How This Tiny Swimsuit Helps An Olympian Promote LGBT Visibility
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Openly gay Olympian Amini Fonua, 26, is passionate about promoting
the visibility of LGBT people in sports and his swimsuit is helping.
From Rio de Janeiro, where he is preparing to compete in his second
Olympic Games, Fonua said “Having the words ‘gay and lesbian’ over my
butt is my way of announcing my queerness for the swimming world to
see.”
He’s not referencing the official swimsuit he’ll wear when he
competes for Tonga in the 100-yard breaststroke; he’s talking about the
one given to him by the Los Angeles LGBT Center
three years ago when he helped raise tens of thousands of dollars as a
participant in the Center’s Beach Volleyball Classic fundraiser. The
Center’s former name, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, is on the back.
“I have worn
that suit to every single practice leading up to Rio,” says the Texas
A&M University grad and winner of three gold medals from last year’s
Pacific Games, “because there’s not a lot of diversity in swimming.
It’s a gentle reminder to everybody and myself that I’m different, and
to take pride in that difference.”
Fonua made
headlines four years ago as one of the few openly gay Olympians at the
London Games and as the opening ceremony flag bearer for the
conservative island nation of Tonga. According to OutSports,
he’s one of a record number of 11 openly gay male athletes competing at
the Rio Games (none of whom are American). There are at least 33 other
openly lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or intersex athletes who are
competing — also a new Olympic record.
How important is it to Fonua to be “out” as an Olympian? “It means
absolutely everything to me,” he says. “I want the next generation of
athletes who advance through swimming’s world rankings to feel safe and
comfortable being themselves. I also believe the
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