And yet, the image of O’Hara-the factually gorgeous, simultaneously buoyant and brainy and fierce defender who had probably just received a concussion on the field, but still seemed indefatigable-planting that kiss sent shockwaves through the internet.Īs is probably clear by now, however, the desire for queer representation on these boards can be so intense and vitriolic that it sometimes crosses into creepy, perhaps ethically questionable, territory. women’s team won the title and embarked on the most exuberant, joyful, and downright gay press tour in sports history, it seemed like half the roster was out and queer and proudly kissing their girlfriends and partners in ways that made Abby Wambach’s groundbreaking 2015 World Cup kiss feel quaint. When Kelley O’Hara leapt into the stands after winning the World Cup in Paris earlier this month and kissed a woman on international TV, it wasn’t as if she was the first female soccer player to ever kiss another woman. In fact, by the time the U.S. What to Do When Your Kid Is Reading a Book That Makes You Uncomfortable The Forgotten Gay Cable Network That Changed LGBTQ History Madison Cawthorn Thrusting His Naked Body on Another Man’s Face Doesn’t Tell Us Much About His “Gayness”
This post is part of Outward, Slate’s home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture.
