ABOUT US

more about OFTW

OUR MISSION  Sport should be accessible, safe, and appealing to everyone, regardless of their body, sexuality, or gender identity. That’s why Out For The Win is working toward an inclusive sports world for LGBTQIA+ individuals, powered by education, storytelling and advocacy.

OUR NAME “Being out” is not a given and certainly not in the sports world. Often athletes put off their outing until after their careers. Having to conceal a part of yourself can be tough and, in our opinion, even weigh on athletic performance. Therefore, OFTW is trying to create a platform where every young athlete can identify with stories and draw strength from them. Equally, we want to inform about gender and sexual diversity in sports. Together, we can empower LGBTQIA+ individuals to be themselves, also in sports.

OFTW logo -zwart 400px

OUR LOGOThe OFTW logo contains three squares. A square, you might think… But with our logo, we want to make it clear that we’re not into boxes. We break open the square, as it were. We want to break through fixed and rusty prejudices. The three irregular squares symbolize the diversity within the sport and the LGBTQIA+ community. Despite this diversity, we try to form a whole and stand strong together, because only then can a goal be achieved. Further, the two lines also refer to sports lines. Lines that show the difference between in and out, between point or no point, between gain or loss. ‘Out’ may mean loss in most sports terms, but with this project we want to show that ‘out’ can also be positive and this not only outside the lines, but also on the sports field.

TEAM

meet our team

Arlena Darragas

Founder & Board member

LGBTQ* youth coach and educator at Wel Jong / Out For The Win.

Sharon

Founder & Board member

Hiking, diving & working out at the gym. Rainbow activist

Margot Gysbrechts

Spokesperson & Board member

“Stand for what’s right, even it means standing alone.”
Creative and sensitive soul for LGBTQ+ rights

Shari

Team member

I want to change the world! Small steps can become very big and every little bit helps!

Stefanie Huenaerts

Educator

Mathisse

Educator

Rajan

Sportmonitor

Liv Pijpers

Educator

View the world with een look of love

Amo

Board member

86 400 seconds every day, make them count.

AMBASSADORS

meet the athletes who support OFTW

Oshin Derieuw

WBF world boxing champion • Boxing Club Héninois • Motto: Be your Own Legend

Charlotte Deldaele

International Triathlete from Belgium • Team EFC-ITC • Straight Edge ✖️

Matthias

Footballer in heart and soul. Matthias (he/him) came out of the closet with his football team and has since been working for more inclusion in the world of football and sports for years.

Alexi

Powerlifter and strength coach. Alexi (any pronouns) founded an inclusive strength sports club in 2020 under the name of Zacht Beton. Their mission? Making strength sports accessible and welcoming for everyone!

Felix Capon

Crew

Being lgbtq+ can be challenging especially in the sports world. Luckily Out For The Win opens up the conversation about being out and proud as an athlete. As a queer man i totally look up to this initiative and love to spread this message.
Oh and girl, these shirts look cute so go splurge!

Kim Meylemans

I decided to join the OFTW Team because I wanted to do more. I’ve always been open about my sexual orientation but with things not getting better (in some European countries even worse) I just felt like that wasn’t quite enough anymore. I want to take on a more active role and be able to really help make things better for the next gen.

Hannah Wilkinson

Professional Footballer and Member of the New Zealand National Team • Plays music when she’s not on the pitch • Nike Athlete • Whangarei, NZ