What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Sport: Swimming
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Tennis
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Tennis
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender woman
Sport: Basketball
Nationality: English (but American-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Pole vault
Nationality: German
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender man
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: American football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: American football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Shot put
Nationality: German (competed for East Germany)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender man
Sport: Rugby, netball
Nationality: New Zealander
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Special Note: Pictured in yellow
Sport: American football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Figure skating
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: German
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Special Note: Pictured in white
Sport: American football
Nationality: American (but Jamaican-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Australian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Golf
Nationality: Danish
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender woman
Sport: Rugby
Nationality: Welsh
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Tennis
Nationality: Czech, American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Hockey
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Alpine skiing
Nationality: Swedish
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: American football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Speed skating
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Boxing
Nationality: Puerto Rican
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Diving
Nationality: Venezuelan
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: Mexican (but American-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: In a relationship with Bianca Sierra
Sport: American football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Hurling
Nationality: Irish
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Tennis
Nationality: French
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Basketball
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Ski jumping
Nationality: Austrian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Pole vault
Nationality: Canadian (but American-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Snowboarding
Nationality: Australian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Field hockey
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Queer
Special Note: Married to Helen Richardson-Walsh
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American Samoan
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender woman
Sport: Field hockey
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Queer
Special Note: Married to Kate Richardson-Walsh
Sport: Triathlon
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender man
Sport: Mixed martial arts
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Basketball
Nationality: Australian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Queer
Special Note: Married to Diana Taurasi
Sport: Baseball
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Golf
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Decathlon
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Transgender woman
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: Swiss
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Speed skating
Nationality: Dutch
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Bisexual
Sport: Diving
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
See also: The gay and lesbian TV couples we love
Sport: Pair skating
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: In a relationship with Sue Bird
Sport: Freestyle skiing
Nationality: American (but English-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Figure skating
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Cross-country skiing
Nationality: Slovenian, Australian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Boxing
Nationality: English
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Bisexual
Sport: Tennis
Nationality: Belgian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Running
Nationality: South African
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Basketball
Nationality: American, Israeli
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: In a relationship with Megan Rapinoe
Sport: Basketball
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: Married to Penny Taylor
Sport: Rowing
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Boxing
Nationality: Thai
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Kathoey (third gender in Thai)
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: Chilean
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: Pictured in red, center
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: Spanish
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: Pictured in red
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Special Note: Pictured in white
Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Handball
Nationality: Norwegian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: Married to Gro Hammerseng-Edin
Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Italian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Finnish
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Beach volleyball
Nationality: Brazilian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Soccer
Nationality: Mexican (but American-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Special Note: In a relationship with Stephany Mayor
Sport: Judo
Nationality: Portuguese
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Cycling
Nationality: Scottish (but English-born)
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Mixed martial arts
Nationality: Brazilian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Lesbian
Sport: Diving
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Diving
Nationality: Brazilian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Football
Nationality: American
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Diving
Nationality: Australian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Hockey
Nationality: Canadian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Gay
Sport: Handball
Nationality: Norwegian
Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity: Bisexual
Special Note: Married to Anja Hammerseng-Edin
The soccer world is particularly far behind when it comes to LGBTQ representation. In 2021, the Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo became the first top-tier player to come out as gay. The then-21-year-old posted an emotional video to the team's Twitter account on October 26 to share the news. "Growing up, I always felt the need to hide myself, because I was ashamed. Ashamed I would never be able to do what I love and be gay, hiding who I really am to pursue a dream I always wished for as a kid. All I want to do is play football and be treated equally," he said. His video was met with messages of support from other famous players and Champions League teams like FC Barcelona and Juventus. Cavallo says he wants to inspire others to be themselves and feel comfortable pursuing careers in sport.
Figure skater Timothy LeDuc became the first openly nonbinary American athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics. They first came out as nonbinary in 2021 and competed in Beijing with their partner Ashley Cain-Gribble in February. LeDuc hopes their story will show the LGBTQ+ community that there is a place for everyone in sports. They don't want the narrative to be "Timothy is the first nonbinary person to achieve this level of success in sports." As LeDuc says, "We’ve always been here, we have always been a part of sports. We just haven’t always been able to be open."
American transgender swimmer Lia Thomas' achievements in competitive swimming became a lightning rod for controversy. A student of the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas' star has been rising as she has dominated women’s college swimming during the current season. Since she first rose to fame in December of 2021, she has been the focal point of the ongoing debate about whether or not transgender athletes should be allowed to compete with the teams that align with their gender identity. Thomas has had to overcome discrimination from others in the sporting community, including some of her own teammates, but has valiantly triumphed over adversity. On March 17, 2022, Thomas became the first transgender woman to win a national championship in Division I athletics. She swam her personal best time in the 500-yard freestyle event, finishing a full second ahead of her competitors at 4:33.24.
