This is the first in a series of articles profiling known out and proud Olympic athletes who are openly LGBT. The New Civil Rights Movement will publish one article each day as we move into the Olympics.
In the States it’s called “field hockey,” but in most of the world, it’s just “hockey.” It is a game that dates back to the Greeks who gave us the Olympics, and it was old even then. Even if you are not a sports fan, the game is easy enough to follow. Two teams of eleven players use curved sticks to try to guide a ball inside the other players’ goal, on a field very similar to a soccer field. One of the “out” athletes to look for in Field Hockey at the 2012 Olympic games is Marilyn Agliotti who plays “wing” for the Netherlands, and is known for her relentless offense.
Agliotti, born June 23, 1979, has been playing field hockey since she was an eleven-year-old at Fish Hoek Middle School, in Capetown, South Africa. In fact, Marilyn represented South Africa in the 2000 Olympic games, but finished out of the medals. In 2003 she moved to The Netherlands and in 2006 was granted a Dutch passport, which meant she could be named to the Dutch National Field Hockey Team, which she accomplished in 2007. The very next year, Marilyn and the Dutch team took home the gold against home-team China in a nail-biter of a final match at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Marilyn, who is married to Veronique Lemm, has been outspoken about her sexual orientation, often criticizing the hockey community for not being more open. Since she speaks both Dutch and English, you can wish Marilyn good luck via her Facebook page. Then look for Marilyn Agliotti on the medal stand as the Dutch defend their gold, and the Chinese look for revenge.
Follow our series: “2012 Olympics: Who Are The LGBT Athletes?” as we profile all the out LGBT athletes playing in the London 2012 Olympic games.
Image, top, by McSmit via Wikipedia
Jean Ann Esselink is a straight friend to the gay community. Proud and loud Liberal. Closet writer of political fiction. Black sheep agnostic Democrat from a conservative Catholic family. Living in Northern Oakland County Michigan with Puck the Wonder Beagle. Find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter at @uncucumbered.
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Great idea for a series. Look forward to the next installments. I wish there were more out gay athletes to profile. I hope that Matthew Mitcham repeats his great performance in Beijing!
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