• Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search
Skip to content
Visit Sponsor
Seattle Gay Scene
  • Home
  • News
  • Arts &
    Entertainment
  • Nightlife
  •  Living
  • Geek
  • Calendar
Home *Beefcake Babylon, *The Strangeways Report, Health & Fitness, Living, Media, Queer NewsAdidas Tells LGBTQ Athletes: You’re Cool With Us

Adidas Tells LGBTQ Athletes: You’re Cool With Us

February 12, 2016• byMichael Strangeways

adidas-pride-pack-superstar

Adidas, the German multi-national sportswear conglomerate and #2 in sporting shoes and clothes behind Portland, Oregon based Nike, announced on Thursday, February 11, 2016 that it would add a clause into all contracts with sports figures the company sponsors that any athlete who comes out as as gay, lesbian, bi, trans or queer, will not have their deals terminated by the company. It’s a major step for queer athletes…a major reason many sports figures hesitate to come out, is the fear they will lose valuable sponsorship deals. In the past, major sports stars who came out, like tennis stars Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova lost millions of dollars in canceled deals once they came out as gay women.

From BuzzFeed News:

Robin Stalker, the chief financial officer of Adidas, revealed the move on Thursday at the first British conference dedicated to improving the visibility of LGBT people in sport.

This clause reads: “Adidas acknowledges and adheres to the principles of diversity, as this is a central part of the Adidas group philosophy. Therefore Adidas warrants that this agreement will neither be terminated nor modified in case the athlete comes out to the public as a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.”

Things for LGBTQ athletes have changed drastically in the last 5 years. Olympic diver Tom Daley is the face for Adidas and their NEO label. The WNBA’s Brittney Griner became the first out athlete to endorse Nike who also released its #BeTrue Collection in 2012 and has continued to add to that collection in subsequent years.

Thursday’s announcement was made at the  Team Pride: Leveling the LGBT Playing Field conference in London, an event sponsored by Adidas.

(Visited 3 times, 1 visits today)

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.

Related Posts

*The Strangeways Report

All-American “Rassler” Comes Out

  Mike Pucillo, a three-time All-American and 2008 NCAA Division

...

Living • News

YAY #1: Michael Sam First Out Gay NFL Player Picked Up By Rams

Big, big, BIG emotions as All American defensive end Michael

...

Previous: Much Excitement! Pure Fun! Be a Nerd, Dammit.
Next: PNB Announces 16/17 Line-Up…Including A Visit From Benjamin Millepied

Comments are closed.

Christms Dive Bar. Photo: Tanner McLaughlin

Upcoming Events

Sat 09

Power Mix w/Randy Schlager @ Neighbours Night Club

December 9 @ 9:00 pm - December 10 @ 4:00 am
Seattle WA
United States
Sat 09

Cheap & Easy @ The Cuff Complex

December 9 @ 9:00 pm - 3:00 am
Seattle WA
United States
Sat 09

Mx. Drag Show @ Queer/Bar

December 9 @ 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Seattle
United States
Sun 10

Wood Morning Drag Brunch @ The Lumber Yard

December 10 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Seattle WA
United States
Sun 10

Bad Bitch Drag Brunch @ Queer Bar

December 10 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Seattle
United States

View More…

  • Rss Feed
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Search

Seattle Gay Scene

SEATTLE GAY SCENE is Seattle’s Leading LGBT community website, and most visited calendar in the region.

We also proudly serve as media sponsors for a number of amazing local organizations, including: Gay City Health Project, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, SIFF, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Qulture Qreative & Hard Times Press, NARK Magazine and Bacon Strip to help bring some of the most exciting live events and entertainment in the city.

Top Categories

  • Music
  • Community
  • Drag O’Tainment
  • Seattle Lesbian Scene
  • Stuff to Do

Recent Comments

  1. mdubs on Jingle All the GAY! The next chapter of Homo For The Holidays!
  2. Bernd on Know Your Workers’ Rights Training for Seattle LGBTQ Workers
  3. Michael Strangeways on XL Bear Bust – Spanksgiving!

About Us

  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 | Seattle Gay Scene
  • Our Team
  • Advertise on SGS!
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Close Search Window
↑