Lesbian Sports Icons Announce Pregnancy

Anita Asante and Beth Fisher are expecting a baby. The U.K. sports stars and newlywed couple were married January 20. Fisher announced their child-to-be Wednesday on Twitter, saying “Transfer deadline day news. New signing arriving in June! She can use either foot but known to stress the manager out.” She shared an ultrasound image to accompany the tweet.

*TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY NEWS*

New signing arriving in June! She can use either foot but known to stress the manager out… pic.twitter.com/1cMMUNkOYK

— Beth Fisher (@BethFisherSport) January 31, 2023

Asante retired last April after playing soccer for Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and the U.K.’s national team for 20 years. Fisher was a hockey player in Wales for 15 years, and has also served as a sports reporter and commentator.

Fisher is an ambassador for LGBTQ+ rights group Stonewall. With Asante, they gave their first interview as a couple to the U.K.’s Sky Sports for Lesbian Visibility Week in April 2020.

“Being gay or lesbian in women’s football was taboo for such a long time,” Asante told Sky Sports.

“It influenced our generation, making players feel they couldn’t be fully open with the audience. Now we are starting to see the shift again into this modern period where there’s more freedom to express yourself. […] Growing up, even into your early 20s, you worry so much about what other people think of you. When I was able to push that all away, it was such a release. The older you get, you know who the most important people are in your life and that’s all that matters. […] For LGBT people and anyone in a minority, really, it’s about accepting yourself and being proud of who you are.”