Historically, when it comes to the rights of the LGBTQ community, it has been a hard and unfair road. The pathway of LGBTQ Olympics athletes has also been challenging, but one of perseverance and gradual recognition.
As the world watches on as the Paris 2024 Olympics unfolds, the spotlight on diversity and inclusion shines brighter than ever, marking a pivotal moment for LGBTQ representation in global sports.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games made an important mark when it comes to diversity, with this edition of the Olympic Games so far totalling 195 LGBTQ Olympics athletes among more than 1,000 competitors.
This data concluded from the sports magazine OutSports has considered public statements and social media athletes’ posts. This is the highest number of LGBTQ competitors in the history of the Games.
As a supporter of LGBTQ people and their rights, the award-winning digital marketing agency in Latin America, Sherlock Communications, celebrates the number of LGBTQ athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Long and Arduous Journey of LGBTQ Olympic Athletes
Historically, LGBTQ people have faced discrimination and invisibility, either professionally or within social circles. Athletes have also had to navigate a landscape marked by homophobia and have mostly managed to hide themselves away from adversity. Early Olympics saw these athletes competing in silence, their true identities obscured.
It was only in 1975 that the story began to change. American football player David Kopay was the first professional athlete to openly reveal his sexuality.
This being said, however, he only came out as gay three years after leaving the National Football League (NFL). Later, Kopay became a member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletes Foundation in the United States.
Nearly 20 years on, swimmer Bruce Hayes, a member of the gold medal-winning American 4x200m freestyle relay team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was the first Olympic champion to come out as gay.
The Gay Games Importance
Bruce Hayes went on to work as a spokesperson for the Gay Games. Founded by American Tom Waddell, the Gay Games was the first international competition for LGBTQIAP+ individuals.
In 1982, the first edition of the Gay Games took place in San Francisco, gathering around 1,300 athletes. Last year, the Gay Games brought together over 2,000 athletes in Hong Kong.
Accepted Yet not Embraced by Olympics
Throughout the history of the Olympic Games, it’s clear that the Games themselves have not always embraced all LGBTQ competitors. Transgender participants, for example, were only allowed to compete starting at the 2004 Olympics. Despite this, no transgender athlete actually competed until the Tokyo Games in 2020.
Additionally, from 1968 to 1998, the International Olympic Committee required athletes to undergo sex testing to prevent participants from disguising physical advantages deemed ‘unfair and masculine’ in exclusively female events.
The landscape started to change effectively after brave LGBTQ athletes opened up about their sexuality in difficult times, and even more so after the improvement of the International Olympic Committee’s policies on gender and sexuality.
Although progress has been made, the Olympics still faces significant challenges when it comes to including intersex athletes; those born with sexual development differences that do not align with traditional binary definitions of female or male.
A Diverse and LGBTQ Olympic Games
The Paris 2024 Olympics promised to be a watershed event for diversity and inclusion, and despite the lack of data which was based purely on athletes’ experiences on social media and official Games broadcasts, it truly succeeded!
In numbers, LGBTQ Olympic athletes already stand at the highest sum in the Game’s history. A survey by the Outsports news portal counted only 7 openly LGBTQ Olympic athletes participating in Sydney 2000.
In Athens 2004, they were 11, then, in 2008, 10 in Beijing; 23 in London 2012; 56 in Rio 2016; 186 in Tokyo 2020, and, finally, 195 LGBTQ athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In the United States of America, 32 Olympic athletes opened up as LGBTQ, with only one being male. Brazil comes in a close second represented by 27 women and three men. Australia comes right after with 22 homosexual athletes.
The Organizing Committee’s explicit commitment to these values, alongside specific initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQ athletes, signals a new era. These efforts range from inclusive policies and programs to partnerships with LGBTQ advocacy groups, aiming to create a welcoming environment for all participants.
Paris 2024 legacy has to continue
The implications of Paris 2024’s commitment to diversity and inclusion extend far beyond the Olympics themselves. This event has the potential to set a new standard for international sporting events, influencing national sports policies and grassroots initiatives.
The highest presence of LGBT+ athletes in Paris 2024 serves as a powerful statement against discrimination, promoting a message of equality, acceptance and support.
The Paris 2024 Olympics sends a message not only to the world but also to schools, neighbours and communities that discriminate LGBTQ athletes in the beginning of their career instead of supporting them.
Many boys and girls, after opening up about their sexuality, gave up on the sports due to homophobia. That’s why the increasing number of LGBT Olympics athletes is so important. For young LGBT+ individuals, seeing athletes who share their identity compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage can be profoundly empowering.
A diverse and LGBTQ representative Olympic Games contributes to the global conversation on LGBT+ rights, potentially catalysing change in countries where discrimination remains rampant.
The Competition Against Discrimination Also Continues
Despite progress, challenges still remain. LGBT+ athletes continue to experience discrimination, both within their sport and in broader society. The media plays a crucial role in facing this situation, with the potential to take the bull by the horns, and, in doing so, shaping narratives and influencing perceptions positively.
Additionally, by showing LGBT Olympic athletes with their partners on the official broadcast, they send a message to the world crying out that we can love whoever we want to and there is no space for discrimination.
During the women’s football podium awards at the Olympics, we watched live as the Brazilian player, Marta, celebrated winning the silver medal together with her wife, Carrie Lawrence. We also saw Ana Carolina from the Brazilian women’s volleyball team celebrate her victory with her wife, Dutch player Anne Buijs. Moments like these need to become increasingly common.
The Paris 2024 Olympics stands on the cusp of history, poised to transform the landscape of LGBTQ representation in sports.
By embracing diversity and inclusion, these Games can inspire a new generation of athletes and fans alike, fostering a world where everyone is free to compete and be recognized for their achievements, regardless of their identity.
The road ahead for LGBTQ Olympic athletes is a winding one full of challenges and bumps along the way, but the potential for positive change is immense and we can expect a prouder, more diverse LA 2028.
