Not to be a homer, but – you know – “USA! USA! USA!” Now that 17 days of admiring Hot Lady Arms (a.k.a. watching the Olympics) has begun, it’s time to get to know who exactly we’re cheering for. This year the games have a record 43 out athletes competing. Eight of them are on Team USA. (Yes, I know, there are many more queer American Olympians – but these are the officially and on record out.) It’s interesting to note that all our eight queer athletes are women. And, if we break it down further, half are on the basketball team, two on rugby and one is a kayaker and one is Megan Rapinoe. Outsports has a quick breakdown of all 43 out athletes. And here is a closer look at the home homo team for all of us here in the states.
Seimone Augustus, basketball
A player with the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA and former league MVP during her team’s 2011 championship season. Last year when the Supreme Court ruled marriage equality was the law of the land, she wrote a piece about her own marriage for The Players Tribune.
Elena Delle Donne, basketball
A player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA, she was named league MVP last season. She also came out right before the Olympics started in a profile for Vogue magazine where she spoke about her fiancée, Amanda Clifton.
Kelly Griffin, rugby
Women’s rugby makes its debut in the Olympics this year. Griffin is something called a “hooker” for the team, which does not make me giggle even a little because I am an adult. Her official Team USA bio mentions her wife and their two children.
Brittney Griner, basketball
The No. 1 WNBA draft pick in 2013 came out before her professional career started. She is now a center for the Phoenix Mercury.
Angel McCoughtry, basketball
A forward for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, she came out in an Instagram post last year where she celebrated her relationship and talked about her faith.
Ashley Nee, kayak
The Maryland native will compete in whitewater slalom. Earlier this summer a Baltimore Sun profile about the athlete casually mentioned her wife.
Jillion Potter, rugby
She is something called a “prop” on the USA rugby team, which leads me to believe all the positions in this sport are trying to confuse us with their names. She has survived cancer and a broken neck. And you can watch a cute video of her talking about her wife on the NBC Sports site.
Megan Rapinoe, soccer
Please, she’s Megan Rapinoe. She needs no introduction.
A player with the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA and former league MVP during her team’s 2011 championship season. Last year when the Supreme Court ruled marriage equality was the law of the land, she wrote a piece about her own marriage for The Players Tribune.
Elena Delle Donne, basketball
A player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA, she was named league MVP last season. She also came out right before the Olympics started in a profile for Vogue magazine where she spoke about her fiancée, Amanda Clifton.
Kelly Griffin, rugby
Women’s rugby makes its debut in the Olympics this year. Griffin is something called a “hooker” for the team, which does not make me giggle even a little because I am an adult. Her official Team USA bio mentions her wife and their two children.
Brittney Griner, basketball
The No. 1 WNBA draft pick in 2013 came out before her professional career started. She is now a center for the Phoenix Mercury.
Angel McCoughtry, basketball
A forward for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, she came out in an Instagram post last year where she celebrated her relationship and talked about her faith.
Ashley Nee, kayak
The Maryland native will compete in whitewater slalom. Earlier this summer a Baltimore Sun profile about the athlete casually mentioned her wife.
Jillion Potter, rugby
She is something called a “prop” on the USA rugby team, which leads me to believe all the positions in this sport are trying to confuse us with their names. She has survived cancer and a broken neck. And you can watch a cute video of her talking about her wife on the NBC Sports site.
Megan Rapinoe, soccer
Please, she’s Megan Rapinoe. She needs no introduction.
So there you have it. Now get busy cheering. U-S-GAY! U-S-GAY! U-S-GAY!
p.s. Don’t worry, world. You’ll get your big gay turn before the 17 days are over.
5 comments:
"And one is Megan Rapinoe." She's basically a sport unto herself, at this point.
I love it when you talk sporty, Ms. Snarker.
I saw USA Rugby live and I have tickets to Womens soccer gold medal match so I'll probably see rapinoe. Need to fins a way to see USA basketball to complete the gay hat trick (fedora trick?)
link for Kelly goes to Angel's intsa post but wish you a very gay olympics and appreciate learning more about these amazing athletes!!
Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris!
What do you do if you are chosen to represent your country at the Olympics and you identify as a masculine woman and your Parade of Nations outfits are skirts? I know I couldn't wear a skirt for anything. I would feel horrible.
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