No Sideshows, No Quotas, Just Us

Senegal is an independent wrestler—and longtime PWI reader—who’s fought for the inclusion of openly gay, bisexual, and gender non-conforming athletes. With numerous LGBTQ+ wrestlers now in the national spotlight, she has asked to celebrate those success stories in her own words.

HERE WAS A time when the LGBTQ+ community had no real representation in pro wrestling. Sexuality and gender identity were reduced to gimmicks, or a way for someone to get a cheap pop. Still, there was always a reaction … which left us daydreaming that there would be a day when legitimate queer people would be able to perform in a ring in front of those crowds, getting even louder reactions. Over the last five