LGBTQ players belong in badminton, say the World Championships’ only out stars
Kirsty Gilmour and Ciara Torrance believe being LGBTQ and out at badminton's World Championships has purpose, particularly for the sport's Asian heartlands.
Mark
The best badminton players on the planet are back at the BWF World Championships, which are being held this year in New Delhi, India.
Drawn from 52 different nations, there are nearly 400 competitors in total, but only two are publicly out as LGBTQ, and both are representing Scotland — Kirsty Gilmour and Ciara Torrance.
This tournament marks Gilmour’s 11th World Championships and Torrance’s fifth. Together, they are proudly flying the flag for their country, and a rainbow flag for the queer community.
Their representation is significant in a sport that enjoys massive global participation and has a passionate fanbase, but has had hardly any out LGBTQ representation at the elite level throughout its history.
For example, research by historian Tony Scupham-Bilton shows just five players, all women, who have ever competed in Olympic badminton and who are LGBTQ (plus one alternate). Only two were publicly out during the Games.
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Team GB’s Kirsty Gilmour has neatly explained why it matters to be a visible member of Team LGBTQ, which has hit a record high.
Gilmour is one of them, and she now arrives in the Indian capital as the reigning European women’s singles champion, having landed the biggest title of her career to date in Huelva, Spain, in April.
The 32-year-old’s best World Championships run came on home soil in Glasgow in 2017 when she reached the quarterfinals. This time, she faces a tough first-round test against China’s Han Yue, the fifth seed (Update: Gilmour won the opening game Monday, but lost the match 2-1).
A two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, Gilmour has her sights set on reaching her fourth Olympic Games at L.A. 2028.
While badminton wasn’t on the program for last month’s edition of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she was still involved, as part of a hugely entertaining Pride House panel event alongside fellow Olympian and curling hero Bruce Mouat.
As the only out athlete on the singles tour, in men’s or women’s competitions, Gilmour often gets asked for her perspective on inclusion and progress.
It’s been no different in New Delhi. In an interview with AFP, she was asked if she would like to see LGBTQ rights improve across Asia, and replied: “I would really love to see that actually.”
Running on news wires under the headline ‘Gay badminton star Gilmour urges progress on LGBTQ rights in Asia’, the story was promptly picked up by outlets across the region and on some prominent social media accounts as well.
Outsports reached out to Gilmour to ask about the coverage, and she explained that there was a broader context to her comments. She had emphasized how her personal experiences while traveling on the tour have always been positive.
She also recently gave an interview to The Observer in the U.K., in which she stressed that being out in elite badminton has not brought her any hostility. “I’ve never had an ounce of bother — even in countries where it’s criminalized or not seen as OK,” said Gilmour.
Elite player Ciara Torrance says badminton can help create change
Data from international governing bodies suggests that badminton is the fifth most played sport in the world, with around 300 million active players and more than 700 million fans worldwide.
The sport’s true heartlands lie in Asia, where countries like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia treat the top players as superstars.
However, many of these dominant badminton nations are places where living as an LGBTQ person can still be incredibly difficult due to the severe legal, political, or social pressures.
It’s important context that helps to explain the significance of having out LGBTQ representation at major tournaments held on the continent.
Joining Gilmour in Delhi is Torrance, her teammate and close friend. Six years Gilmour’s junior, Torrance is an out and proud lesbian who has twice won bronze at the European Team Championships and also represented Team LGBTQ at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The two Scots visited Pride House Birmingham together during those Games.
On the court at the Indira Gandhi Arena, Torrance will once again team up with longtime partner Julie MacPherson in the women’s doubles draw.
Currently ranked 35th in the world, the duo have previously reached a career-high ranking of 28th and are ready to tackle their fifth World Championships together.
For Torrance, competing as an out athlete at the highest level of her sport is about creating space for others.
“I’m super proud to represent Scotland and the LGBTQ+ community on such a big stage,” Torrance told Outsports. “I think the visibility is really important, especially when LGBTQ+ people are still oppressed in a lot of countries where badminton is so popular.
“I personally haven’t had bad experiences, however, as the badminton community is generally very open and warm to people of all walks of life.”
@ciaratorrance #wlw #lesbian #lesbiansoftiktok ♬ I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend by Girl in Red – _alt.music_
Torrance also highlighted how essential it is for the next generation to see players like herself and Gilmour competing without hiding who they are.
“It’s so important, especially for young athletes, to have LGBTQ+ role models,” she added. “I think it shows that there’s always a place in sport for them and they can feel like they belong in the sport.
“It’s a trying time for LGBTQ+ individuals around the world, so I think the more support and inclusion we promote, the safer a space it will be.”
This is the 30th edition of the BWF World Championships, which dates back to 1977. Unusually for a marquee event in a major sport, there is no prize money for the winners, but the amount of ranking points on offer makes it incredibly valuable on the road towards the Olympics.
In its own way, the value of having LGBTQ representation at the tournament is also a step towards the ultimate goal. Gilmour and Torrance certainly appreciate the opportunity to play their part, through being visible in the sport they love.
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