
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Fans of the original series that inspired the breakout hit “Bridgerton” TV show on Netflix were shocked in the final minutes of the season 3 finale when the character Michael Stirling was introduced by another name—Michaela—and played by a female actress, a change that sets the show up to include a lesbian love story down the line and pushed the series author to step up and defend the swap. (Spoilers below.)</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2152820585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62245" style="width:515px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2152820585.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2152820585-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Brigerton Author Julia Quinn(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The third season of “Bridgerton,” the second half of which was released last week, followed the relationship of Francesca Bridgerton and Earl of Kilmartin John Stirling, who introduces his new wife to his cousin in the final moments of the season.</p>



<p>That cousin, in the books named Michael, was instead introduced as Michaela Stirling and is played by actress Masali Baduza.</p>



<p>The swap likely went unnoticed—and seemed inconsequential—by those who have only watched the show, but fans of the books know that Michael Stirling and Francesca go on to fall in love after John Stirling&#8217;s early death.</p>



<p>With the swap, “Bridgerton” is setting itself up to tell the now-lesbian love story of Francesca and Michaela, a change that sparked such furious online discussion it prompted &#8220;Bridgerton&#8221; author Julia Quinn to issue a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliaquinnauthor/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Monday.</p>



<p>Quinn said she is &#8220;deeply committed to the ‘Bridgerton’ world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen,&#8221; and said that, despite some fan “disappointment,” she is confident the season featuring the pair will be the &#8220;most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show.&#8221;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“Thank you to readers and fans for your feedback. I am grateful for your understanding and touched by your deep commitment to the characters of the Bridgerton world,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliaquinnauthor/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Quinn wrote</a>&nbsp;in her statement. “I ask that you grant me and the Shondaland team some faith as we move forward.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The “Bridgerton” TV show, which has broken records for Netflix and streaming since its first season released in 2021, is known for its inclusivity. The show heavily features characters of color despite its regency-era setting and focus on London’s wealthiest families (the queen of England is played by Black actress Golda Rosheuvel) and has included LGBTQ+ love interests before. Most notably, older Bridgerton family sibling Benedict explores his sexuality in the third season and shares several steamy scenes with a man named Paul Suarez. Male characters Brimsley and Reynolds, the queen and king&#8217;s secretaries, respectively, share an explicit romance in the spin-off series &#8220;Queen Charlotte&#8221; and a queer artist named Henry Granville features briefly in the first season of &#8220;Bridgerton.&#8221;</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62246" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BRIDGERTON_307_Unit_05670R-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>Bridgerton. Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in episode 307 of Bridgerton. Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>5.5 billion. That&#8217;s how many minutes fans spent streaming &#8220;Bridgerton&#8221; on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/06/18/bridgerton-dominates-streaming-ratings-in-may-but-young-sheldon-captures-more-viewers-overall/">Netflix in May,</a>&nbsp;Nielsen data shows, making it the most-watched show across any streaming platform that month. That number includes streams of season 3 part 1, which released May 16, plus the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/05/15/bridgerton-season-3-netflix-premiere-time-release-date-binge-watch-regency-romance-most-viewed-top-shows/">binge-watching</a>&nbsp;of older seasons.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Season 4. Netflix back in 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/bridgerton-season-4-cast-release-date-news" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;a fourth season of &#8220;Bridgerton,&#8221; but when it will be released and which character will serve as the romantic lead is still unknown.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>The debut of the “Bridgerton” series on Netflix sent sales of Quinn’s original eight-book series soaring. In 2020, the year before the show&#8217;s release, Quinn sold 77,541 books, according to data from Circana Bookscan. The next year, that number shot to 1.6 million and remained high with 1.16 million in 2022. The series sold an additional 495,435 books last year and, so far in 2024, has sold 357,493.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/06/18/bridgerton-dominates-streaming-ratings-in-may-but-young-sheldon-captures-more-viewers-overall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>&#8216;Bridgerton&#8217; Dominates Streaming Ratings In May-But &#8216;Young Sheldon&#8217; Captures More Viewers </strong></a></p>


