Former multi-time WWE and TNA champion Mickie James’ women’s pro wrestling showcase “H.E.R.” played host to a moment that lived up to the significance of the show for Australian pro wrestling, women’s pro wrestling and LGBTQ pro wrestling alike. In the semi-main event match, out pro wrestlers Kingsley and Shay Kassidy, collectively known as The Backslide Girlz, defeated the team of fellow out pro wrestler Nikki Van Blair and Frankie B, known together as Prima Pi Kappa (PPK) to become the first ever Oceania Pro Wrestling Women’s Tag Team champions. The historic nature of the win goes beyond jus ..read more

When Kaue Garcia left Brazil 14 years ago to go traveling, he could never have imagined his journey would take him to a sports team in a West Yorkshire market town, in the north of England. But it’s not just the destination of Keighley Cougars — a rugby league club with a history going back nearly 150 years — that is so unexpected. It’s also what Garcia is helping to achieve there as a champion for equality. Cougar Park doesn’t just welcome LGBTQ people. The team’s stadium and those who call it home truly celebrate the community, from the permanent Pride rainbow-colored terrace to a series of ..read more

This year’s Time 100 is out, featuring the magazine’s selections for 100 influential people this year. While there is one LGBTQ athlete included, her orientation is secondary for her inclusion, so much so that The Advocate didn’t initially know to include her in their list of out honorees (an oversight which, I have no doubt, they’ll fix). Jenni Hermoso was best-known for two main things in 2023, in addition to talking publicly about being gay. The first was being a key part of the Spanish team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hermoso finished second in the voting for player of the tournam ..read more

Landon Driggers had different plans for his junior season with the Vols. The swimmer at the University of Tennessee had transferred from the Division II University of Indianapolis two years ago to swim in a bigger pond. The Division I SEC certainly provided that. Two seasons after his transfer, the Olympic hopeful saw his times in the pool take a slight step back. Yet his times also, for Driggers, took a bit of a backseat. The last six months transformed into a period of self-discovery and self-expression that have helped change his life for the better. And he wouldn’t trade it in for anything ..read more

Carl Nassib was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Eight years later, he will once again be part of the draft. Nassib confirmed that he and Peggy Rajski from The Trevor Project will announce the Browns’ second-round pick on Friday, April 26. The Browns will pick 22nd in Round 2, with the 54th pick overall. It’s a cool honor for Nassib, who in 2021 while with the Las Vegas Raiders became the first active out gay player in NFL history. By teaming him with Rajski, it reaffirms Nassib’s commitment to helping raise the profile and money for the Trevor Project ..read more

There will be over 550 soccer players in action at this summer’s UEFA European Championship, which is shaping up to be the most LGBTQ-inclusive men’s international tournament ever. Beginning in Pride Month in June, Germany will host the 17th edition of the Euros — and at one stage, there was a chance it could feature the first out gay male pro footballer taking part in an international tournament, anywhere in the world. However, that chance has all but faded after Jakub Jankto — who made history in the sport when he came out publicly as gay in February 2023 — confirmed he won’t be on the Czech ..read more

Aaron Rodgers has really gone full conspiracy theorist, which is a high bar for a guy who is a known anti-vaxxer and who falsely insinuated that Jimmy Kimmel was pals with Jeffrey Epstein. Rodgers’ latest rant is that AIDS was created by the U.S. government in the 1980s for reasons that have something to with COVID and with Dr. Anthony Fauci being corrupt. Rodgers, who also plays quarterback for the New York Jets, was a guest on Eddie Bravo’s “Look Into It” podcast in February, with comments that went largely ignored until they resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. WOW… #Jets QB Aar ..read more

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked West Virginia’s ban on transgender girls in girls school sports in a ruling Wednesday, saying the state’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” violated constitutional rights and Title IX. The ruling is the latest in a nearly three-year legal battle engaged by 13-year-old transgender middle school student Becky Pepper-Jackson. Jackson, who has competed on her school’s cross-country and track teams, challenged the law after it was passed in 2021 and was upheld in an initial appeal. In February 2023, the Fourth Circuit blocked the law. And attempt to enforce ..read more

In its second year of having a nonbinary category, 48 runners competed in the Boston Marathon on Monday, 21 more than in 2023. And the winner this year, Ryan Montgomery, ran 11 minutes ahead of last year’s nonbinary winner. “What. a. day!” Montgomery posted on Instagram following the race. “Still riding that boston magic adrenaline rush just wanted to say the running community in boston is so fun, and i am really proud and happy with my 5-minute PR and perhaps winner of the non-binary race today?! marathons are so hard but incredibly fun. i soaked up VERY cheer and high-five today on the cou ..read more

In the pantheon of memorable first pitches, Rob Gronkowski probably just earned his spot on the Mount Rushmore. While others have earned their spot for futility — Mariah Carey may have the all-timer, though Baba Booey is in consideration — Gronkowski’s pitch spiked directly into the dirt of the pitchers mound was pure Gronk. Nobody within 1,000 miles of Fenway Park thinks Gronkowski can’t throw a baseball over home plate. An incredibly athletic football player, in high school he also played ice hockey, basketball and, yes, baseball. In fact, Gronk several years ago, while still with the New En ..read more