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Sports

The Advocate brings readers the latest news from the world of gay sports. Follow the most recent developments about the people, policies, and players who are shaping national and international dialogue about athletes and the LGBT community. Read about Michael Sam, Jason Collins, Brittney Griner, Darren Young, Johnny Weir, Fallon Fox, and more luminaries of the gay sports arena who are trailblazers in basketball, football, soccer, baseball, hockey, tennis, swimming, track, and golf. Find out about upcoming and past Olympic Games, and how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender athletes are helping to advance the marathon of equality on an international scale.
LGBTQ+ professional tennis players Emina Bektas​ Demi Schuurs and Daria Kasatkina
Sports

Meet the 7 lesbian & sapphic athletes hitting it big in professional women’s tennis

These queer women are breaking down barriers and winning titles!

foreign passport showing stamp american flag and toy airplane
Politics

Trump bans trans women athletes from 'extraordinary ability’ visas

Transgender women athletes can no longer receive O-1A, E11, and E21 "extraordinary ability" visas.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attends the executive order signing ceremony women swimmers before race
Politics

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues swimming group over inclusion of transgender women

The lawsuit does not accuse USMS of violating trans athletic participation laws, but of violating consumer protection laws.

Billie Jean King with rainbow umbrella
Sports

Billie Jean King: Listen to transgender athletes

"Just listen to their stories. Listen – not tell them," says the tennis legend.

Simone Biles
Sports

Simone Biles apologizes to transphobe but calls for 'empathy and respect' on issue of trans athletes

The champion gymnast had criticized anti-trans activist Riley Gaines.

wake forest baseball coach tom walter
Sports

Wake Forest baseball coach apologizes for homophobic slur

Coach Tom Walter was caught on live television uttering the offensive epithet.

Out Olympic diver, Greg Louganis, sells medal to move out of the US
Sports

Out Olympic diver Greg Louganis sells medal to leave the U.S.

Gay diver, Greg Louganis, shared in a lengthy Facebook post that he will be moving out of the United States after much deliberation.
Chicago Blackhawks NHL hockey logo
News

Chicago Blackhawks sued by former employee who claims he was fired for being gay

The Blackhawks' former PR manager accused his supervisor of "discriminating against him because he was a homosexual male."

Noa Lynn van Leuven of the Netherlands throws during 2025 Betfred World Matchplay Blackpool England
News

Trans darts champion laments ban against trans women as 'loss for the trans community'

Noa-Lynn van Leuven said the World Darts Federation's new gender eligibility policy "does affect me personally."

Pete Buttigieg
News

Pete Buttigieg weighs in on ‘fairness’ of transgender kids playing girls’ sports

He said he rejected blanket policies about trans participation in sports.

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June 2018 Giant Chess board and players at the Hirschgarten Park Munich Upper Bavaria Germany
News

Trans teen’s chess win in Germany prompts backlash

Chess "is diverse and inclusive," the German Chess Federation said in rejecting calls for a ban on trans competitors.

AB Hernandez
Politics

Trans athlete singled out by Trump wins gold anyway: 'I’m not scared of them'

Trump threatened to to withhold federal funding from California unless the state banned a 16-year-old trans girl from competing.

Imane Khelif
Sports

Imane Khelif must undergo 'mandatory sex testing' to compete in Olympics

World Boxing's new policy mandates that all participants in women's events — but not men's — must undergo a chromosome test.

Houston area officials step up after Greg Abbott rejects gay softball tourney's funding request
Politics

Houston area officials step up after Greg Abbott rejects gay softball tourney's funding request

iPride's Gay Softball World Series will take place in September as planned thanks to a $500,000 grant from Harris County.

Talap Mamyrkanov fixes Nolan Hanson's glove at Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn​
News

This transgender boxer is fighting to save his mentor — and unlikely friend — from ICE captivity

Trans boxer Nolan Hanson tells The Advocate about his fight to get his mentor, Talap Mamyrkanov, out of ICE detention.

Emma Morquecho posing with a volleyball outside a building
Sports

Volleyball player sues California university that revoked her scholarship for being trans

Emma Morquecho moved to California to play for Westcliff University. Then the Cal Pac Conference yanked her scholarship.

NFL athlete Christian Wilkins playing for the Las Vegas Raider
Sports

NFL athlete Christian Wilkins reportedly fired after kissing teammate

Even though the Las Vegas Raiders athlete described the gesture as "playful," he was still dropped from the team.

Tokyo 2019 Olympic silver gold bronze medals shown against a soft background with rings logo
Breaking News

U.S. Olympic Committee bars trans women from competing, caving to Trump

The committee had previously allowed each sport's governing body to set policy for trans athletes.

Caster Semenya running in a race
News

Queer runner Caster Semenya wins again in court against athletic body that sidelined her

The cisgender Olympian with naturally high testosterone has fought for years against a World Athletics decision that kicked her to the sidelines.

Simone Biles
Sports

Simone Biles deactivates X account after comments about transgender athletes

Biles advocated for a transgender category in all sports. Anti-trans activist Riley Gaines said the gymnast was "rightly ridiculed" and celebrated the departure from X.