The Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics have at least two publicly out LGBTQ flag bearers representing their country in the Parade of Nations.
Moran Samuel of Israel is no stranger to the Paralympics. This is her third Paralympic Games, having won a bronze medal for Israel in 2016. She will carry the Israeli flag in the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremony. Samuel has also played wheelchair basketball. She previously competed on Israel’s national women’s basketball team.
Mareike Miller has also competed in previous Paralympics, winning gold in wheelchair basketball at the 2012 Games in London and silver in Rio. She attended the Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she helped the team win a national championship.
Both of these women represent countries where same-sex marriage is legal and recognized by the government. Both Israel and Germany also have anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ people.
You can follow Moran Samuel on Instagram. You can also follow Mareike Miller on Instagram.
