Lendale has always been openly gay and as one of the very first professional tennis players to do so, she never shied away from sharing her truth. As the star of an upcoming reality show, Lendale Johnson knows that this quality will help them.
Johnson made 2020 history by coming out as gay. They made headlines again a few short years later when they announced that they were nonbinary. The athlete is proud of his or her accomplishments, even though it has been a long and difficult battle.
Lendale Johnston on Queer Representation in Sports
Sonia Baghdady tells them: “Visibility in our world is powerful, and I am really proud of that.” Advocate Now.
Johnson says that they were motivated to come forward during the Black Lives Matter movement’s peak because they felt “their voice was stronger at that time.” Johnson shares that while they were welcomed by many and even received some brand deals, they still faced some backlash in particular international circles.
They explain, “Advocates expressed concern about my travel to tournaments in countries with very few LGBTQ rights.” This was a very frightening experience. “I have to be very careful with the tournaments that I attend around the globe.”
Johnson, however, says that they do not regret their decision.