BRIDGERTON_306_Unit_01860R

‘Bridgerton’ Gender Swap Controversy Explained: Why ‘Michaela Stirling’ Has Thrust Fans Into Turmoil


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Canada has updated its travel advisory to warn LGBTQ residents visiting the United States about local laws and policies that may &#8220;infringe on your human rights&#8221; amid a rise in legislation targeting gay and transgender people, adding Canada to a list of countries that warn visitors to America about gun laws, mass shooting events and hate crime regularity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Spurred by what Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/canada-issues-warning-lgbtq-travelers-united-states/story?id=102674189&amp;cid=social_twitter_abcnp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">called</a>&nbsp;a need to prioritize the “interests and the safety of every single Canadian,” the country’s advisory page tells residents to check relevant state and local laws and&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states#laws" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">now links</a>&nbsp;to several maps outlining where anti-LGBTQ+ laws are in place worldwide.</p>



<p><strong>Mexico&nbsp;</strong>also&nbsp;<a href="https://portales-sre-gob-mx.translate.goog/guiadelviajero/index.php/103-ficha-de-paises/326-estados-unidos?_x_tr_sl=auto&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warns</a>&nbsp;residents that the state of Florida has passed several laws “that could have an unfavorable impact” on LGBTQ+ people, specifically noting anti-trans bathroom bills, and&nbsp;<strong>New Zealand&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/united-states-america" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warns</a>&nbsp;that LGBTQ+ people or those with “diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds” could be the targets of “violent crime.”</p>



<p><strong>Venezuela</strong>, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/venezuela-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">listed by&nbsp;</a>the United States as a do-not-travel country, warns travelers about “indiscriminate hate crimes,” as does&nbsp;<strong>Uruguay</strong>, which adds a warning about “racism and discrimination” to its travel advisory—the<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/06/americas/venezuela-uruguay-travel-warnings-us/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;South American warnings&nbsp;</a>came in 2019 after the U.S. saw two large-scale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2019/08/04/2-mass-shootings-leave-at-least-29-dead-in-under-24-hours-suspects-identified/">mass shootings</a>&nbsp;kill 31 people within 24 hours.</p>



<p><strong>Canada</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Australia</strong>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<strong>United Kingdom</strong>&nbsp;also warn about common mass shootings—typically defined as gun-related violence with four or more casualties or injuries—as the United States<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/11/25/611-mass-shootings-recorded-so-far-in-2022-second-worst-year-for-gun-violence-in-almost-a-decade/">&nbsp;saw more&nbsp;</a>than 600 mass shootings in 2022 compared to 2 in the United Kingdom, 1 in Australia and 4 in Canada.</p>