Jake Daniels, a pro soccer player for Blackpool FC, came out publicly as gay, marking a milestone for English soccer. At just 17, Daniels was already creating a legacy by playing in the Championship, which is the second tier of English soccer (below Premier League), and he became the only publicly out pro men's soccer player in England, Out Sports reports. In an interview with Sky Sports, Daniels said he has received huge support from everyone, including his family and teammates. “Blackpool have been absolutely amazing too,” he said. “I am with them every day and I felt safe. My teammates have all been so supportive about it and everyone has had my back. They’ve been asking tons of questions, they have all been intrigued and their reaction has been brilliant. It’s the best thing I could have asked for.”
Maybelle Blair was a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which only existed between 1943 to 1954 while most men were involved in the military during World War II. Her professional baseball career was short-lived and she moved on to a softball league, but her work behind the scenes was instrumental in raising the profile of women in sport. Blair served on the board of the AAGPBL Players Association when it was founded in the 1980s and succeeded in bringing the story of women's baseball into the spotlight. Eventually, a Women in Baseball section was added to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Blair is now in her nineties, but has been assisting Amazon Prime in producing their new series 'A League of Their Own." The show is an adaptation of the 1992 movie of the same name, but tells the story of the women who played professional baseball during World War II.
During a press event for the show, Blair surprised the audience by coming out as gay publicly for the first time. She later revealed that she hadn't planned to come out so it was a surprise to her too! “I couldn't believe it because I knew my family might disown me,” she explained. “I didn’t know what would take place, but I thought it was my self respect that I do tell and that these young little girls and boys, you know, shouldn't have to hide what they feel and how they are to have to go through what I had to go through in my day.” Luckily, Blair was met with outpourings of love and acceptance from her friends and family.
The world of sports is still largely considered homophobic and transphobic. It's no surprise then that very few athletes in top leagues choose to come out while playing. Fortunately, we've started to see changes in recent years—just consider the amount of out Olympians lately. Of course, there are pioneers who came out long before we were even having these conversations, like tennis legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova. And those who chose to come out after their careers ended are trailblazers too, pushing the conversation forward. It takes a village!
Czech soccer player Jakub Jankto has made history as the first active international men’s player to come out as gay. “Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses; I have a family, I have my friends,” the 27-year-old said in a video released on social media February 13. “I have a job, which I have been doing it as best as I can, for years, with seriousness, professionalism and passion. Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence, but with love. I am homosexual, and I no longer want to hide myself.”
The midfielder is currently on loan at Sparta Prague from Spanish club Getafe, and the Czechia-based team shared a statement of support saying that Jankto had already came out to his club, coach, and teammates "some time ago" and added, “No further comments. No more questions. You have our support. Live your life, Jakub. Nothing else matters.”
Click on to see other gifted athletes from around the world, of times past and present, who came out as LGBTQ.
The best LGBTQ athletes around the world
Czech soccer player Jakub Jankto becomes first active international men’s player to come out as gay
LIFESTYLE Sports
The world of sports is still largely considered homophobic and transphobic. It's no surprise then that very few athletes in top leagues choose to come out while playing. Fortunately, we've started to see changes in recent years—just consider the amount of out Olympians lately. Of course, there are pioneers who came out long before we were even having these conversations, like tennis legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova. And those who chose to come out after their careers ended are trailblazers too, pushing the conversation forward. It takes a village!
Czech soccer player Jakub Jankto has made history as the first active international men’s player to come out as gay. “Like everybody else, I have my strengths, I have my weaknesses; I have a family, I have my friends,” the 27-year-old said in a video released on social media February 13. “I have a job, which I have been doing it as best as I can, for years, with seriousness, professionalism and passion. Like everybody else, I also want to live my life in freedom without fears, without prejudice, without violence, but with love. I am homosexual, and I no longer want to hide myself.”
The midfielder is currently on loan at Sparta Prague from Spanish club Getafe, and the Czechia-based team shared a statement of support saying that Jankto had already came out to his club, coach, and teammates "some time ago" and added, “No further comments. No more questions. You have our support. Live your life, Jakub. Nothing else matters.”
Click on to see other gifted athletes from around the world, of times past and present, who came out as LGBTQ.