The ongoing 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing has set an example for challenging the discrimination against LGBTQ groups in China.
There are 36 publicly out gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, pansexual, and non-binary athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
It has increased compared to the number of out athletes in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, where there were 16 out athletes (12 women, four men).
But, this year, the Olympics has 11 publicly out men athletes and 25 out women athletes. Besides, a number of publicly out coaches have also participated.
Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (Source: CGTN)
At least 4 of them have athletes competing in figure skating: Adam Rippon, Brian Orsen, Jorik Hendrix, and Romain Haguenauer.
Fourteen countries have out athletes including Canada (10), the USA (6), the UK (4), Sweden (3), France (2), and so on.
Out of the 15 sports disciplines, the athletes are competing in nine major sports, including snowboarding, ice hockey, and speedskating.
Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the countries with the most LGBTQ athletes in Beijing Olympics 2022.
Quick Overview
Rank
Countries With Most LGBTQ Athletes in Beijing Olympics 2022
Number of LGBTQ Athletes
1.
Canada
10
2.
The USA
6
3.
The UK
4
4.
Sweden
3
5.
The Czech Republic
2
6.
France
2
7.
Austria
2
8.
Armenia
1
9.
Australia
1
10.
Belgium
1
11.
Brazil
1
12.
Finland
1
13.
Italy
1
14.
The Netherlands
1
Countries With Most LGBTQ Athletes in Beijing Olympics 2022
The information and details are compiled from reliable sites on the web including Outsports and Wikipedia.
14. The Netherlands
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
The Netherlands is one of the most progressive European countries in terms of LGBTQ rights.
Besides, it is the first country to introduce same-sex marriage in 2001.
Since then, the Netherlands has allowed same-sex child adaption gender identity rights, including rights in sports.
The Netherlands women’s national field hockey team has set its best example in that case.
It is the top hockey team in International Federation Hockey (FIH), having won 8 World Cup titles and 8 Olympic medals.
And surprisingly, four of the stars of the team are out lesbians, including Kim Lammers and Maartje Paumen.
Netherlands (Source: Unsplash)
At the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, the team won a silver medal for the country.
Now, for the Winter Olympics, the Netherlands set the lesbian speed skating star, Ireen Wust.
She is 11 times Olympic medalist who just gathered another gold medal in the 1,500 meters speedskating in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
With that, Wust became the only athlete to win a gold medal in the five Winter Olympics.
Besides, Wust is the only speed skater to win 12 Olympic medals in history. Currently, at the age of 35, she has become the oldest speed skating gold medalist.
13. Italy
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
Another European Country holds the 13th spot on our list.
Italy has been open to the legal rights of LGBTQ since the 1890s.
Most big cities of Italy like Milan, Rome, and Naples have popular gay bars and host special events like Rome Pride and Milan Gay Pride each year.
Italy (Source: worldwide independent network of market research)
Since 2016, the country has practiced civil unions.
Besides, Filippo Ambrosini is representing Italy to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics in figure skating.
He is a gay and four-time national silver medalist.
12. Finland
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
Finland is one of the most advanced European countries in terms of gay rights. It ranks 7th in the world and has the strongest laws for same-sex marriages, adoption, and gender identity rights.
Discriminating LGBTQ people is illegal in Finland. Besides, Helsinki and Tampere have popular gay clubs and hosts Pride events each year.
In the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Ari-Pekka Liukkonen came out as gay and challenged Russia’s anti-gay laws. By doing so, he became the first elite athlete to come out as gay in the history of Finland.
Finland (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
That same year, the Finish Sports Gala honored him as the “Role Model of the Year.”
Besides, Finnish Sports Federation fully supported him. In 2021, Liukkonen won his first European Championship in the men’s 50-meter freestyle event.
This year’s Winter Olympics, representing Finland in ice hockey, is Ronja Savolainen. She is a lesbian and has played with the Finnish women’s national ice hockey team and the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.
11. Brazil
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
Brazil is one of the most advanced countries in Latin America for LGBTQ rights.
It is open to same-sex marriage adoption, has popular gay clubs, and hosts gay-friendly events in Rio De Janeiro.
Brazil’s Olympic volleyball star, Mauricio Souza, was terminated from the club Minas Tênis Clube in October 2021 after an anti-gay post on his Instagram.
Brazil (Source: Wallpaper Cave)
Souza had posted the viral image of the son of Superman, Jon Kent, who came out as bisexual and was kissing his boyfriend, insulting him.
