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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.

​professional soccer player Barbra Banda and NWSL logo
Sports

NWSL supports Barbra Banda after Fox News guest calls her 'a male'

The National Women's Soccer League is calling out "hateful attacks" against Barbra Banda amid a trans panic ignited by NWSL player Elizabeth Eddy.

Riley Gaines speaks 2025 10X Ladies Conference Hosted by Elena Cardone in Florida alongside Alexandria Ocasio Cortez House Democratic caucus meeting at the Capitol building September 2025
Politics

AOC tells Riley Gaines to 'get a real job' instead of attacking trans people

AOC had a short but scathing response after failed college swimmer Riley Gaines challenged her to a debate.

woman reaching for weights during powerlifting competition
News

Minnesota Supreme Court rules USA Powerlifting's ban on trans women is discrimination

JayCee Cooper, a trans woman banned from women's powerlifting contests, has won her case at the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Christen Press
Sports

Lesbian soccer legend Christen Press makes surprising career announcement

Christen Press is hanging up her cleats for good.

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaking in front of american and state flags
News

Gavin Newsom authorizes study on youth sports access regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation

The bill also seeks to look at inequities based on race, income, and geography, but Republicans say the goal is to rig research for transgender athletes.

Riley Gaines
News

Georgia judge tosses out most of failed college swimmer Riley Gaines’s NCAA lawsuit over trans athletes

The judge allowed part of the case to proceed.

DeWanna Bonner the StudBudz and Brittney Griner
Sports

Meet the 29 LGBTQ+ athletes making waves in the 2025 WNBA playoffs

No matter which team is victorious, a queer athlete is taking home the trophy!

​Boise State University college campus Idaho 2019
News

Boise State student drops challenge to Idaho trans sports ban ahead of SCOTUS hearing

But a similar West Virginia case will still be heard.

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.

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.

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!

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."

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

True
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.

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.