Today, sports has become an avenue to find comfort, acceptance, and a sense of belonging, evolving from being mere games or a place to compete. Apart from the lasting friendships and the solid communities formed through shared passion, sports can offer a multitude of affirming experiences.
However, for LGBTQIA+ athletes, it is not always easy. With the journey still marked by discrimination, silent doubts, and even outright exclusion, these individuals do their best to persevere, leaping over hurdles in a refuge like sports.
Win-win
The beauty of sports lies in its characteristic of being outcome-oriented. An athlete’s success prompts the scoreboard to highlight their skill—and all the effort, time, and hard work they’ve put in to achieve the feat. A victory is a victory, and for queer athletes, it’s so much sweeter when it allows them to be seen for their talent and not be reduced to a certain label brought by stereotypes and biases.
An athlete’s value should not be defined by their sexuality and gender identity. Once they step inside the court, what matters is how they perform; their passion, discipline, and skill are what truly shine when the game starts. Through this, identity takes a backseat to ability, creating a space where performance speaks louder than any assumption. Furthermore, this also offers a rare kind of freedom, as they are given the chance to simply be themselves without the weight of external judgements.
For them, a single win can have multiple rewards. There is visible triumph when the medal, trophy, record, and title come in. And then there’s the quiet, deeply personal victory—when they are seen fully, but not solely, for who they are. It becomes a beautiful moment when their identity does not overshadow their wonderful achievement, but instead, exists with it.
Grounded empowerment
For the LGBTQIA+ community, sports have not only offered an outlet for their talents but also a journey toward growth and empowerment. The path they take is often filled with noise: judgment, pressure, and stereotypes.
Athletes like former Olympic football player Megan Rapinoe faced discrimination throughout her career. Olympic diver Tom Daley was also the target of backlash after coming out, while Olympic sprinter Dutee Chand experienced adversity in India for her same-sex relationship. Yet, the same path LGBTQIA+ athletes tread also stands as a bridge toward finding one’s inner self.
Through discipline and resilience, queer athletes can transcend labels and limiting narratives. In moments of intense competition—from game-winning decisions and personal bests to MVPs and broken records-–they can simply celebrate who they want to be, without any further explanation needed.
As the field becomes more progressive, many athletes have come out in recent years. Some have cited their journey not just as a career in sports but also as one of empowerment. A notable example is former WNBA star and basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird, who came out in 2017. Instead of facing backlash, she received widespread support from fans. Her openness not only solidified her identity, but also pushed her to become a role model for the LGBTQIA+ community in the sports realm, inspiring others to embrace their identities.
Chris Mosier, one of the first openly transgender athletes to represent the United States in international competition, stands out as another notable figure. Competing in the triathlon helped him find joy and confidence in himself amid the noise. Like Bird, he too has served as a role model by advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community in sports. His story highlights how many queer athletes play sports for the same reasons as anybody else—because they share the same love for the game. That love, in itself, is a powerful grounding force.
Solace in sports
At its heart, sports is a celebration of the talent and skill that define each athlete. But beyond that, it is also a canvas for personal growth and a space where individuals not only chase excellence but also confront and transcend their own limits. Sports is built to facilitate healthy competition, promote physical and mental well-being, and nurture character through discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Sports has always been more than just a game; it is a space where people discover who they are and what they’re capable of becoming.
Through the countless hours of grind, sweat, and practice, athletes come face-to-face with themselves. In pushing their bodies and minds to new heights, they start to break barriers. For LGBTQIA+ athletes, the playing field becomes more than just a space to compete—it becomes a place where they are free to be seen and express themselves. Sports then becomes a place where they can be recognized for who they are and for all they are. In sports, identity and ability rise together, side by side.
At its best, sports feels like home: a place where people aren’t judged by the labels placed on them, but by the heart they bring and the effort they give. It unites people through shared struggles and collective hope, forging not just strong players but stronger communities.
In sports, there are no prerequisites for belonging and there are no explanations needed. Just a deep, enduring commitment to show up, to compete, and to keep pushing—all for the love of the game.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s June 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJune2025.
