SPORTS
NHL Prospect Luke Prokop Comes Out as Gay
Nashville Predators welcome pro hockeys fi rst out player
BY MATT TRACY
Luke Prokop, a prospect
in the Nashville Predators’
organization, came
out as gay on July 19, becoming
the fi rst out player under
contract in the NHL.
“Hi everyone. While the past
year and a half has been crazy, it
has also given me the chance to
fi nd my true self,” Prokop wrote in
a social media post on Instagram
and Twitter. “I am no longer scared
to hide who I am. Today I am proud
to publicly tell everyone that I am
gay.”
Prokop was drafted by the Predators
in the third round of the 2020
NHL Draft and inked a three-year
deal with the team late last year.
He started his professional journey
with the Calgary Hitmen — a minor
league squad within the organization.
Luke Prokop when he signed his deal with the Predators last year.
Prokop started coming out to
his family and teammates within
the past year and then came out
to team management in June, according
TWITTER/@LUKEPROKOP_6
to ESPN. The organization’s
assistant general manager, was the
fi rst front offi ce executive he told —
and he received it very well.
“He in that moment showed me
a lot of support and told me the
Predators are behind me 1,000
percent and want what’s best for
me and that they’re proud of me
during this,” Prokop said in an
interview with ESPN. “I remember
getting off that phone call and
tears just started coming from my
eyes, I was so excited. And in that
moment, I thought, this is what it’s
going to feel like for the rest of my
life. For them to show that support
that they did in that moment, it felt
like I can rule the world.”
In his social media announcement
on July 19, Prokop said he
believes coming out will help fulfi
ll his life-long dream of playing
in the NHL — a dream that is well
within reach given his reputation
as a top-tier prospect in the team’s
organization.
➤ NHL PROSPECT, continued on p.9
Quinn Becomes First Out Trans Olympian
They will join other trans players slated to make a mark at the tournament
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
Quinn, a non-binary soccer
player, has made
history as the fi rst out
transgender athlete to
play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 25-year-old soccer player is
a midfi elder for the Canadian women’s
national soccer team and OL
Reign, a professional women’s soccer
team in Tacoma, Washington.
On July 21, Quinn participated in
Canada’s 1 – 1 draw with Japan
in the city of Sapporo. This victory
comes at a time when states across
the US have introduced legislation
that disproportionately targets and
prohibits transgender women and
girl athletes from playing on college
and school sports teams.
In an Instagram post, Quinn
praised their accomplishment and
acknowledged that work still needs
to be done.
Quinn has become the fi rst trans player to compete in the Olympic Games.
“I feel proud seeing ‘Quinn’ up
on the lineup and on my accreditation.
I feel sad knowing there were
Olympians before me unable to live
their truth because of this world,”
INSTAGRAM/QUINN
they wrote in a statement. “I feel
optimistic for change. Change
in legislature, Changes in rules,
structures, and mindsets.”
They added, “Mostly, I feel aware of
the realities. Trans girls being banned
from sports. Trans women facing
discrimination and bias while trying
to pursue their Olympic dreams. The
fi ght isn’t close to over… and I’ll celebrate
when we’re all here.”
Quinn will join other trans athletes
slated to compete at this year’s
Olympic games, including Laurel
Hubbard, a transgender woman
and professional weightlifter hailing
from New Zealand, and Chelsea
Wolfe, a transgender BMX rider who
has snagged a spot as a reserve on
the US women’s BMX Freestyle
team. In 2o20, Chris Mosier became
the fi rst out trans man to
compete in the US Olympic Team
Trials Men’s 50km Race Walk.
Before coming out as transgender
during the pandemic, Quinn
was part of the Canadian team
that won a bronze medal at the Rio
de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. They
then played at the 2019 World Cup.
JULY 29 - AUGUST 11, 2 8 021 | GayCityNews.com
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