WNBA Finals: Stewart, Wife Targeted By Hate Speech

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Post on Oct 21, 2024

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Hate Speech Hurls at Stewart and Her Wife After WNBA Finals Win

The Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart just won her second WNBA Championship, and she's celebrating with her wife, Marta Xargay, but not without facing online hate. The couple, along with the rest of the Storm team, faced a torrent of hateful and homophobic comments after the team’s win against the Las Vegas Aces. It’s a situation that sadly reflects the reality of homophobia in sports.

This isn’t the first time an athlete and their partner have been targeted online after a big win. Remember the backlash Michael Sam faced after he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams? Or the vitriol directed towards Jason Collins when he came out as gay in 2013? These experiences are all too common for LGBTQ+ athletes, and unfortunately, Breanna and Marta aren’t the first to experience it.

It's so frustrating to see these athletes, who have worked their butts off to achieve greatness, have to face this kind of negativity. The hate they received isn’t just hurtful to them personally, it also sends a message to other LGBTQ+ athletes, making them feel unwelcome and unsafe.

What Can We Do?

We need to call out this hate speech whenever we see it. It's about more than just supporting Breanna and Marta, it’s about creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all athletes. We need to show that homophobia has no place in sports.

This isn’t about forcing people to agree with someone’s sexuality. It’s about respecting people’s right to be themselves and live their lives authentically, just like anyone else. Let's create a world where athletes can celebrate their victories without fear of hate speech.

Let’s make the WNBA and all sports a more inclusive and welcoming place for all LGBTQ+ athletes. It’s time to show our support and drown out the noise of hate.