"Alongside the new inductees, lesbian tennis legend Billie Jean King and gay former basketball player Jason Collins will be honoured with the Glenn Burke Award, which is awarded to those whose "courage and authenticity have transformed the sports landscape". "These individuals embody the very spirit of our mission of the Hall of Fame," chair of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame, Scott Bova, said in a statement. "Their contributions to sports and advocacy have paved the way for greater inclusion and have inspired countless athletes and fans worldwide. We are honored to recognise their legacy.""
"Blair played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in the 1940s amid World War II and only came out publicly many decades later, when she was 95. The AAGPBL also served as the inspiration for the 1992 comedy-drama film A League of Their Own which starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie O'Donnell. During a panel for the Amazon Prime series adaption of A League of Their Own, Blair said she "hid for 75, 85 years" and described believing something was "wrong" with her because she had a "crush" on a girl in high school."
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame named 10 inductees for 2026, honoring athletes and advocates from multiple eras and disciplines. Billie Jean King and Jason Collins will receive the Glenn Burke Award for courage and authenticity that transformed the sports landscape. The Hall of Fame was established in 2013 to celebrate LGBTQ+ contributions to sport worldwide. The 2026 class includes Maybelle Blair, who played in the AAGPBL in the 1940s and came out publicly at 95; Nikki Hiltz, a trans and non-binary Olympic distance runner and advocate; and long-serving NBA referee Bill Kennedy.
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