NFL
By: Zachary Draves
As if the state of affairs with Russia weren’t already precariously tense given their unjust invasion of Ukraine, they kicked it up a notch by detaining WNBA legend Brittney Griner.
Sometime in February, the star center of the Phoenix Mercury, who plays in during the winter off-season for Russia’s Yekaterinburg UMMC, arrived at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport from New York only to be stopped and later detained for allegedly being in possession of vape cartridges containing hash oil.
(Courtesy: Yahoo Sports)
In Russia, transporting drugs could carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
This situation is already serious but there are additional factors that cannot be ignored.
The fact is Brittney is a prominent black and openly queer athlete and she is essentially being held captive in a country that is almost entirely white and has notorious anti-LGBTQ+ laws on the books which include widespread bans on marriage equality and adoption of children by LGBTQ+ couples among others.
The US isn’t doing much better given the recent laws and measures being introduced and in some cases passed in various states (Texas, Florida, Iowa, etc.) that seek to ban LGBTQ+ books, trans youth from playing sports and seeking health care, and even saying the word gay.
The reaction to her detainment has unleashed a flood of well wishes and a demand for her release from across the world of women’s basketball and the LGBTQ+ community.
Among them include statements from the WNBA, Phoenix Mercury, USA Basketball, and a heartfelt message from her wife Cherrelle on Instagram upon learning the news on Saturday.
(Courtesy: The Advocate/Instagram)
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia,” she said. “Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life. I understand that many of you have grown to love [Brittney Griner] over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely.”
Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ+ sports advocacy organization put out the following statement:
“Athlete Ally is deeply concerned following news that WNBA player and Olympian Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia. Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury, is openly gay and has used her global platform to speak out against anti-LGBTQ discrimination.”
“Our thoughts are with Brittney Griner, her loved ones, and her teammates during this terrifying ordeal” said Joanna Hoffman, Athlete Ally’s Director of Communications. “Brittney has long been a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ equality. It’s critical that now we use our collective voice to call for her safe and swift return to her family.”
A compelling and truthful tweet came from trans writer and activist Raquel Willis, who also sits on the WNBA Social Justice Council.
A Black queer woman has been held in Russia for almost a month. This is scary as hell. It’s unfortunate that Brittney Griner has become a major pawn in world leaders’ quest for domination. https://t.co/r21BE6U4mv
— Raquel Willis (she/her) (@RaquelWillis_) March 5, 2022
A vision of domination that is very much intertwined with racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, and militarism to name a few.
An additional factor to look at is why WNBA players have to play overseas just to make a living in the first place.
Simply put, they get paid more than they do in their own country.
In Russia, where Brittney has played since 2015, the player’s salaries can reach $1 million which is four times higher than what a base salary is in the WNBA.
Furthermore, teams in Russia are financed either by the government or by oligarchs that spend lavishly.
This speaks volumes.
Even with immense growth in the sport and a historic 2020 CBA agreement that is committed to remedying matters such as pay inequities so that players don’t have to go overseas, much more has to be done at a societal level when it comes to the full appreciation and respect of women in sports on everything from equal pay to abuse/harassment to media coverage.
The detainment of Brittney Griner exists within a much broader context and even as the US government works on her release that context cannot be cast aside
When we are advocating for her freedom we are also advocating for the freedom of all black people, queer people, and women from intersectional oppression across the globe.
Civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hammer said it best “nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
#FreeBrittneyGriner and free em all.
