Nunes honored at LGBT awards ceremony in California
UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was honored with an Equality California (EQCA) award on Saturday.
Nunes, who is openly lesbian, was one of four women rewarded for their respective accomplishments at the LGBT civil rights organization's annual dinner in Los Angeles.
I'm very honored to accept this award from the #lgbt community #eqca @eqca.Thank you @ufc for supporting us!#betrue pic.twitter.com/xfwRkIkVHj
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) September 18, 2016
The Brazilian became the UFC's first openly gay champion in the main event of the promotion's latest milestone, UFC 200. Nunes made quick work of Miesha Tate, dethroning her in under a round by rear-naked choke.
"The Lioness" is currently dating UFC strawweight Nina Ansaroff.
Fellow bantamweight Liz Carmouche was the first openly lesbian fighter to compete in the UFC, meeting Ronda Rousey for the division strap at UFC 157 in 2013. Nunes and Carmouche are just two of many lesbian fighters on the promotion's roster, the former's recent recognition further denting the still prevalent stigma LGBT athletes face in professional sports.