Lea T Makes Some Olympic Trans History

We don't know definitively is we have trans folks competing at the Rio Olympics even though trans people have been eligible to do so since 2004, and with the start of these Games, can do so without the requirement of genital surgery.

While we're still trying to confirm the rumor that two trans feminine athletes were considered for inclusion on the British Olympic team who have repeatedly represented their country on the international sporting stage, we do know for a fact that trans inclusion happened during the opening ceremony for the Rio Games on August 5.

During the Parade of Nations portion of the Opening Ceremonies, each of the national athletic delegations as they marched into the stadium was led by a cyclist that powered a rotating national name placard in Portuguese and English mounted on the cycle painted in the gold, green and blue colors of the Brazilian flag.

And some trans history transpired as you did so.  Brazilian supermodel Leandra Medeiros Cerezo, was the person on the cycle that led the host nation Brazil into Maracana Stadium.

If you're scratching your head and saying, "Who's that?", maybe you'll recognize who this 35 year old international supermodel and face of Redken cosmetics is when I say the name Lea T.

In addition to being a trailblazing presence in the fashion world, she also has a connection to the sporting world via her father, the legendary Brazilian soccer player Toninho Cerezo.

She is the first out trans person to do so in an Olympic ceremony, and she was definitely pleased to have had a role in the Olympic opening ceremony being hosted by her country

"We are all human beings and part of society.  My role in the ceremony will help send that message" she said.  "At this time in which Rio de Janeiro and Brazil are being presented to the world, it's essential that diversity is present. Brazil is a vast country, and all of its diversity should be represented in this event."

"Like any other transsexual I raise a flag," she continued. "I'm talking about transsexuality because it is part of my history, but I'm just another member of the community.  I know I have the privilege that the media listens to me, but the daily struggle of transexuals is equally important for LGBT people."

She's not kidding about that, since my Brazilian trans sisters have been catching hell because of the murderous trans hate on steroids aimed at them.    Brazilian trans women have for the last five years made up far too many of the names we read during TDOR ceremonies every November 20 around the world, and that needs to stop

And this Lea T Olympic moment shouldn't be dismissed, but celebrated.

Cnngrats to Lea T for being a historic part of this Olympic opening ceremony, and I hope that the next time I get to talk about a trans person making history on the Olympic stage is because they have made their national team and are competing for gold, silver or bronze medals