His fans even unfollowed him. Whereas many players from Brazil and LGBTQ activists also pressured the club to terminate him.
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Brazil has proudly sent a 28-year-old lesbian skeleton racer, Nicole Silveira, to represent the country.
10. Belgium
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
Belgium is the fifth most gay-friendly country in the world.
Belgium became the second country in the world to allow same-sex marriage in 2003.
Besides, it is very supportive of the LGBTQ players in the sports world too.
A Flemish sports reporter of Sporza, Eddy Demarez, has been under suspension since 2020. He made homophobic jokes, and comments about the Belgian Cats members after the end of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics live.
Belgium (Source: iStock)
The viewers heard every bad joke he made with his teammate during the Facebook live session.
In the 2022 Winter Olympics, a lesbian skeleton racer, Kim Meylemans, is representing Belgium. She was fifth at the 2017 Skeleton World Cup.
Pedra De Sutter is the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium. She is the first transgender minister in Europe.
9. Australia
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
Australia is one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world.
It legalized same-sex marriage in 2017. Since then, Australia has been open to same-sex adoption gender surgery and hosts a pride festival every year in Sydney.
Besides, it consists of numerous LGBTQ-friendly sports organizations like Cricket Victoria, Australian Football League, etc.
Australia (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Moreover, Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organization, ACON, runs Pride Sports Program. Every year ACON honors the best LGBTQ sports-friendly organizations.
A lesbian snowboarder, Belle Brockhoff, is representing Australia in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The 28-year-old athlete has competed in the 2013 FIS World Championship and 2014 Winter Olympics.
8. Armenia
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 1
In 2003, Armenia opened up to create an LGBTQ-friendly environment legally.
The same year the country made homosexuality legal. Despite the fact it has been decriminalized, the situation of local gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual citizens has not changed substantially.
The LGBTQ citizens of Armenia fear being socially outcasted by their families and friends, causing them to keep their gender identity and sexual orientation a secret.
Armenian (Source: Continental Currency Exchange)
Nonetheless, the country has been doing its part to protect gender equality and LGBTQ rights.
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, a 30 years old gay figure skater is representing Armenia. He won a Bronze medal in the 2015 Golden Spin of Zagreb and competed in European Championships in 2016 and 2017.
7. Austria
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 2
Austria started to become legally friendly with the LGBTQ community in 2010.
In 2019, the Austrian Constitutional Court legalized same-sex marriage and adoption.
Besides, the Austrian Federal Minister of Defence and Sports supports and protects LGBTQ members in sports from any kind of violence.
Austria (Source: NORRAG)
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Austria has sent two LGBTQ ski-jumpers to compete for the country.
Daniela Iraschko is the winner of the 2014-15 Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup. Moreover, Iraschko is the only woman to hold the sky flying record of 200m in the world.
Lara Wolf competed in the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championship and the 2018 Winter Olympics.
6. France
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 2
During the French Revolution, France stepped into creating an LGBTQ friendly-environment legally.
Now, France is one of the most open countries in the world with same-sex marriage, adoption, and gender identity rights.
Besides, Paris, Le Marias, etc., have thriving LGBTQ communities and nightlife.
France (Source: Unsplash)
The 2018 Gay Games, an international event for supporting LGBTQ groups in sports, was held in France. The event had 10,317 participants, 20,000 visitors, and 75,000 viewers.
The French sports minister, Roxana Mărăcineanu, is set to be there to support the gay figure skaters Kevin Aymoz and Guillaume Cizeron in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Similarly, Aymoz is five times French national champion. Whereas, Cizeron is five times European Champion and seven times French national champion.
5. The Czech Republic
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 2
The Czech Republic banned discrimination against LGBTQ groups in 1962.
Currently, the country is progressive towards being more friendly to the LGBTQ community. It allows the civil union for LGBTQ people.
And, it has just made a big step by allowing the two lesbian athletes to compete in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Czech Republic (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Sarka Pancochova is a 2014 snowboard freestyle and snowboard slopestyle World Cup winner. She is competing in snowboarding.
Whereas Aneta Kedolva is competing in ice hockey. She was IIHF Women’s World Champion in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Sweden is the most LGBTQ-friendly country in the world. It has strong laws to protect LGBTQ rights, same-sex marriage, and adoption.
Sweden was the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their sexual identity in 1972.
