The Queer History of the WNBA Episode 1: The Glass Closet
The WNBA is a league full of out and proud queer women, but that wasn't always the case. The Queer History of the WNBA is a multi-part video essay covering the history of queer players and moments, as well as the history of the league's relationship to its queer players in fans.
In the first episode, "The Glass Closet," we explore the discourse around queer issues at the time of the WNBA's founding, how the league responded to it, and some of the pioneering players and fans who pushed the league to embrace queer women as an asset instead of a liability.
References:
Sue Bird on 60 Minutes: www.cbsnews.com/video/sue-bir...
WNBA LGBT Marketing: • WNBA to Market to LGBT...
Sheryl Swoopes Discover Card Ad: • Sheryl Swoopes commerc...
LA Times - The Glass Closet: www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...
Sue Wicks FanByte Interview: www.fanbyte.com/sports/sue-wi...
Sue Wicks 2000 Village Voice Profile: www.villagevoice.com/2000/08/...
Michele Van Gorp 2013 OutSports Profile: www.outsports.com/2013/4/4/41...
Samantha King on Sheryl Swoopes: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/...
Layshia Clarendon in Player's Tribune: www.theplayerstribune.com/art...
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, The Epistemology of the Closet: www.ucpress.edu/book/97805202...
Links to Secret Base WNBA Videos:
2016 Lynx-Sparks: • The last-second Game 5...
Lauren Jackson vs. Lisa Leslie: • Lauren Jackson ripping...
Becky Hammon: • Becky Hammon never won...
Liberty vs. Comets 1999: • The greatest shot in W...
Пікірлер: 105
Thank you so much for making this! As a new fan of the W, trying to learn more about the leagues history has been a struggle, especially with how loud everything is about this years rookie class. Thank you for an informative, respectful, and well put together video like this :)
My God look at these comments. We are in bad shape as a nation. Look I just wanted to say I think you did a really good job with this video. I don't think the fact that you're a white man matters because you obviously love the league and support it. Well done.
ABSOLUTE SOLID GOLD! tysm for this, it's gorgeous and compelling, and i desperately hope we get that part 2.
Idk how this only has >100 views it’s so well done
@Billinous
Жыл бұрын
Yes you do. The yt algorithm does not want anyone exposing the LGBT arm that rules the WNBA and it's bullying of straight females (more hostile if they are married to a man)
@titusrome2863
10 ай бұрын
Because it's like the WNBA. It awful and pointless hence why nobody watches
The L.L. the lesbian league...
this is an incredible video. thank you.
Interesting vid. Learned a lot. Sorry for the usual dumb comments from people who claim they don't care but care enough to take the time to comment lol
@titusrome2863
10 ай бұрын
So the comments that state facts are dumb? Nice try
@itsjustkosi7209
Ай бұрын
@@titusrome2863 u stay proving his point brother
They should be playing on an carpeted court
@thegameprofit6636
Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣
Keep politics and sports separate. The paying audience wants to get away from politics and does not want to be lectured while watching a game.
@EmmetAnderson
2 жыл бұрын
i agree! seperate the politics! take out the national anthem, the military salute, etc. too much politics! we just want to see people play! we don't care what they think! we just want to see their physical prowess, not their mental! /s
@estellewinters8502
2 жыл бұрын
speak for yourself. @FedUp Some of us humans want to escape the hatred and bias tropes. If you don't like how these athletes, who are paid to perform, make you feel, feel free to go play bingo somewhere. There are politics in sports, art, and entertainment because they are all humans with beliefs and lifestyles. You can no longer keep lifestyles and politics out of sports than you can keep a fish out of water. Not all WNBA players are gay, but they play with and under the coaching of such people and that's the real world. Only they don't give a fuck if their private life makes you uncomfortable. I held this one in until the end of pride month.🏀🏳🌈🏳⚧
@jedsteelwell2354
Жыл бұрын
Problem with that is everyone including players thanks to social media has everyone knowing their opinions on everything. The real problem is everyone giving a shit who everyone else voted for or different opinions! People should just worry bout themselves! I don't care who anyone else voted for or what they think about anything! I just worry bout myself! If you can approach life like that you can enjoy anything!!
