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2nd February 2022
(Updated) As part of LGBT+History Month, we went back through the archives and looked at our article with Corrine Humphreys as she talks about her experience as an LBGT woman in sport.
Corinne Humphreys is an English sprinter. She competed in the 100 metres at the 2018 Commonwealth Games reaching the semifinals. In addition, she finished fourth at the 2017 Summer Universiade.
As part of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, Corrinne Humphreys has spoken about her experience as a Team GB sprinter.
The campaign promotes the fact that sport has the power to bring us together and that it’s down to all of us to be an active ally to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in sport. It’s down to all of us to become an active ally to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Corrinne writes,
“Early on in my career as a sprinter, I was very conscious of how I came across when I ran. I didn’t want to be perceived as ‘overly masculine’ so I consciously took my naturally masculine manner out of my running – and it badly affected my performances.
“As a pretty masculine LGBT woman in sport, I feel like I stand out from the rest of my competitors because I don’t wear a crop top and short shorts to compete in. It plays on my mind. At times, even before I’ve run a race, I’ve felt inadequate just because of how I look compared to the others.
“I’ve had a successful career, but I haven’t featured in many press shots or advertising campaigns. After one campaign I wasn’t part of, a comment slipped out from the organiser that the athletes who’d been chosen to feature in it had ‘the look’. This absolutely shattered me.
“Sporting bodies and brands should put LGBT people at the forefront of campaigns. It would help tackle the perception that sport is only for straight people. That’s why Rainbow Laces is so important. It allows me to show that I embrace who I am on – and off – the track.
“Now I run as myself and all of the mannerisms and movement that comes with who I really am.”
To find out more about the campaign, please click here. To follow Corinne’s journey, you can find her on Instagram.