<p><strong>Germany</strong>&#8216;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs <a href="https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/laender/usa-node/usavereinigtestaatensicherheit/201382#content_1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tells its residents</a> that Americans are “facing increases in violent crime” and easy access to guns leads to “occasional killing sprees.” Such travel warnings are not uncommon—the U.S., for example, warns travelers of increased terrorist threats in<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-kingdom-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> the United Kingdom</a>, civil unrest <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/spain-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in Spain</a> and crime <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/brazil-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in Brazil</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Canada also warns that the gender notation of X on a passport, indicating an unspecified gender, could cause entry problems in some countries (the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/selecting-your-gender-marker.html#:~:text=At%20this%20time%2C%20you%20can,facility%20or%20renew%20by%20mail." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">allows</a>&nbsp;X as a gender marker for American passports).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The Human Rights Campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/roundup-of-anti-lgbtq-legislation-advancing-in-states-across-the-country" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says</a>&nbsp;more than 530 anti-LGBTQ bills had been introduced in U.S. state legislatures by May of this year, with 220 specifically targeting transgender and nonbinary people. Of those, 70 had been enacted by the start of the summer. More than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/08/25/judge-temporarily-blocks-texas-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-here-are-all-the-states-with-similar-bans-or-restrictions/?sh=a15020222a8c">a dozen states</a>&nbsp;have placed restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender people this year, including Missouri, Kentucky and Alabama, where it is now a felony to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones to transgender minors under 19 years old. Other bills have banned drag shows and censored school curriculum. The Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/roundup-of-anti-lgbtq-legislation-advancing-in-states-across-the-country" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warned in May</a>&nbsp;that threats against LGBTQ people were on the rise and FBI hate crime statistics said 20% of all hate crimes in 2021 were motivated by LGBTQ bias.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>356. That’s how many anti-LGBTQ hate crimes were documented by the Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD between June 2022 and April 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>Journalists Lyric and Asher Fergusson earlier this year published a report on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safest places</a>&nbsp;for LGBTQ people to travel in 2023. They used ten factors to rank countries and included things like whether people were protected from discrimination, if violence against LGBTQ people is illegal, if same-sex marriage is legal and transgender murder rates. The United States was ranked 25th on the list with an overall grade of B+ and the report noted that some states don&#8217;t offer protections against discrimination while others prohibit “advocacy of homosexuality” in schools. Canada was rated as the safest country, followed by Sweden, the Netherlands and Malta.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2023/06/27/new-lgbtq-safety-report-ranks-trans-friendly-travel-destinations/?sh=6ed4a8252930">New LGBTQ+ Safety Report Ranks Trans Friendly Travel Destinations</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/08/25/judge-temporarily-blocks-texas-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-here-are-all-the-states-with-similar-bans-or-restrictions/?sh=a15020222a8c">Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas Ban On Gender-Affirming Care—Here Are The Other Trans Health Restrictions Facing Court Battles&nbsp;</a>(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/08/07/florida-will-let-schools-teach-entirety-of-ap-psychology-reversing-course-after-dispute-over-lgbtq-topics/?sh=6f83ba152504">Florida Will Let Schools Teach ‘Entirety’ Of AP Psychology—Reversing Course After Dispute Over LGBTQ Topics </a>(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>


Crowd raising and holding rainbow gay flags during a Gay Pride. Trans flags can be seen as well in the background. The rainbow flag is one of the symbols of the LGBTQ community

Here’s Why These Countries—Not Just Canada—Warn Citizens Visiting The U.S.


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Transgender people are twice as likely to die as cisgender people, according to a long running study <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00185-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the<em> Lancet Diabetes &amp; Endocrinology</em> on Thursday, a difference researchers said underscores the need for improving social acceptance and medical care for trans people.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The increased risk did not fall over the almost five decades studied between 1972 and 2018, according to an analysis of medical records from nearly 3,000 trans women and more than 1,600 trans men treated at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, which treats around 90% of trans people in the country.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Trans women had particularly elevated risks of death—notably from heart disease, lung cancer, HIV-related illness and suicide—the researchers noted, and were almost twice as likely to die than cis men and nearly three times as likely to die than cis women.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There were no differences in the risks of death between trans and cisgender men, the study found, though the group was almost twice as likely to die than cis women, especially from non-natural causes like suicide.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers said the findings add weight to the idea that the health disparities observed in transgender people are not primarily driven by gender-affirming hormone treatment—which can potentially increase the likelihood of some conditions—as most causes of increased death identified have no indication of being a consequence of this.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lead author Martin den Heijer said bolstering social acceptance and improving healthcare for trans people, particularly for heart disease, tobacco use, and HIV, will be important for decreasing the risk of death, adding that further research will be needed to “fully establish” any long-term risk to hormone treatment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>It is well documented that transgender&nbsp; and gender non-conforming people, particularly trans women, have much higher risks of death and illness than the general population. Hormone therapy has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/study-finds-health-risks-transgender-women-hormone-therapy-n890031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identified</a>&nbsp;as a possible, though not definite, contributor towards this. Trans adults are at a much&nbsp;<a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/suicidality-transgender-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greater</a>&nbsp;risk of dealing with suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide than cisgender adults, as well as more likely to experience&nbsp;<a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-homelessness-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">homelessness</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/14/us-trans-transgender-deaths-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">violence</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/nearly-half-trans-people-mistreated-medical-providers-report-finds-rcna1695" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discrimination</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-don-t-know">WHAT DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>As the study is observational and based on medical records, it is possible other factors not recorded could have contributed towards the higher death rates in transgender people. The authors stress caution when applying its findings to other regions, which may use different kinds of gender-affirming hormone treatment and the 90% white study group. In a linked comment, Emory University’s Dr. Vin Tangpricha, who was not involved in the study, said gender-affirming hormone treatment for trans women in the U.S. and U.K. typically differs and could raise different safety concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE&nbsp;</h2>



