In current times when the LGBTQ community is fighting against discriminatory attitudes towards them and in an environment of toxic
“Locker room masculinity” culture when mainly talking about athletics, 121 athletes representing the communities at Olympics is a record-breaking number.
This will show a positive image of the people of color and shape new opinions about the Trans community. This will ultimately result in a more inclusive society, making people comfortable about their identities.
Out of the athletes, 30 will be from the US only. This number is enormous compared to previous years, and it manifests an increasing acceptance towards the LGBTQ community in sports.
Five are in Basketball, including Sue Bird, Chelsea Gray, Britney Griner, Breanna Stewart, and Dianna Taurasi.
Sue Bird, currentlythe oldest and one of the greatest WNBA players, represents people of color in this year’s Olympics. She has also participated in the 2012 and 2014 Olympics and has been a gold medal winner.
This year she is again the USA’s favorite to win the gold medal.
Bird has hidden her sexuality for a long time, but on her partner’s persuasion in 2017, she revealed she was gay. In an interview, Bird says, “But it was important to say it, because the more people that come out, that’s where you get to the point where nobody has to come out. Where you can live, and it’s not a story.”
Brittney Griner, the only NCAA basketball player to score 2000 points, is ready to bring gold to the home. She has been an active advocate of LGBTQ issues. Griner has been a sign of strength for everyone for visibility and created a more welcoming environment towards inclusion and diversity.
Diana Taurasi, the the 39 years old beast who has won multiple awards and is known as one of the best WNBA players, is also playing this Summer, representing the trans community. Just a few weeks ago, she became the first WNBA player to reach 9000 points.
Breanna Stewart, from Seattle Storm has also been selected as a member of USA Olympics Women Basketball Team. This will be her second representation in Summer Games. Stewart has won many titles and awards. She recently proposed to her Girlfriend, Marta Xarfay who can be her possible opponent this season.
Three players will be participating in BMX freestyle named Perris Benegas, Hannah Roberts, and Chelsea Wolfe. Wolfe might become the first trans-US Olympian in BMX freestyle. She told Webb that her success would bring a message of validation and inclusion. Roberts recently won a world BMX championship. She married her wife earlier this year. In an interview, Wolfe said, “If you can live life openly as yourself in a world so hostile to your existence, then you already have the strength of a champion.”
Boxing, the community will be represented by Rashida Ellis, Canoe Slalom, and Evy Leibfarth.
Damien Michiels and Nick Wagman will be participating in Equestrian.
Five participants are in Rowing, including Kendall Chase, Gia Doonan, Meghan O’Leary, Ellen Tomek, and Julian Vronsky. Tomek will be participating for the third time in the Olympics. O’Leary will be participating for the second time.
Alev Kelter and Kristen Thomas will be representing the people of color in Rugby.
Kelter, who crossed five times in Rio 2016, will be playing for the second time for the Olympics. Thomas will be a co-captain for the Eagles in Tokyo.
Alexis Sablone and Alana Smith will be Skateboarding. Sablone is queer, and Smith is bisexual. Sablone, an architect from MIT, made her path and is ready to shine at the Olympics. She partnered with Converse and released Pride Skate Shoe.
Smith, who is bisexual, blurred the discriminatory lines for the people of color in sports. She entered sports at a very young age and made her mark. Talking to USA Skateboarding, she said, “I don’t want to be known as a good female skateboarder. I just want to be known as a good skater, someone that made a difference. Gender shouldn’t matter.”
In Soccer, Tierna Davidson, Adrianna Franch, Kelly O’Hara, and Megan Rapinoe
Will participate from the US. This is the US team that won the 2019 women’s soccer world cup. And now the Hope is high to win for the US again. O’Hara, who publicly came out, didn’t receive any backlash and is an active gay representative since then. Having such an extensive gay representation is not only good for the community but also the sports.
Rapino, after defeating France, said to the media once, “You can’t win a championship without gays on your team; that’s science right there.”
In Softball, we have Ally Carda, Amanda Chidester, Taylor Edwards, and Haylie McCleney.
In Swimming, Erica Sullivan is representing the people of color from the US. Sullivan, a guitarist, will be participating in the 1500 freestyle in Tokyo at this Olympics. Sullivan, a fighter, dealt with the reaction to her coming out, and her mental health issues made her ready to win another battle in the Olympics this year.
Erica Bougard and Raven Saunders are participants in Track and Field. Saunders, from Mississippi, will be playing again for the Olympics after Rio 2016 and is in full spirits to bring the gold medal home. Bougard, also from Mississippi, who set records at MSU, will participate in the Olympics for the first time. This will be a significant representation of the LGBTQ community in track and field.
Finally fulfilling her dream to play in the Olympics, Kayla Miracle is participating in wrestling this summer. This Indiana-born wrestler is already making her name and wants to show the world that the wrestling world is inclusive of the LGBTQ community. She says, “With wrestling, we always try to say, anybody can wrestle with any shape, size, gender, religion, sexual orientation. We try to be very inclusive. I’m proud to be part of a community that is trying to push for that.”
Such excellent visibility of LGBTQ people will give a great message to not to be shy of your own identity and will tell the world not to be scared and be proud and out. From the Olympics platform, this representation will manifest an excellent reception towards inclusive and diverse communities.
If we have left anyone on the list, please comment below and let us know. Happy Olympics!