12 LGBT Olympic Athletes to Watch This Year

The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, already have proven historic for LGBT athletes, with a record three out gay men heading to the games. And that’s not even all the good news for Team LGBT.

The Winter Olympic Games will be occurring in South Korea early in 2018, but how will LGBT athletes and sports fans be treated?

The build-up to the games has been somewhat overcast by events North of the border, where North Korea’s nuclear weapons remain a threat to its neighbours and the international community all together.

So with a disappointing amount of people willing to make the visit to South Korea this winter, how warm will the reception be for LGBT athletes and visitors in a country with such a sinister neighbour? You might be surprised.

Homosexuality in South Korea is legal and there is currently no record of any constitutional ban on sexual activities between two men or two women.

As opposed to the United Kingdom and many European countries, South Korea will not subject men who have sex with men to a deferral period if they desire to donate blood.

Blood donation is a recent topic of debate in the united kingdom.  Gay and bisexual men will soon face a shorter but still significant three month deferral period after sex, because of pressure from campaigners. Yet, this is still far less inclusive than the openness of South Korea.

Transgender people can also access gender reassignment surgery in the East Asian country.

On the other hand, LGBT people are not protected by any form of anti-discrimination laws, nor are they able to adopt children.

Regardless of the legal position of LGBT people, attitudes in the united states do not always seem so accepting.

This August, the South Korean Supreme Court forced the federal government to permit an LGBT rights foundation to get registered charitable status regardless of strong government opposition.

Many in the international community were amazed by the state’s disapproval, considering that South Korea had previously voted towards stopping discrimination against LGBT people at the US.

Religion has a solid influence on constitutional laws, meaning progressive attitudes towards LGBT people and traditional spiritual ideals have often butted mind in the country.

Only three years ago, the Mayor of Seoul was required to drop an individual rights charter for the town after religious and conservative groups opposed plans to outlaw LGBT discrimination.

Meanwhile, the government has introduced a reformed sex education curriculum which will not include any mention of same-sex relationships, homosexuality or topics relating to transgender people.

Education officials defended their activities by claiming that they wanted to uphold the beliefs of “culture, culture and religion.”

With the wintertime Olympics on the horizon, LGBT athletes and spectators will be reassured by the fact that their sexual orientation or gender identity are not criminalized by the South Korean law.

That said, a lack of anti-discrimination laws and a string of plan decisions that seem to manifest from a location of prejudice, may leave LGBT people available to discrimination.

While South Korea seems to be presenting itself on the world stage as a country that seeks to get rid of archaic attitudes, it equally appears to be pulled back by the influence of spiritual and so-called “traditional beliefs”.

Non-etheless, South Korea’s LGBT privileges movement is moving in the right direction, potentially enabling a more progressive attitudes towards LGBT people in the foreseeable future.

The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony is merely weeks away, and our collective excitement is starting to build. It's sure to be a remarkable Games this year in terms of representation, as well as competition and skill. Here are the athletes-newcomers and veterans alike-who will be turning up the wins in PyeongChang. Get to know their names now—you'll be cheering fanatically for them soon.