Mouncey
Ness Murby
Katalina Murrie
Jamie Neal
Jaime O’Neill
Cory Oskam
Erin Parisi
May “Mystearica” Peterson
Valentina Petrillo
Jessica Platt
Quinn
Christina Rebstock
Dr. Reneé Richards
Monica Roberts, RIP
Jay Robinson
Nong Rose
G Ryan
Jaiyah Saelua
Tara Seplavy
Stephanie Shostak
Evelyn Sifton
Dr. Juniper Simonis
Alex Singh
Verity Smith
Alice Soper
Allayva Stier
Chase Strangio
Brynn Tannehill
Team Trans hockey team
India’s Ya All team
CeCé Telfer
Tia Thompson
Alex Tilinca
Gabbi Tuft
Natalie van Gogh
Zaya Wade
Nattaphon Wangyot
Kate Weatherly
Kris Wilka
Chelsea Wolfe
Kristen Worley
Andraya Yearwood
Philippa York
Megan Youngren
Zoe
Who would you select from this list? Did we miss someone? We welcome your suggestions in the comments section below!