@Biggiiful
10 ай бұрын
@EmmetAnderson. You're smartass comment was not nearly as clever as you thought it to be when you made it. This self righteous attitude is exactly the problem.
Is this the WNBA or the LNBA
They've gone from being outraged that you should mention the L-word, to being 'out and proud.' But them if YOU note lesbian handball, they're back to outrage again. Can't make up their mind.
Yeah, I now clearly see their problem. The majority of the population cannot relate. Watching in 2024.
Sue Wicks' statement is goofy, When they come to the draft trying dress like Men (in suits) they look ABSOLUTELY ridiculous
100 &1
They make less money because they bring in less revenue...SMH yall love this argument
Honestly I didn't even know the wnba been around for more than 10 years lol
@richardclark7224
Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@drinkingpoolwater
10 ай бұрын
me either i thought this only started like 5 years ago at most
I’m going to say it since no one else will and I hope I don’t offend anyone with my opinion only, but they keep talking about why they can’t get more people interesting especially other women to watch their game. Well I think it’s a easy answer the audience they are trying to get are not lesbian and most of the women that are in WNBA are lesbian so the question should be why are they targeting a audience who believes in their lifestyle as whole they need to understand they are pushing a lifestyle that most women don’t believe in then they want to make with the men in The NBA is making and they are generating the same type of money if they want the same equal pay are at least half of what the men make stop pushing lesbian women on women who believe in the traditional man and woman relationship and family and stop calling American and America 🇺🇸 a horrible place to live and that the people are racist and that is my opinion as Navy Veteran who happens to be a proud Black American…
@titusrome2863
10 ай бұрын
Excellent I salute you !!
How does the fact that they are gay, make it a better league?
I openly pull and cheer for the straight Women in the league and the attractive ones (Dijonai Carrington is attractive but she's not straight)
It's no coincidence that when the league promoted itself by promoting femininity, it was more popular
I like steight WNBA players
✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️ Target shoving the pride merch back into the closet was the funniest thing to ever happen.
Let's all admit the real problem. Women's Soccer is fantastic. Women's Volleyball is fantastic, with a Lower Net. Women's Softball is fantastic, with a Closer Mound & Bigger Ball l& an Underhand Pitch. But for some reason, Women's bodies just don't play Basketball with the Fluidity & Coordination to make it fun to watch. ? And for some reason, Lower Rims offends the WNBA players ? ? Yet they're okay with Smaller Balls ? They are Delusional.
You gotta sell what people will buy. How’s the selling going the way it is now?
this video is really well done. ignore the sexists and homophobes in the comments. keep up the good work.
@spiderjump
Жыл бұрын
Is it sexist to say the wnba games are simply not entertaining? I watched some of the games .. simply not entertaining. I could care less about the players being lesbian or what ever. Women’s tennis is entertaining. No wonder the wnba has been losing millions ever year since inception.
@EmmetAnderson
Жыл бұрын
@@spiderjump i've watched some nba games that i didn't find entertaining. i've watched some college games that i didn't find entertaining. i've watched some women's games i didn't find entertaining. that's the beauty of sports, you never know if you're going to get a good show or a dud. but you're generalizing that all games nba games are good but all wnba games are bad, there's a major difference and it points to a little sexism.
@chucknastyness
Жыл бұрын
@@EmmetAnderson that's just double talk, you know he means on average WNBA games aren't entertaining/exciting.
Sports went woke, let'm go broke. Pride goes b4 destruction
The WNBA is the greatest!
