Take the story of Canadian player Mark Tewkesbury as an example. He won the gold medal in swimming in Barcelona in 1992. It was not until six years later that Tewkesbury felt comfortable publicly admitting that he was gay, and then faced repercussions for doing so. So—for example, as an inspirational speaker, he immediately lost a six-figure contract.

There is still a price to be paid for being gay in today’s sports.

In many places in the world it is not safe to be gay openly, and in some cases it is even illegal.For example, in Iran, the LGBTQ population is Sometimes killed because of homosexuality, Lesbian or transgender.

But in Canada, athletes are pushing boundaries and creating inclusive spaces. It has never been easier to stand out, be proud, and be authentic in the field of competition.

The story of Olympic cyclist and skier Georgia Simmerling and football goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé is a powerful example of how far LGBTQ has come over the years.

They first met at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both won bronze medals. A few months later they established a relationship and have been together ever since. Now, when they are preparing to participate in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, they participate in the competition as partners, and they are each other’s support system.

“It’s incredible to spend the final stages of my career with her and get her support every day,” Simmerling told CBC Sports in Milton, Ontario. “She is great. She understands me. She understands what I’m going through.”

“She brings inspiration”

Simmerling is on the cycling team in Ontario, and Labbé competes with her club team in Sweden. The two spend most of their time apart, looking for time together—the life of an elite athlete in a relationship.

Rabe told the CBC Sports Channel in Malmö, Sweden: “She is an incredible addition to my already crazy life.” “From the moment I met her, she brought Inspiration. The girl’s character and power of thought are what I long for.

“She was very confident about her identity and taught me a lot about self-worth.”

Simmerling, 32, was born and raised in Vancouver. Compared with Labbé who grew up in rural Alberta, Vancouver is more accepting of LGBTQ people. Simmerling said that her family, friends and the sports world have always supported her.

“I am very lucky, I have always been supported by my family, teammates and coaches,” Simmering said. “I have never really had a story of coming out. I told my parents, family and friends, but it was no big deal.

“I know I am very lucky to have it, because not everyone is like this.”

‘Don’t see gays’

This is a different experience for the 34-year-old Rabe, a man who calls himself a country girl.

“I have not been in contact. I have not seen homosexuals, nor have I heard of them. My family does not know anyone. I think this is not reality. The only homosexuals I know are [TV personality] Alan DeGeneres,” Rabe said of her growing up near Edmonton. “When I finally told my family, it was very challenging and very difficult. I remember how emotional it was.

“They didn’t want to talk about it for a long time. I am proud of them [now]. I think I have shocked their world, they have grown a lot. “

Although their backgrounds are completely different, they have found each other and embarked on an extraordinary journey together. Two gay athletes, their partners, they talk about their experiences fragilely, openly, and bravely.

“It’s powerful to go out and become a gay athlete,” Simmerling said. “I work hard every day to be who I am. If I can inspire, motivate or help any other athletes, whether they are gay, heterosexual, transgender, or anyone else, I am very happy and proud.”

I just want to live my life truthfully and truthfully. I don’t want to hide who I am, I want to be completely accepted.-Stephanie Rabe

Labbé said that Simmerling helped her to be able to tell the truth and fully accept all of her.

“She inspired me to tell others about my abilities and give me a voice,” Rabe said. “I just want to live my life truthfully. I don’t want to hide who I am, I want to be completely accepted.”

Sports Inclusion Site

On the occasion of Pride Month, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), together with many other sports groups, launched a new sports inclusive website. It is a support and resource space for national, provincial and regional, local, and club sports organizations that are working hard to make their space more fair and inclusive for those who identify as LGBTQ.

COC CEO David Shoemaker said: “Making sports truly inclusive of all and enabling everyone to participate requires joint efforts at all levels of education, resources, expertise, and systems.”

This website was created by the LGBTQI2S+ Sports Inclusion Working Group. The organization was established during the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, under the guidance of COC, Canadian Professional Golfers Association, Canadian Women and Sports, University of Calgary Department of Kinesiology and Challenge Accepted Collective.

The organization has four main goals: to let Canadian sports organizations at all levels understand how LGBTQI2S+ inclusiveness can be part of making sports safer and free from abuse; to ensure that sports organizations have the ability to make sports safer and more popular; to ensure that groups adopt Meaningful actions make sports safer; and generally ensure that all LGBTQI2S+ people are safer and more welcoming of sports.

Simmerling and Labbé pointed to the work done by COC and other Canadian groups to ensure that, like many other openly gay athletes, they feel represented, safe and tolerated.

“We are slowly transforming and slowly moving towards a globally accepted place, but at the same time we know that many places in the world are deeply rooted in homophobia. We still have a long way to go,” Simmerling said. “What’s there? It’s a better place to stand up and become a leader than Canada. If we don’t, it would be extremely hypocritical.

“We can do more. People can ask us for resources, and we can be role models in this regard.”

‘The movement has made progress’

Rabe said that the national women’s football team is more united than ever, especially after teammate Quinn came out publicly.

Watch | Quinn talks about breaking the dual barriers in sports:

Quinn, a member of the Canadian national football team, talked to Anastasia Bucsis about coming out, pronouns, and how the world of sports has become more inclusive. 8:28

“We all just want to find this way in this world. The movement has made progress. It continues to inspire people to be themselves, allowing them to live freely without being judged,” Rabe said. “I have always felt safe, especially in the environment of the national team. And I particularly think that recently, our team has done a very good job with open and fragile conversations that didn’t always exist in the past.”

This is the second pride month during the pandemic. Once again, parades will not take to the streets, parties and celebrations will be restricted, and communities will not be able to gather as they did in the past. Then came the Olympic and Paralympic Games shortly after July and August.

These games may see more openly gay, lesbian and transgender athletes participating in competitions than ever before. Despite the lack of public activism on this issue, mainly due to restrictions on movement and gatherings during the pandemic, athletes are more aware of their important role in creating space and safety for the LGBTQ community than ever before.

Simmerling and Labbé will do their part in Tokyo. together. As a partner.

“I just want to be able to tell this story to our children one day. Sharing this moment with her is so special,” Rabe said.