<p>First author Christel de Blok said most suicides and deaths related to HIV in the study occurred in the first decades studied, “suggesting that greater social acceptance and access to support, and improved treatments for HIV, may have played an important role in reducing deaths related to these causes among transgender people in recent years.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00185-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mortality trends over five decades in adult transgender people receiving hormone treatment: a report from the Amsterdam cohort of gender dysphoria&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;(The Lancet)&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/coronovirus-covid-transgender-lgbtq-jobs.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coronavirus Economy Especially Harsh for Transgender People</a>&nbsp;(NYT)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/14/us-trans-transgender-deaths-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2021 on pace to be deadliest yet for trans and gender non-conforming Americans</a>&nbsp;(Guardian)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dyv33x/how-to-start-hrt-hormone-replacement-therapy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Hormone Replacement Therapy</a>&nbsp;(Vice)</p>



<p><em>If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 0800 567 567</em> or visit <a href="https://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=1904&amp;Itemid=151">sadag.org</a></p>



<p><strong><em>By Robert Hart, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


A protester holds a Trans Pride flag and a ‘Protect Trans

Transgender People Twice As Likely To Die As Cisgender People, Study Finds


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Tokyo 2020 has the <a href="https://www.outsports.com/olympics/2021/7/12/22565574/tokyo-summer-olympics-lgbtq-gay-athletes-list" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest</a> number of openly LGBTQ+ competitors ever, counting more out athletes than all previous Summer and Winter Olympic Games combined and featuring the first openly transgender and nonbinary athletes to participate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>British diver Tom Daley won&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/26/tom-daley-wins-olympic-diving-gold-at-last-in-synchronised-10m-platform" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gold</a>&nbsp;in the men’s synchronized 10 meter platform and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/26/tom-daley-overwhelmed-after-winning-olympic-gold-with-matty-lee-diving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;he felt “incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion” after not believing he could “achieve anything because of who” he was as a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Skateboarder Alana Smith said they were “proud” of achieving their goal of being “a visual representation for humans like me” after being the first openly nonbinary person to represent Team USA.</p>



<p>The International Olympic Committee said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/02/olympic-officials-face-off-over-protest-rules-as-us-backs-shot-putter-raven-saunders-in-podium-demonstration/?sh=4d25c21a4252">investigating</a>&nbsp;gay Team USA shot put silver medallist Raven Saunders after she raised her hands in a cross on the podium, a gesture she said was a “shout out” to Black people, the LGBTQ+ community and all people dealing with mental health.</p>



