Out Equestrian Lee Pearson Represented Team GB At Paralympics Opening Ceremony

"I never dreamed that the athletes would vote for me," said Pearson. "It genuinely is a privilege."
From: NewNowNext

 Out equestrian Lee Pearson was a flag bearer for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Its the fifth games for the 42-year-old, who has won three gold medals to date. He was nominated for the position by the 264 other Paralympians on Team GB.

 “I think that’s why I’m so proud of my fellow athletes,” he told the Telegraph. “To vote a gay bloke to be in that position to lead them out through that tunnel and out into the Paralympic Games is an amazing honour. What an amazing nation we have – we’ve got so many diverse characters, different religions and races.”

“[It] means we’ve moved on even further when people don’t give it any thought,” he added. “I don’t want them to think ’oh, he’s a gay bloke, let’s give him a chance.’ I want them to think ’he’s a nice bloke, who has done what he’s done for the country in previous Games’.”

 Considering it rude to vote for himself, he deleted the nomination email and was surprised to learn he had been selected.

“I literally never gave it any more thought. I thought that’s nice to be nominated, but I never dreamed that the athletes would vote for me… It genuinely is a privilege.”

The 2016 Summer Games were the most LGBT-friendly in history, with more than 40 out athletes and several marriage proposals.

Olympic field hockey player Kate Richardson-Walsh, who is married to her teammate Helen Richardson-Walsh, became the first openly gay athlete to carry the British flag at an Olympic ceremony, at the closing events in Maracanã Stadium.

The Paralympics opening ceremony will also took place in Maracanã.