Story at a glance
- Nesthy Petecio became the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing.
- An out lesbian, Petecio dedicated her medal to the LGBTQ+ community.
- This year’s Olympics boast more LGBTQ+ athletes than all other Summer Olympics combined.
Despite coming in second, boxer Nesthy Petecio said her silver medal feels like gold. The first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal dedicated the historic award to another community she represents.
“This win is for the LGBTQ community. Let’s go, fight,” she said in Filipino at a press conference.
Pasensya na po kayo, silver lang nakayanan ko. Ginawa ko po lahat kanina sa taas ng ring. Salamat po ng marami sa dasal at supporta niyo. Higit sa lahat sa diyos! At safe kami pareho ng kalaban ko. Babalik po tayo Mas Malakas. ❤ pic.twitter.com/7WJxrNHb9c
— Nesthy Petecio (@nesthypetecio11) August 3, 2021
“I was worried because I thought about getting bashed or something like that. That’s why my statements were kind of limited. I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes,” she said about coming out as lesbian. “But I am very proud to be part of the LGBTQ community. I’m not going to deny that. Whatever gender we may identify ourselves as, as long as we have a dream, we have to keep fighting and set aside those who try to doubt us or pull us down.”
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The Philippines was ranked one of the most gay-friendly nations in the world and the most gay-friendly in Asia, but violence against the LGBTQ+ community — especially transgender and gender nonconforming people — continues. There are no legal protections against discrimination at the national level, although some cities have adopted ordinances, and conversion therapy is not banned — although donating blood is for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
A record-setting 168 members of the LGBTQ+ community competing in Tokyo this year, representing 27 countries in 26 sports, have already outperformed entire nations. If the out LGBTQ+ athletes at the Tokyo Olympics were a country, they’d currently be ranked 10th, according to OutSports, which is keeping track of their performance.
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