WNBA and the LGBTQIA+ movement: what women teach us

Author: Vitória Correa

Website: Medium

Original: https://vitoriacorrea.medium.com/wnba-e-movimento-lgbtqia-o-que-as-mulheres-nos-ensinam-190420af10f4

WNBA and the LGBTQIA+ movement: what women teach us

The American women's basketball league has much more to teach than just enjoying the sport

Almost as a continuation of my previous post on LGBTQIA+ representation in the NBA, the subject extends to the WNBA. However, given all the facts surrounding the women's sports world, the idea here is different. Throughout history, women have always been in an inferior position to men and countless times they have shown that this has never been a reality.

Let me explain: while we have been forbidden to do things, we have shown more and more capacity to perform. This was the case with scientific and medicinal discoveries, among other situations that changed the world. In this way, women have shown themselves to be important in music, cinema, art in general and... in sports. However, as with all the achievements mentioned, recognition for talent and for what it is has never existed.

This all occurs as a result of the machismo rooted in society, the big problem that says that women cannot play or talk about basketball, for example. Earlier, I reported on the Restrictive Area a campaign organized by girls passionate about basketball to help the LBF grow on Twitter [read here].

Of course, the search for the appreciation of women's basketball and other sports also practiced by women is more than a campaign like this, but the step is extremely important. The will to fight for a cause shows that women have nothing of the weaker sex. The bias of the post is exactly this: female courage. A very special debate arose during the protests against the murder of George Floyd on May 25: what is the power of sports figures off the court? Is it possible to be an idol for sport and for society?

WNBA AND LGBTQIA+ MOVEMENT

If some male athletes often omit their voice regarding social causes and injustices, it is possible to say that women in various sports are examples of how to face this. With open hearts, many players in the American Women's Basketball League (WNBA) showed support for the cause, whether they are straight or of another sexual orientation. In 2014, the league founded the WNBA Pride campaign, aimed exclusively at the LGBTQIA+ movement and welcoming.

This support is one of the main differences in treatment from men's sports, where anything that doesn't do justice to heterosexuality can be easily offended. The activism of the girls and the WNBA has reached the LGBT community, the basketball and female community, positively impacting and openly fighting for respect and progress. And, with that, also came the acceptance of the athletes and, of course, the inspiration for those who see themselves represented by them. Sue Wicks, Sue Bird, DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Candice Dupree, Angel McCoughtry, Diana Taurasi, Seimone Augustus, Alexandria Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, Brian January, and Courtney Williams are some of the best examples a basketball fan could have.

SUE WICKS

The first WNBA athlete to come out as gay was Sue Wicks of the New York Liberty. In 2002, during a press conference, a reporter from Time Out New York bluntly asked about Sue's sexual orientation: "Are you gay?" The 2001 MVP then responded in the same dry manner with which he asked, "Yes." The time was nowhere near "propitious" for the statement, but it was mature and secure enough to face it head-on and provide new ground for future stars to be who they are.

BRITTNEY GRINER

Perhaps the greatest inspiration we can have in sports in relation to the LGBT cause, Brittney Griner emerged as a light for those who no longer wanted to hide their true selves. Brittney arrived in the WNBA in 2013 and her impact was immediate. At the same time that she showed her talent on the court, the athlete was immensely happy to reach professionalism and be able to open up about her sexuality. However, she battled and won many wars with herself and her former colleagues not only because of homophobia, but also because of racism, even contemplating suicide. All these situations, then, made Griner the definition of a strong woman, one who fights for what she believes in and inspires other women.

SUE BIRD

One of the top athletes in WNBA history, Sue Bird was inspired by Brittney Griner to come out. Footballer Megan Rapinoe's girlfriend, one of the leading LGBT activists in general sport, was 37 years old when she told the world about sexuality. In interviews, she made a point of making clear the influence of her WNBA colleague.

OTHER EXAMPLES

Elena Delle Donne revealed her sexual orientation just before the Rio 2016 Olympics. She gave an interview to Vogue magazine where she openly declared that she was a lesbian and that she was engaged to Amanda Clifton. Also in 2017, Diana Taurasi made her sexuality clear when her marriage to Penny Taylor, with whom she has a son and fights for LGBTQIA+ and women's rights, went public. In addition to them, DeWanna Bonner has been married to Candice Dupree since 2016.

LAYSHIA CLARENDON

There are also athletes who break more barriers than they imagine, such as Layshia Clarendon. The New York Liberty player is a person who identifies as non-binary, that is, she does not have gender labels. In a search for representation, it is essential to welcome even more people from the community and talk about it.

WHAT CAN THE WNBA CONTINUE TO DO FOR THESE WOMEN?

And, like other causes and social movements, it is not necessary to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community to support. Team owners and general managers, athletes, sponsors, among other people who identify as heterosexual also have their role in all this: education. Star Breanna Stewart auctioned off pairs of sneakers to benefit victims of the 2016 massacre at the LGBT-friendly Pulse nightclub in 2016, for example, and charged them to do more than that.

However, the WNBA gave shallow answers about its request and saw the athletes themselves stamp movements on their jerseys, the main one being Black Lives Matter. Looking at it like this, then, it is possible to see that the league takes one slow step at a time, and that's where women are actually seen. This is because the result of this pressure was that the league understood (or is understanding) the need to also take a stand on police violence and racism.

All of these women helped, at first, to spread the cause in a way that they felt good. Playing basketball is not just about getting on a court and hitting the ball, it's also about using your voice and your interests to change the world. The way each one deals with her sexuality and WNBA politics inspires other women from other sports as well, as women's wrestling exists in all aspects. These athletes demonstrate the strength that the past denied, they show that they can do anything. In this way, another level is reached without them realizing exactly what is happening. And in this story there are only winners.

"Reading what people say about me makes me want to be me even more." — Brittney Griner

Follow me on twitter: @tlsvick.

**this post was originally published by me on the Restrictive Area website on July 8, 2020, today without attribution my name.