<p>Stefanie Dolson, who&nbsp;<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/4/5/18327606/chicago-sky-center-stefanie-dolson-shares-her-coming-out-story-on-lgbtq-panel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">came out publicly</a>&nbsp;in 2019, helped Team USA score gold in women’s 3&#215;3 basketball and at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outsports.com/olympics/2021/7/31/22603480/new-zealand-rugby-gold-olympics-tokyo-ruby-tui" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four</a>&nbsp;of New Zealand’s gold-winning rugby sevens team are openly LGBTQ+.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.gq.com/story/megan-rapinoe-sue-bird-march-modern-lovers-cover" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Engaged</a>&nbsp;soccer and basketball stars Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, respectively, competed for Team USA in the Tokyo Games after they met during the Rio Olympics in 2016, a less complicated arrangement than American softball players Amanda Chidester and Anissa Urtez, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insider.com/softball-couple-competed-for-olympic-medals-2021-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">are one of the&nbsp;</a>only engaged or married couples to compete against one another at the Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard also made Olympic history as the first openly transgender women to compete in the Games,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-weightlifting-laurel-hubbard-e721827cdaf7299f47a9115a09c2a162" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thanking</a>&nbsp;the International Weightlifting Federation for showing “that weightlifting is an activity that’s open to all of the people in the world.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>182. That’s at least how many openly LGBTQ+ athletes there are competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outsports.com/olympics/2021/7/12/22565574/tokyo-summer-olympics-lgbtq-gay-athletes-list" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<em>Outsports</em>. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outsports.com/2016/7/11/12133594/rio-olympics-teams-2016-gay-lgbt-athletes-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rio</a>, there were 56. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outsports.com/2012/7/18/4053416/23-openly-gay-and-lesbian-athletes-at-2012-london-summer-olympics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London</a>, 23.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outsports.com/olympics/2021/7/21/22583016/olympics-lgbtq-athlete-women-men-gay-tokyo-why" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vast majority</a>&nbsp;of openly LGBTQ+ athletes are women, in line with broader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/21/1018404859/openly-gay-athletes-in-mens-pro-sports-few" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trends</a>&nbsp;among elite athletes. Openly LGBTQ+ women outnumber out men at the Games by about nine to one and represent a far greater diversity of sports. There are more than 40 openly LGBTQ+ competitors in women’s soccer alone, a sport with no out men. The international nature of the Games shines a light on the barriers LGBTQ+ people around the world face. Many countries participating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-43822234" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">criminalize</a>&nbsp;homosexuality and being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2020/09/30/this-is-where-its-illegal-to-be-transgender-in-2020/?sh=68f4daf95748">transgender</a>—some with the death penalty or corporal punishment—and few permit same-sex marriage or allow people to legally change their gender. Beyond the law, many face discrimination, violence and prejudice for being who they are and for some athletes attending the Games can be a risk in itself. Tongan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/tongan-olympic-swimmer-competing-medal-homophobia-rcna1502" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">swimmer</a>&nbsp;Amini Fonua, for example, is openly gay and represents a country where homosexuality can be punishable by a 10 year prison sentence. Other athletes—including Hubbard, Quinn, Smith and Daley—have been the subject of offensive and abusive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58029133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slurs</a>&nbsp;by pundits commenting on the Games around the world, as well as being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/olympic-commentators-misgender-first-openly-nonbinary-athlete-b1892333.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">misgendered</a>&nbsp;on TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kvdyy/alana-smith-quinn-non-binary-olympics-athletes-misgendered-pronouns" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broadcasts</a>&nbsp;and on official&nbsp;<a href="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/skateboarding/athlete-profile-n1342516-smith-alana.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olympic</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/football/athlete-profile-n1469426-quinn.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biographics</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>In 2016,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-note-from-the-editors-1?source=twitter&amp;via=desktop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Daily Beast</em></a>&nbsp;published an article that was accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-37058787" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outing</a>&nbsp;a number of gay athletes at the Rio Games. TikTok and Twitter users have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insider.com/olympics-tokyo-2021-tiktok-lgbt-gay-grindr-photos-endangering-athletes-2021-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a>&nbsp;done the same in Tokyo. The 2022 soccer World Cup is set to be held in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/qatar-censorship-ignores-rights-fifa-rules" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qatar</a>, a nation that punishes homosexuality by up to three years in prison. While Qatari officials have insisted everyone is welcome, the decision for Qatar to host was criticized by rights groups and there were calls in 2010 for then-FIFA boss Sepp Blatter to resign after he joked that gay fans and players should just “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/14/fifa-boss-gay-fans-no-sex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refrain</a>” from sex during the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h3>



