LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Class, Honoring Trailblazers from Pro Leagues to High School

The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame, established in 2013 to celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports, announced its class of 2026 on January 20, 2026, adding 10 new inductees whose careers span professional leagues, the Olympics, high school sports, and sports media. This brings the total number of enshrined members to 71, with organizers emphasizing the need to keep these stories visible amid the fast pace of sports.

The inductees include a diverse group of transgender, non-binary, gay, and lesbian athletes and leaders who have advanced inclusion at various levels. Trans and non-binary Olympic distance runner Nikki Hiltz, who earned a World Championships silver medal and multiple national titles while advocating for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in track and field, is among the honorees. NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who officiated for over 30 seasons and came out as gay in 2015 after a player used a slur against him during a game, became the league's second out gay official; the player later apologized, stating his comments were unacceptable and did not reflect his feelings toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Women's rugby star Phaidra Knight represented the U. S. internationally for nearly two decades, earning USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2010 and induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017. High school basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo came out publicly in 2013, describing his team's response as overwhelmingly positive, and has since advocated for LGBTQ+ inclusion in school sports and education. Former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan, who played six seasons with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, came out as gay in 2017 and noted that closeted gay or bisexual players exist on nearly every NFL team, citing career concerns as a barrier.

Sports executive Rick Welts, current CEO of the Dallas Mavericks with over 50 years in the NBA, was the first prominent American sports executive to come out publicly in 2011 and has been ranked as the most powerful out LGBTQ+ person in American sports. WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks, who played six seasons with the New York Liberty, was among the first active players to come out in 2002, observing at the time that gay players outnumbered straight ones in the league. Other inductees are Maybelle Blair, a 1940s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player who came out in her 90s; Robin Roberts, an ESPN broadcaster inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame; and high school coach Dan Woog, author of "Jocks: True Stories of America's Gay Male Athletes."

Separately, Billie Jean King, with 39 Grand Slam titles and decades of advocacy for gender equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion, and Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in a major U. S. men's professional sports league in 2013, will receive the Glenn Burke Award. The award honors those whose courage has transformed sports culture and is named for Glenn Burke, a Dodgers outfielder credited with popularizing the high five, who faced discrimination as one of the first openly gay players in men's team sports in the 1970s. Scott Bova, chair of the Hall of Fame, stated: “These individuals embody the very spirit of our mission. .. Their contributions to sports and advocacy have paved the way for greater inclusion and have inspired countless athletes and fans worldwide. ”

The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 25, 2026, in New York City during NYC Pride, with a follow-up celebration in Chicago in 2027, the city where the Hall was founded. This announcement underscores ongoing conversations about LGBTQ+ visibility in sports, particularly as major leagues like the NHL report no openly gay players as of late 2025. The recognition highlights personal stories of resilience, from coming out amid slurs and career risks to pioneering roles in male-dominated spaces, fostering broader acceptance for LGBTQ+ athletes, officials, and executives.