Out to Win

When Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, it was a breakthrough in the history of American football. Not only did he become the first openly gay player in the NFL, but the move also sparked discussion about the meaning of professional sports players’ sexual orientations.  As the stories of tennis player Martina Navratilova, basketballer John Amaechi or baseballer Billy Beane prove, homosexuality in the highly competitive sporting world is still taboo. How much can coming out change the careers of people who constantly face pressure from media and investors? How is the situation changing with the arrival of a new generation of players and athletes who refuse to hide their true selves?  This inspirational and lively documentary describes not only the personal histories of prominent LGBTQ sportspeople, but also maps their activism and reflects the ongoing debates about disciplines which strongly contribute to gender stereotypes. First introduced at the SXSW festival in Texas, the film makes its European premiere at Mezipatra.