As June arrives, Pride Month comes with it to celebrate the Stonewall Riots that served as a critical point in the movement for gay liberation. What’s a better way to celebrate than by reading about these famous lesbian athletes?
Of course, there are thousands of noteworthy lesbian athletes from across different sports, countries and time periods. Each one has contributed their part to LGBTQ+ history.
Nonetheless, the 11 chosen here are noteworthy for their role as trailblazers and advocates.
11 Legendary Lesbian Athletes
Let’s dive into the stories behind these inspiring lesbian athletes below.
1. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian MMA fighter and the reigning champion of the women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Last December, she beat challenger Germaine de Randamie in Las Vegas, as her wife, fellow fighter Nina Ansaroff, cheered her on.
The two have been together for nearly a decade and made major headlines when they announced they were expecting their first child together, a daughter named Raegan.
It’s rare for a same-sex couple to be openly out and affectionate within the MMA world, which makes these two a trailblazing couple.
2. Megan Rapinoe
Next is Megan Rapinoe, one of the US soccer team’s captains. You might recall that last year the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) won the World Cup and became the Time Magazine 2019 Athlete of the Year. They did this while suing for the right to receive equal pay.
Megan Rapinoe has never shied away from her role as an advocate for women and the LGBTQ+ community, considering her platform as an opportunity to speak up.
3. Fallon Fox
Fallon Fox makes history as being one of the first openly transgender athletes. She is a professional mixed martial arts fighter with one big story behind her.
Fox transitioned from male to female before becoming an MMA fighter.
She was attracted to women, leaving her parents confused by what she meant, and was forced to go through conversion therapy believing she was a gay man.
After the pain within her family after her gender reassignment surgery, Fox found love in MMA fighting. Her coming out sparked controversy among the community, but has ultimately provided us with an incredible example of strength.
4. Emilia Andersson-Rambodlt
Emilia Andersson is a hockey player who competed in the 2010 and 2018 Winter Olympics for Sweden. Her skill and power as an ice hockey player earned her the title of Female Hockey Player of the Year in 2015.
Celebrating even bigger victories, Emilia Andersson became Emilia Andersson Rambodlt in 2015, marrying her wife with whom she has a son. What a special moment.
Andersson says that she is out and proud because she cannot let the opinions of others hold her down.
5. Renee Richards
Another transgender LGBTQ+ athlete is tennis player Renee Richards, finding herself also in history with Fallon Fox. All the way back in the 1970’s!
Renee Richards has since chosen to keep to herself nowadays, but 50 years ago she made a statement for the LGBTQ+ community by refusing to take a blood test that determined her gender. She ended up suing and winning a court case charging the U.S. Tennis Association with gender discrimination!
6. Seimone Augustus
The next WNBA player on this list is Seimone Augustus. She plays for the Minnesota Lynx and uses her voice when it comes to defending gay rights.
Augustus is now married to her wife LaTaya Varner, but less than ten years ago it might not have been possible if not for Augustus’ voice. She openly spoke out against a gay marriage ban in 2012, using her platform to spread awareness for the LGBTQ+ community’s rights.
7. Sarah Vaillancourt
Sarah Vaillancourt plays Canadian hockey and came out as a lesbian during her freshman year at college. She has played in the Olympics and earned her team medal upon medal.
Vaillancourt reminds us to tell it how it is and to be unafraid. “I’m into girls and that’s just how it is,” she says.
8. Belle Brockhoff
Another Olympian on this list is Australian Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff. She has been an openly gay Olympian for a while, and inspires others through her voice.
When the Olympics were slated to happen in Sochi, Brockhoff was one of the athletes ready to speak out about the intense anti-gay policies and beliefs that Russia perpetuates. Brockhoff refused to let Russia’s anti-gay sentiments bring her down.
9. Rosie Jones
Rosie Jones is a pro golfer who has won 13 tournaments throughout her 22-year career. Jones has been around a while and came out as gay when she represented a lesbian cruise line.
In the golf world, coming out can mean losing sponsorships because of the stigmatism around the gay community. Instead, Jones gained a sponsorship!
10. Cheryl Maas
Cheryl Maas is an Olympic snowboarder who was the premier Dutch woman to seize a medal at the X Games. On top of that, she is a proud lesbian who is happily married to her wife.
We can look to Maas with inspiration for the way that she peacefully protested Russia’s anti-gay sentiments by wearing a rainbow glove at one of the Olympic ceremonies.
10. Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes is described often as the “female Michael Jordan” because of her incredible talent when it comes to basketball as a player for the WNBA.
Not only this, but Swoopes came out as a lesbian in 2005. At first, Swoopes was scared to come out publicly.
However, she credits her happiness and self-confidence that gave her the strength to finally do it. And now, she’s one of the biggest names in WNBA history!
11. Billie Jean King
Finally, there is the iconic Billie Jean King – tennis queen. King has conquered so much as a tennis player from her countless Grand Slam titles and defeating Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” match.
But King also had to endure being publicly outed, and when told to deny the claim, King refused in order to remain true to herself. When she speaks now, she says that she wishes she came out earlier.
Lesbian Athletes to Inspire You
Belonging to the LGBTQ+ community can sometimes come with struggle. From making money while being marginalized to simply feeling confident, there can be obstacles for LGBTQ+ identifying people.
Whether you’re just coming out or you’ve been living loud and proud, you can find solace and solidarity in these amazing lesbian athletes. Each of them has a unique story that has accompanied their rise to fame.
Who are other LGBTQ+ athletes that you love? Comment with your favorites below.
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