"There's definitely been a noticeable shift," said McFarland, who for decades has represented straight and gay athletes in a number of sports, from the NFL and NBA to professional soccer. "Many brands and speaking opportunities that previously highlighted LGBTQ athletes are now being pulled back or completely going away." They're going to take it up in part because they think it's positive for the bottom line. The Out Athlete Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, was recently created to provide financial assistance and other support to LGBTQ+ athletes. But that's what makes him stand out; if he qualifies for Milano Cortina, he would be one of the few gay athletes on the U.S. team.
