LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2025 on Feb. 14
Thu. February 13, 2025 8:30 PM by Ross Forman
Created and hosted in Chicago, the LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame is returning after a decade of silence.
Formerly the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame, a project formed by Chicagoan Bill Gubrud, it inducted three classes of honorees (in 2013, 2014 and 2015), then went dormant.
Now the Sports Equality Foundation is reviving the project to celebrate the contributions and achievements of LGBTQ people and organizations in sports – with members of the Class of 2025 starting to be announced on February 14 and a formal induction ceremony set for August 10 in Las Vegas.
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will feature 12 individuals and one organization – and GoPride.com can confirm that one Chicagoan is among the 2025 honorees. In addition, the Sports Equality Foundation is launching a new award, in addition to the Hall of Fame, which will be announced in the coming months. Details on the new award and the first-ever award-winner will be announced to further recognize an individual as it relates to LGBTQ sports.
“It’s now even more important (to revive the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame) in light of everything that’s going on in the world and affecting our community – and it ties directly into the Sports Equality Foundation’s mission and goals to be collaborative in our community,” said Scott Bova, chairman of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame committee of the Sports Equality Foundation, which has been planning the re-launch for about a year.
The National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame was located at the Center on Halsted in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood and past inductees include John Amaechi, Billy Bean, Jason Collins, Tom Daley, Brittney Griner, Billie Jean King, Greg Louganis, David Kopay, Martina Navratilova, Dave Pallone, Megan Rapinoe, Renee Richards, Dale Scott and Esera Tuaolo, among others. Also inducted: the Chicago Cubs, the Federation of Gay Games, Fallon Fox, Christina Kahrl, Chris Mosier and Johnny Weir.
“The three classes were filled with individuals and organizations that made a tremendous impact on our community and the world of sports. We want to continue that legacy and take it to the next level,” Bova said. “Our commitment is long-term. We want to (induct a new class) annually, continually making (the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame) bigger and better.”
Bova said there was a conscious discussion to make the Class of 2025 “truly noteworthy” due to the decade of silence for the project. Bova said the Class of 2025 will be impactful and diverse. Honorees are individuals and groups that advance the world of sports in regard to the LGBTQ community,” he said. “I am excited about this class which includes some legends. We’re very proud of this class.”
The Sports Equality Foundation has reached out to all past inductees to attend the August ceremony, “and many of them are planning to travel to Vegas to help us celebrate this event and welcome the new class,” Bova said.
The August ceremony will include a formal dinner at the Park MGM in Las Vegas.
The host/MC for the ceremony will be announced at a future date, Bova said.
Organizers are expecting 200-500 at the Las Vegas induction and the induction ceremony may move to other cities after 2025, Bova said.
The details of a plaque, trophy or exact award for all inducted has not yet been decided.
“We pay homage to Chicago (as the birthplace of the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame) and are not opposed to returning to Chicago,” for an induction ceremony in the future, Bova said.
Robert Goman, chairman of the Sports Equality Foundation, said it is committed to the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame “for the long haul.”
Formerly the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame, a project formed by Chicagoan Bill Gubrud, it inducted three classes of honorees (in 2013, 2014 and 2015), then went dormant.
Now the Sports Equality Foundation is reviving the project to celebrate the contributions and achievements of LGBTQ people and organizations in sports – with members of the Class of 2025 starting to be announced on February 14 and a formal induction ceremony set for August 10 in Las Vegas.
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will feature 12 individuals and one organization – and GoPride.com can confirm that one Chicagoan is among the 2025 honorees. In addition, the Sports Equality Foundation is launching a new award, in addition to the Hall of Fame, which will be announced in the coming months. Details on the new award and the first-ever award-winner will be announced to further recognize an individual as it relates to LGBTQ sports.
“It’s now even more important (to revive the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame) in light of everything that’s going on in the world and affecting our community – and it ties directly into the Sports Equality Foundation’s mission and goals to be collaborative in our community,” said Scott Bova, chairman of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame committee of the Sports Equality Foundation, which has been planning the re-launch for about a year.
The National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame was located at the Center on Halsted in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood and past inductees include John Amaechi, Billy Bean, Jason Collins, Tom Daley, Brittney Griner, Billie Jean King, Greg Louganis, David Kopay, Martina Navratilova, Dave Pallone, Megan Rapinoe, Renee Richards, Dale Scott and Esera Tuaolo, among others. Also inducted: the Chicago Cubs, the Federation of Gay Games, Fallon Fox, Christina Kahrl, Chris Mosier and Johnny Weir.
“The three classes were filled with individuals and organizations that made a tremendous impact on our community and the world of sports. We want to continue that legacy and take it to the next level,” Bova said. “Our commitment is long-term. We want to (induct a new class) annually, continually making (the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame) bigger and better.”
Bova said there was a conscious discussion to make the Class of 2025 “truly noteworthy” due to the decade of silence for the project. Bova said the Class of 2025 will be impactful and diverse. Honorees are individuals and groups that advance the world of sports in regard to the LGBTQ community,” he said. “I am excited about this class which includes some legends. We’re very proud of this class.”
The Sports Equality Foundation has reached out to all past inductees to attend the August ceremony, “and many of them are planning to travel to Vegas to help us celebrate this event and welcome the new class,” Bova said.
The August ceremony will include a formal dinner at the Park MGM in Las Vegas.
The host/MC for the ceremony will be announced at a future date, Bova said.
Organizers are expecting 200-500 at the Las Vegas induction and the induction ceremony may move to other cities after 2025, Bova said.
The details of a plaque, trophy or exact award for all inducted has not yet been decided.
“We pay homage to Chicago (as the birthplace of the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall Of Fame) and are not opposed to returning to Chicago,” for an induction ceremony in the future, Bova said.
Robert Goman, chairman of the Sports Equality Foundation, said it is committed to the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame “for the long haul.”