Basketball

GLAAD STATEMENT ON THE SENTENCING OF WNBA PLAYER BRITTNEY GRINER TO 9 YEARS IN RUSSIAN PRISON

GLAAD STATEMENT ON THE SENTENCING OF WNBA PLAYER BRITTNEY GRINER TO 9 YEARS IN RUSSIAN PRISON

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to the sentencing in Russia of beloved American basketball star Brittney Griner. On her 168th day in custody in Russia, the out LGBTQ athlete was sentenced to 9 years in prison after being accused of smuggling less than one gram of cannabis oil in her luggage while traveling to play for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg women’s basketball team. Many have viewed Griner’s arrest and imprisonment as a power move by Russian authorities seeking to use her as a political pawn.

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About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
July 26, 2013
by Chelsea Shamy, Faith Initiatives Intern at GLAAD

Leaders in athletics receive positive responses to coming out

Two cases surfaced this week revealing proof of a shift in attitudes toward LGBT individuals in the world of sports. Rutgers Athletic Director, Julie Hermann, openly revealed she was gay in her biography on Rutgers' official website. Meanwhile, the basketball coach of Saunders High School in Yonkers, New York, came out to his players and the nation by telling his inspirational testimony of coming out.
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