Meet the Canadian LGBTQ2S+ Athletes at the Rainbow Olympics
Georgia Simmerling (cycling) and Stephanie Labbè (soccer). Source Tumblr
by Christine Kinori
As many plan to watch the Closing Ceremonies for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics tonight, let’s consider how amazing it is that for the first time in the history of the Olympics, there were over 170 LGBTQ2s+ athletes competing in the events. So many that the Tokyo Olympics are being referred as the Rainbow Olympics .
Here are some of the LGBTQ2s+ Canadian athletes who made history in Tokyo.
Quinn
Quinn identifies as non binary and made history as the first openly transgender competitor in the Olympic games . Quinn plays the midfielder position in the Canadian women’s soccer and said that they felt extremely proud to be part of the LGBTQ2s+ community but also felt sad knowing there were other Olympians before who were unable to live their authentic life due to discrimination and bias towards trans women. Quinn is now the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal.
Markus Thormeyer
Thormeyer is a Canadian swimmer came out as gay in 2020 and expressed the relief he felt to finally be able to be himself . In his interview , he stated that hiding his sexuality become a huge distraction to his training .This was the first Olympic he has participated in since coming out and his performance was at his peak .
Shaina Pellington
Shania is a Canadian basketball player. She identifies as a lesbian and was part of the national basketball team that represented Canada in the Tokyo Olympics.
Florence Maheu
Maheu is a Canadian slalom canoeist whois openly queer . Maheu has been internationally competing since 2012 and managed to make it to the semifinals in the Tokyo olympics.
Georgia Simmerling
Simmerling is a Canadian road and track cyclist who identifies as a lesbian . She is currently dating soccer goalkeeper Stephanie Labbè. In a previous interview , she said she felt powerful to be out and to be a gay athlete.
Alena Sharp
Sharp is a Canadian professional golfer who came out as gay back in 2017.Initially , she said she felt uneasy publicly coming out but she is now comfortable following the support and love she received.
Elissa Alarie
Alarie is a Canadian rugby union player who is publicly out as a lesbian .
Britt Benn
Benn is a Canadian rugby player who identifies as a lesbian .
Ghislaine Landry
Landry is a Canadian rugby player who identifies as a lesbian .
Kaili Lukan
Lukan is a Canadian rugby sevens player who identifies as a lesbian .
Annie Guglia
Guglia is a Canadian skateboarder and LGBTQ2s+ activist who identifies as a lesbian. Her goal is to use her visibility and presence in sport to bring more acceptance .For her inclusivity is important ,that is why she support initiatives that aim for equality for all.
Kadeisha Buchanan
Buchanan is a Canadian soccer player who made her debut in the national team when she was only 17. She was part of the Canadian team in the Tokyo Olympics and they took home the Gold medal in the women’s tournament football.
Stephanie Labbè
Labbè is the goalkeeper for Canada’s women soccer team. In 2016 Rio Olympic, she underwent a trying time after Olympic fans taunted her with homophobic chants. Luckily , that didn’t dissuade her from pursuing her goals and living her authentic life .
Erin Mcleod
Mcleod is a veteran Canadian goalkeeper who identifies as a lesbian .She came out publicly in 2014 and was among the group of athletes who called for change in the language of the Olympic charter and host-city contract to include non-discrimination of sexual orientation.
Kailen Sheridan
Sheridan is a Canadian international footballer. She is openly lesbian and uses her platform to raise awareness for the LGBTQ2s+ community .
Larissa Franklin
Franklin is a Canadian softball player who is openly lesbian . She is part of the team that led Canada to take the Bronze medal in the women’s softball tournament in Tokyo.
Joey lye
Lye is also a Canadian softball player who represented Canada in the Tokyo Olympics and won Bronze.
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford
Gabriela is a Canadian middle -distance runner. She publicly came out as bisexual in 2017. She has been open about her early struggles with internalized homophobia and is always ready to champion LGBTQ2s+ rights.
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Christine Kinori is a travel freelance writer. “I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new culture. I believe in equality and I want my daughter to live in a better world.”