Che Flores, an NBA referee, has come out as nonbinary and trans, making them the first out trans and nonbinary referee in American professional sports. Flores revealed their identity in an interview with GQ published yesterday.
Flores, who uses the pronoun they, is entering their second season as an NBA staff referee. They previously worked as a referee in the NCAA, G League, and WNBA.
In the interview with GQ, Flores said that they had been privately identifying as trans for several years, but they had not come out publicly until now. Flores said that they were inspired to come out by the support of their family and friends, as well as by the visibility of other trans and nonbinary athletes and activists.
Flores’ coming out is a significant moment for LGBTQ+ representation in sports. It is also a sign of progress for the NBA, which has been a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion.