<p>After winning his third Olympic medal in as many Games—and his first gold—27-year old Briton Tom Daley <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/26/tom-daley-overwhelmed-after-winning-olympic-gold-with-matty-lee-diving" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recalled</a> coming out in 2013. “I always felt like the one that was alone and different and didn’t fit,” he said. “There are more openly out athletes at these Olympic Games than any Olympic Games previously&#8230; I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone. You can achieve anything.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52057" width="622" height="415" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1303795054-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px" /><figcaption>Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States moves past Quinn #5 of Canada during a game between Canada and USWNT at Exploria Stadium on February 18, 2021 in Orlando City, Florida. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-1024x701.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52059" width="602" height="412" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-300x205.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-768x526.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330670372-2048x1402.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption>TOKYO, JAPAN &#8211; JULY 26: Tom Daley of Team Great Britain poses with the gold medal during the medal presentation for the Men&#8217;s Synchronised 10m Platform Final on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52058" width="608" height="404" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1330627088-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px" /><figcaption>TOKYO, JAPAN &#8211; JULY 26:  Alana Smith of Team United States reacts during the Women&#8217;s Street Prelims Heat 3 on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-1024x691.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52056" width="676" height="455" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-1024x691.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-300x202.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-768x518.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-1536x1037.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1234405905-2048x1382.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px" /><figcaption>-TOKYO,JAPAN August 2, 2021: New Zealands Laurel Hubbard, the first transgender Olympian, smiles to the small crowd after failing to advance in the womens 87kg weightlifting final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  (Wally Skalij /Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-946x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52061" width="504" height="545" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-946x1024.jpg 946w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-277x300.jpg 277w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-768x831.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-1419x1536.jpg 1419w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-1037922724.jpg-2-1892x2048.jpg 1892w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" /><figcaption>Dutch couple and equestrian competitors Hans Minderhoud and Edward Gal are competing together in the Tokyo 2020 Games <small>PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY IMAGES</small></figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-1024x721.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52053" width="582" height="409" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-1024x721.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-768x541.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-1536x1081.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GettyImages-149380885-2048x1442.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px" /><figcaption>LONDON, ENGLAND &#8211; JULY 27:  Amini Fonua of the Tonga Olympic swimming team carries his country&#8217;s flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.  (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/30/here-are-the-first-openly-transgender-and-nonbinary-olympians-making-history-in-tokyo/?sh=69fd12aba9c8">Here Are The First Openly Transgender And Nonbinary Olympians Making History In Tokyo</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/02/laurel-hubbard-crashes-out-of-weightlifting-as-quinn-makes-soccer-final---here-are-the-first-openly-transgender-and-nonbinary-olympians-photos/?sh=70ecee005efa">Laurel Hubbard Crashes Out Of Weightlifting As Quinn Makes Soccer Final — Here Are The First Openly Transgender And Nonbinary Olympians (Photos)</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.outsports.com/olympics/2021/7/12/22565574/tokyo-summer-olympics-lgbtq-gay-athletes-list" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">At least 181 out LGBTQ athletes are at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, more than triple the number in Rio</a>&nbsp;(Outsports)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/30/rainbow-olympics-tokyo-hailed-turning-point-lgbtq-athletes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Rainbow Olympics’: Tokyo hailed as turning point for LGBTQ+ athletes</a> (Guardian)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Robert Hart, FORBES STAFF</em></strong></p>


Athletics – Olympics: Day 9

There Are More Openly LGBTQ+ Olympians At Tokyo 2020 Than All Other Games Combined — Here Are The Athletes Making Sporting History


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: After being removed from three major music festivals in just over 24 hours, American rapper DaBaby issued another apology Monday to individuals impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the LGBTQ community in response to homophobic remarks he made during a recent performance. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>In an Instagram post Monday afternoon, DaBaby expressed regret for his &#8220;hurtful and triggering comments&#8221; and apologized for his &#8220;misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>



<p>He explained that he now recognizes the importance of &#8220;guidance&#8221; and &#8220;education on these topics.&#8221;</p>



<p>DaBaby, 29, thanked people that &#8220;came to me with kindness” and “reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources.&#8221;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND:</h3>