The Swedish Sports Confederation has been collaborating with the RFSL on a project, “sports for all bodies,” to improve the inclusive opportunities for transgender people in sports.
Sweden (Source: Wallpaper Safari)
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Sweden has sent three lesbian athletes to compete for the country.
Ebba Berglund and Anna Kjellbin are the ice hockey players in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL).
Besides, Kjellbin is two times SDHL champion and has competed in the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2016 and 2017.
Moreover, Sandra Naeslund is a Swedish freestyle skier.
3. The UK
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 4
The United Kingdom is the sixth most LGBTQ-friendly nation in the world.
In 2010, it started implementing laws for protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.
Since then, it has had the most powerful laws for transgender rights, marriage, child adoption, and gender identity.
Brighton is the gay capital of the UK. Besides, London, Briston, Manchester, etc. are also popular with the gay community, clubs, and hosts pride festivals each year.
Pride Sports is a UK-based organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion in sports in collaboration with other national organizations.
United Kingdom (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, The UK has sent 4 LGBTQ athletes to compete for the country.
Makaya Gerken Schofield is a freestyle skier. She is pansexual and has competed in the 2021 FIS freestyle ski and snowboarding World Championships.
Gus Kenworthy is a freestyle skier from England. He is gay and has won a silver medal in men’s slopestyle at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Bruce Mouat is a curler from Scotland. He is gay and is an athlete on the World Curling Tour team.
Lewis Gibson is a figure skater from Scotland. He is gay and has won four British national titles.
2. The USA
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 6
Since 2003, the United States has made itself an LGBTQ-friendly country. Besides, it has strong laws for LGBTQ rights protection, same-sex marriage, child adoption, and gender identity.
The Biden-Harris administration has ordered every federal organization in the US to implement the Supreme Court’s anti-LGBTQ discrimination rules and to support them in all areas of life, including sports.
The USA has proudly sent its 6 LGBTQ athletes to compete in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Timothy LeDuc is the first non-binary athlete to be competing in the Winter Olympics. Timothy is two times US figure skating champion and a 2018 Four Continent Silver medalist.
United States (Source: Unsplash)
Amber Glenn is both bisexual and pansexual. She was a silver medalist in the 2021 US figure skating championship.
Jason Brown is gay and figure skater. He was the 2015 US figure skating champion and has won 2 medals in the Four-Continent Championships.
Alex Carpenter is an ice hockey player and lesbian. She won a silver medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics and Patty Kazamier Award in 2015.
Andrew Blaser is a gay and skeleton racer. He competed in the 2021 USA Skeleton World Cup.
Brittany Bowe is a lesbian and speed skater from Florida. She has won 11 medals in the world inline speed skating championships: 8 gold, one silver, and two bronze.
1. Canada
No. of LGBTQ Athletes: 10
Canada is the second most friendly LGBTQ country in the world.
In 1969, Canada made itself open to homosexuality. Besides, it has legalized gay marriage, adoption, gender identity.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has been collaborating with You Can Play (YCP) and Egale to create a more LGBTQ-friendly environment in the Canadian Olympic Team.
In the Beijing Olympics 2022, Canada has sent 10 LGBTQ athletes to compete for the country.
Moreover, 7 of the athletes are competing in ice hockey, 2 in figure skating, and one in biathlon.
Megan Bankes is a lesbian athlete. She is representing Canada in the 2022 Olympics in biathlon.
Paul Poirier is a gay athlete. He is the 2019 Skate Canada Champion and has won two silver and a bronze medal in Four Continents Championship.
Canada (Source: Unsplash)
Eric Radford is a gay figure skater. He is seven times Canadian national champion, two times world champion, and the 2018 Olympic gold medallist.
Brianne Jenner is a lesbian ice hockey player. She won a gold medal in the 2010 Four Nations Cup.
Erin Ambrose is a lesbian ice hockey player. She competed in the 2014 Four Nations Cup.
Emily Clark is a lesbian ice hockey player. She won a silver medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Melodie Daoust is an LGBT 2020 NHL All-Star player. She won a gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Jamie Lee Rattray is an LGBT ice hockey player with the Markham Thunder team. She won a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World’s Women’s U18 Championship.
Jill Saulnier is an ice hockey player of Montreal Stars. She competed in the 2014 Four Nations Cup.
Micah Zandei Hart is a lesbian ice hockey player. She competed in the 2019 IIHF’s Women World Championship.
