The 2021 Summer Games and 2022 Winter Games highlighted a whopping 221 out LGBTQ Olympians we know of so far. Approximately 70 countries world-wide have LGBTQ criminalization laws. At least 19 out athletes come from six of these countries with either criminalization laws and/or LGBTQ persecution.
Here is a list of these countries, their laws and their track record of endangering the livelihood of LGBTQ people and some out LGBTQ Olympians who’ve spoken out.
Where some Olympians can come out as LGBTQ and face potential persecution from their home countries for being out, others will be arrested. Russia is one of these countries. Their 2013 “Gay Propaganda Law” has been linked to a rise in violence against LGBTQ people in Russia. The federal law was enacted to diminish valuable conversation, education and issues regarding LGBTQ+ rights, which are considered “gay propaganda.” The law has had damaging effects on children’s access to education regarding gender and sexuality. This law supports what Russia calls “traditional family values,” and attempts to eradicate what is called “promoting the denial of traditional family values." There were not, and aren't, any out Russian Olympians due to these laws.
Similar to Russia, Poland endorsed what they call “LGBT-free zones” in 2020. In response, three Polish regional councils voted to repeal these zones in 2021 in fear of losing EU funding late last September. However, the tension for and against anti-LGBTQ+ politics remains high.
Aleksandra Jarmolińska Olympic shooter and Katarzyna Zillman Olympic rower are both out LGBTQ athletes from Poland. Jarmolińska is known for being outspoken about LGBTQ rights, in particular, marriage equality. Outsports reported a Google translation of her message from Polish to English:
“Hello, my name is Aleksandra Jarmolińska and I will represent Poland in shooting at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. I’m showing love because I’m getting married soon. I love my future wife both privately and officially - at home, at work, at competitions, during the Olympics and I represent Poland and I want to have equal rights in it, including the right to have my marriage recognized, the right to safe family life, simply to equality
“I want to be able to compete in the white and red colors, knowing that my country treats me properly with dignity. I support equality in marriage for everyone, because ... Love does not exclude.”
Zillman has spoken out against Poland’s laws against LGBTQ people, specifically the LGBT-free zones. Her silver-medal win in the 2021 Summer Olympics was overshadowed by the lack of support from her own country.
“I know that in this way I will help others,” Zillmann said to Sportowe Fakty. “It was enough that I showed up in a T-shirt with the words ‘Sport against homophobia’ and I got a few messages from young girls practicing rowing,” she said.
The silver-medalist said she has come out to news outlets before, but that her words weren't published, Advocate reported. She used her win to seize the moment.
Countries like Venezuela persecute LGBTQ people, but in some cases criminalize the community in state duties such as the military. In 2013 a soldier was arrested for entering a red car of a man who “looked gay.” He was later convicted for abandonment of service and “sexual acts against nature,” according to a Washington Post article published late January. The draconian provision of Venezuela’s Military Code of Justice legalizes the criminalization of LGBTQ people in the military for one to three years.
Yulimar Rojas, 26-year-old track and field triple jump Olympic gold medalist from Venezuela is openly gay. She is the first woman to win an Olympic gold for Venezuela in the 2021 Summer Games and is recognized as a trailblazing lesbian in Venezuela.
“An incredible night, a night many people will remember and will have many memories in their heart,” said the athlete after her big win.
Brazil is home to 14 out Olympians who played in the 2021 Summer Games. Brazil has legal protections for LGBTQ peoples as well as legal status to adopt, transition, serve in the military and marry. However, Brazil has an epidemic of violence on their LGBTQ population, and Jair Balsonaro, far-right President of Brazil, has encouraged further persecution.
From October 2019 to September 2020 over 152 transgender and genderqueer people were killed in Brazil, the most in the world, according to a 2020 report conducted by Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM) of Transrespect versus Transphobia (TvT), an ongoing, comparative qualitative-quantitative research project initiated by Transgender Europe (TGEU). Of the 152 people murdered, 98% were transgender and 62% were sex workers.
Marta Da Silva, 2021 Summer Olympian, and 2004 and 2008 Olympic silver-medalist for Brazil’s national soccer team is inspirational to her fans. Openly gay the football star married her partner Toni Deion Pressley in January of 2021. She is considered a highly respected role-model for Brazil’s LGBTQ community in the fight against homophobia, as said i news.
Douglas Souza, volleyball gold medalist of his home Games at the 2016 Rio Olympics, spoke about his coming out journey with ESPN in 2021:
“Take your time. Don't rush, don't follow other people's pace, and don't pressure yourself to do something you don't want to do,” said Brazil’s volleyball superstar. “When you feel comfortable with yourself, when you are sure and happy with yourself, everything will be easier. Then you come out to whoever you feel you have to come out to. Or if you think you don't have to, that's fine too.”
In Austria, the home of out ski jumper Olympic silver-medalist Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, LGBTQ people have legal protections and status, but those who have been arrested for having consensual same-sex sexual relationships with underaged persons are considered sex-offenders. Before 2002 the age of consent was higher for gay relationships compared to heterosexual relationship age of comsent, age 14. Since 2003, the laws have been harmonized, but records have not been expunged.
Anti-LGBTQ laws made headlines leading up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Iraschko-Stolz told ESPN in 2014 that protesting was not a good idea and that “no one cares.”
"I know Russia will go and make the right steps in the future and we should give them time,” said Iraschko-Stolz who married her partner Isabel Stolz in 2013.
"I am here as a sportswoman," she said. "I always say I'm together with my woman now and don't have any problems, not in Russia or with the Austrian federation. Ten years ago it was different.”
In 2019 the Prosperous Armenian Party (BHK) introduced a bill “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation” among people under 16. The bill was thrown out. LGBTQ+ people are, as is, not allowed to get married, adopt or join the military. Armenia is home to Olympian Simon Proulx Sénécal who lives and was born in Canada, but qualified for an Olympic ice dance spot for Armenia after coming in fourth at the Olympic qualifying event Nebelhorn Trophy 2021.
GLAAD celebrates the historic 35 out LGBTQ athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Alongside Athlete Ally, a national nonprofit working to elevate and advocate for LGBTQ athletes, and OutChina, GLAAD is proud to release a “Guide to Covering LGBTQ Athletes at the 2022 Olympics and Paralympics” as a resource to journalists and media professionals. You can access the guide here or use the QR code below:
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