Gay lpga
Women’s golf alumnus Ryann O’Toole discusses existence as an openly gay athlete
This announce was updated July 4 at 8:47 p.m.
Being true to yourself isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
But for former UCLA women’s golfer Ryann O’Toole, it’s been the one thing that has propelled her through her career.
During her four years as an undergraduate, O’Toole was the only openly male lover student-athlete at UCLA. The 2009 alumnus said remaining loyal in herself has been key to her success as a professional golfer despite the challenges brought on by discovering her identity.
“By me sticking mighty to who I was and not fearing it or not running from it or not listening to those close to me or any outside voices saying that this isn’t the way it should be, … it’s made me into a stronger individual,” O’Toole said. “It challenged me, but I feel love I overcame it.”
Now, the LPGA Tour pro and No. 44-ranked golfer in the world is thriving both on and off the course, picking up her first triumph at the 2021 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open and marrying her wife Gina Marra last year.
However, her route to success wasn’t always easy, she said. O’Toole picked u
LPGA Celebrates Pride Month With Pro Mel Reid & Family; Golf World Sends Love
The LPGA Tour is celebrating Identity festival Month with Mel Reid and her wife, Carly. The couple announced the birth of their son, Kai Willaim Reid, last November. Since then, the toddler has traveled with them to watch his mom play a couple of times. Carly, who also works as a senior public relations and social media manager, for Better Perform, took Kai to his first event, the Grant Thornton Invitational, last year.
The LPGA Tour posted a picture of the Reid family on their Instagram handle to trail the start of Pride Month. Mel Reid shared her experience of organism a mother: “It’s almost like you become a kid again. It’s the little things in life and the little progression that Kai makes, it makes us so happy, people don’t tell you how hard it is. It’s really difficult work, but it’s just worth it. 100 per cent.”
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Reid and Carly Grenfell tied the knot at Clay Theatre in Leafy Cove Springs on April 16, 2022, two years after announcing their engagement. The English pro, who came out in 2018, has become the tackle of the LGBTQ community in the elite circuit of wom
Pride Month: LPGA Tour players Georgia Hall and Ryann O'Toole trust relationship inspires others to be "true to themselves"
Former AIG Women's Open champion Georgia Hall hopes her relationship with fellow player Ryann O'Toole will encourage others to be "true to themselves".
Hall and O'Toole had been acquaintances for several years before finally being paired in a tournament in 2022 and their partnership blossomed from then on.
"I knew her, knew her name and knew who she was but we really didn't play together at all for like five years and we would never be near each other," Hall said in an interview with the LPGA Tour to label Pride Month.
"Then we got matched together a couple of times last year, and we just got on really well and it went from there really."
Although the couple are not bashful about their relationship online, Hall admits she still feels her sexuality surprises some of her fans.
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"There are so many comments from people we don't know saying like, 'So happy for you guys.' They can see on our faces how happy we are and our love," the 27-year-old from Bournemouth said.
"Maybe (there are) a few peopl
The World of LGBTQ Golf
Golf has been one of the fastest growing sports internationally for the past twenty years. It is a high profile sport in the developed earth, with plenty of media attention, glamour, prominent athletes, sponsors, and money. Players include amateurs and professionals who range across all age groups and demographics. It is fascinating to look at the participation of the LGBTQ group in this sport because there are several contradictions.
On one hand, there are no out male lover professional golfers. This is disappointing because there are certain to be same-sex attracted players in the professional golf circuit. What is holding back the male gay players from coming out?
On the other hand, lesbian and trans person professional golfers are very prominent and have made a significant mark in the sport. The winningest golfer in history is American Kathy Whitworth with 88 professional wins to her record. The two top female players in the sport's history contain been lesbian. Golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias of the United States was voted as the female sports person of the Twentieth Century, while today's Australian player Karrie Webb has tied Zaharias for the most p