All three queer parents who competed at the Paralympics this year won medals, including gold!
As I said when I totaled the queer parent medal count in August after the Olympics, being a world-class athlete is hard. Being a parent at the same time is even harder. Yet these athletes have shown us it’s possible to be both. Congratulations to all!
Lee Pearson continued his dominance of para-dressage, winning his 12th gold for Great Britain. He became a single foster parent to a 15-year-old last year.
Asya Miller won silver with the U.S. goalball team, her fourth goalball Paralympics medal (for a total of 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze) and fifth Paralympics medal overall. (She earned a bronze in track and field in the 2000 Games.) Her son is 10 years old.
Moran Samuel won silver in single sculls for Israel, after carrying her country’s flag in the opening ceremonies. She has also competed in wheelchair basketball, winning gold at the 2012 Games in London and silver in Rio. Her son is 5 years old.
Finally, not a queer parent but raised by two moms is Tatyana McFadden, who won her 20th Paralympic medal—8th gold—and set her 3rd world record! There’s also a great new picture book about her.
Thanks to Outsports for their list of 36 publicly out LGBTQ paralympians, from which I identified the parents. (If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know.)