Gay men in sport

This page shares the results from Out on the Fields () and OutSport (), the first and second international research on homophobia and transphobia in sport. You will find statistics on gay athletes and trans athletes. 

• Many of the results for gay athletes and bisexual athletes were identical or similar;

• The data comes from 12,+ lesbian, lgbtq+, bisexual, transgender participants from all EU countries and the United State, Canada, Australia, and NZ; 

This page also links to other high-quality studies to assist researchers, LGBTQ leaders, media, and sports organizations understand and write about homophobia and transphobia.

You will find links to data from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.

We only link to studies which are free to read (no paywalls/open access).  Contact us to have your study listed.

Bill Tilden, who does not hide his homosexuality, wins the men's singles title at Wimbledon. He goes on to win two more Wimbledon titles, seven U.S. championships, and leads U.S. teams to seven Davis Cup victories. In , a survey of sportswriters names Tilden the greatest tennis player of the half-century. He dies in

Tom Waddell, a year-old Army physician, places sixth in the Olympic decathlon. Waddell, who is openly lgbtq+, becomes increasingly involved in gay politics. In , Waddell and his loved one Charles Deaton are the first gay men to be featured in the "Couples" section of People magazine. Five years later, Waddell forms San Francisco Arts and Athletics to plan the first "Gay Olympic Games."

David Kopay, an NFL running back who played for five teams (San Francisco, Detroit, Washington, New Orleans, Green Bay) between , becomes the first professional team-sport runner to come out -- doing so three years after retiring. He admits his homosexuality during an interview with the now-defunct Washington Star.

Billie Jean