<p>During his performance at the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami in late July, DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, made misinformed comments about HIV, asking the audience to put their cell phone flashlights in the air if they &#8220;didn&#8217;t show up today with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/lil-nas-x-dababy-homophobia/619610/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HIV/AIDS</a>&nbsp;or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that will make you die in two to three weeks.&#8221; He later made another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/lil-nas-x-dababy-homophobia/619610/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulgar remark</a>&nbsp;disparaging the LGBTQ community at the same show. DaShawn Usher, GLAAD’s Associate Director of Communities of Color,&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/dababy-apologizes-aids-lgbtq-1235032858/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;that DaBaby’s rhetoric is “inaccurate, hurtful, and harmful to the LGBTQ community and the estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV.” Usher added it is “critical that DaBaby and his fans learn that people living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives.” Last Tuesday. Organizers for Chicago&#8217;s Lollapalooza event&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/arts/music/dababy-lollapalooza-canceled-homophobic-comments.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced Sunday</a>&nbsp;morning, hours before he was set to take the stage, that DaBaby had been dropped from the lineup. On Monday, promoters from New York&#8217;s Governors Ball show and November&#8217;s &#8220;Day N Vegas&#8221; event in Nevada also dropped DaBaby.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT:</h3>



<p>DaBaby issued an initial&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DaBabyDaBaby/status/1420148416093503491" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apology on Twitter</a>, acknowledging that what he said was &#8220;insensitive&#8221; and that anybody who had been affected by AIDS/HIV &#8220;got the right to be upset&#8221; but claimed he had &#8220;no intentions on offending anybody,&#8221; adding &#8220;y&#8217;all digested that wrong.&#8221; The following day, DaBady seemed to backtrack from the apology, arguing in an Instagram post ​​that a &#8220;substantial amount of people&nbsp;<a href="https://ew.com/music/dababy-homophobic-comments-new-music-video-apologies-being-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refuse to understand</a>&#8221; logic. He also released a music video last Wednesday for his song &#8220;Giving What It&#8217;s Supposed to Give.&#8221; The ending credits to the video feature a written message in rainbow letters&nbsp;<a href="https://ew.com/music/dababy-homophobic-comments-new-music-video-apologies-being-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stating</a>: &#8220;My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you.&#8221; The song itself featured&nbsp;<a href="https://ew.com/music/dababy-homophobic-comments-new-music-video-apologies-being-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lyrics offensive</a>&nbsp;to individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT:</h3>



<p>As news of DaBaby&#8217;s remarks spread on social media, several music-industry celebrities lashed out at the rapper. &#8220;If you&#8217;re going to make hateful remarks to the LGBTQ+ community about HIV/AIDS then know your facts,&#8221;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CR7iJQqgyUO/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote Madonna</a>&nbsp;in an Instagram post. Elton John&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/eltonofficial/status/1420383595202494469?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that he was &#8220;shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and homophobic statements&#8221; made by DaBaby, adding that such comments &#8220;<a href="https://twitter.com/eltonofficial/status/1420383595202494469?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fuel stigma and discrimination</a>&nbsp;and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE:&nbsp;</h3>



<p>&#8220;Social Media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes,&#8221;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1422268479835721730?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DaBaby wrote</a>&nbsp;Monday.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER:</h3>



<p>37.7 million. That&#8217;s the estimated number of people worldwide living with HIV in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;UNAIDS, a co-sponsored joint program under the umbrella of the United Nations. AIDS-related illnesses claimed the lives of 680,000 people last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING:</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/arts/music/dababy-lollapalooza-canceled-homophobic-comments.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lollapalooza Drops DaBaby From Lineup After His Homophobic Remarks</a>&nbsp;(NYT)&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/news/dababy-apologizes-aids-lgbtq-1235032858/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DaBaby Apologizes for &#8216;Misinformed, Hurtful and Triggering&#8217; Comments About AIDS and LGBTQ Community</a> (Variety)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Tommy Beer, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Tag: LGBTQ

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