Over 150 out LGBTQ Olympians are competing for the gold in this year’s Paris Olympic Games in a celebration of global unity, athleticism & cultural diversity on the world’s stage. LGBTQ athletes have likely competed in the Olympics & Paralympics since the very first games in history but today more athletes than ever are comfortable being out as their true, authentic selves & are embraced & supported by fans, fellow competitors & sponsors. Approximately 35 openly LGBTQ athletes competed in the 2022 Winter Olympic & Paralympic games in Beijing & a record-setting 222 out athletes competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games. On Sunday July 28th catch Amandine Buchard compete in Judo. Buchard won team gold & individual -52kg silver in Tokyo & she’s already in with a great chance of a medal in Paris. Then watch Evy Leibfarth compete in Canoe Slalom as 20-year-old Leibfarth who’s already a history maker as the first U.S. woman to qualify for an Olympic Games in 3 different canoe & kayak events. Then Tyler Wright & Sarah Baum compete in Surfing for a change of scenery to Tahiti & watch the world’s greatest women shortboarders in action in the first elimination round. France’s LGBTQ policies are generally considered inclusive & Paris in particular has a lively queer community yet LGBTQ athletes continue to need support & resources in order to combat a rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric & attacks. A 2023 report released by French LGBTQ organization SOS Homophobie shows that the group saw a 28% increase in physical attacks against LGBTQ people & a 26% increase in transphobic incidents in 2022. So let’s cheer on our brave LGBTQ Olympians.
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