The thing nobody seems to get Sports is not about homosexuality it's about excellence in the sport you participate in up until this woke Revolution sports were just sports, if you were a homosexual on a football team, are gay ball player on a baseball team, it wasn't about your sexuality it was about your performance, I really hope that the NBA let these female basketball players stand on their own, and no longer support a sport they cannot support itself, relying on the men of the NBA to pay their salaries, their coaches and all other aspects of their so-called sport, if a sport can't get the fans needed to support the game played, if a sport team cannot make a profit and is constantly in the red , then instead of worrying about lesbianism they should be worrying about getting an audience that cares
so much homophobia in these comments omg this is a well done video thanks i learned so much
@dallisb1047
2 жыл бұрын
To this day, I have never known anyone who was afraid of homosexuals. Phobia is un rational fear. People who have a moral objection to it is not based on fear or hate.
@titusrome2863
10 ай бұрын
Homophobia? So if we don't agree with a sexual preference we are afraid of it? What silly logic
That’s the problem with wnba. You shouldn’t focus on 1 group and politics! It should be about the sports! I believe that’s why other sports thrives!
Women playing basketball, why is there a problem? Don't like it , don't watch!
@titusrome2863
10 ай бұрын
Okay we won't lol but that's the issue. WNBA complain we don't watch the inferior product because we are racist. Lol so stupid
@grizzmax
10 ай бұрын
I don't like it, I don't watch, I don't support. I don't like their offensiveness, their hostility. I don't like their hatred hidden under the cloak of VICTIMHOOD. They are pathedic; I oppose.
@webtraveler4813
6 ай бұрын
Nobody is watching.
@swishdipper4362
3 ай бұрын
They keep trying to push this agenda of guilt tripping men who like basketball to like this snooze worthy layup fest.
That’s why it’s a failing league.
@BigBlackRod
Жыл бұрын
The league is failing because the games aren't good, and the athleticism is lacking...
@toddjohnson5176
3 ай бұрын
I am a former collegiate Basketball player and love the sport and have always supported wnba.i have friends currently in the league and friends formerly. But i have the agree with this.The league has become morw about the lesbian community than the game and it inadvertently hurts the league and the success and people don't want to admit it but it true. Sad it has become this.
We ( women) are just too emotional to do anything right
Tired of this BS agenda ..Boring league .. go away.. ur not liked
Bro you seriously made a documentary defending the WNBA. What a effin joke.
Cant wait to see the league fold. They are prob hopin Reese and Clark are gonna have the same effect as Bird and Magic. I cant see that happening. Womens Volleyball is more entertaining and easier on the eyes.
Breonna Taylor wasn’t murdered, and Jacob Taylor abused women while pulling a knife on a cop. The league sounds more like an arm of the Democrat party. Sports is NOT political. Some people MAKE it so, to the detriment of all.
@tonejack1
19 сағат бұрын
💯
Why don’t they play with a rainbow basketball and embrace Lesbian values & markets?
Would not watch their shit or the the NBA either! Politics and sports are a no-no for a lot of us.
@BigBlackRod
Жыл бұрын
Only if you don't agree with them. if it was a buncha Trump supporters, you'd be screamin' "FREE SPEECH!" I don't particularly like the situation, but these women have the right to live and be who they are...
Their game sucks! And it has nothing to do with sexual preference. I used to go to games but they were not entertaining.
Beta Male Productions.
@chucknastyness
Жыл бұрын
Can't Accept The Truth Inc.
The problem with the wnba is that it is 2nd rate basketball. They couldn’t many high school teams. Boring
@arizonaFIREent
Жыл бұрын
A WNBA team could easily beat a HS team but a college team would definitely beat the wnba teams
@johnmarshall4399
9 ай бұрын
A high school team crush them
Sheryl Swoops and Candice Parker are married to men with children
@BigBlackRod
Жыл бұрын
Sheryl Swoopes was once married to a woman, and Candice Parker recently divorced her male spouse, and married a female...
@js10582
Жыл бұрын
@@BigBlackRod damn ABC mafia lol
Another reason not to support the WNBA.
Breeona Taylor was in drugs....
SMH EMBARRASSING
Omg i don’t care what anyone else says the one Leslie that’s a man
I’ve always said why do I want to watch women trying to be men