Gabriel Allen
@gabrielallen.bsky.social
Author of Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport: https://a.co/d/3Qz99a2
Pinned
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Today is the last day to take advantage of the lifetime 20% discount on annual subscriptions to my newsletter. I lost over 40 paid subscribers when I left Subst*ack and I'm almost back to the number I had when I initially moved to Beehiiv. Subscribe here: www.thefrankiedlc.news/upgrade
Upgrade | Out of Your League
Dispatches from the intersection of queer sports and pop culture.
www.thefrankiedlc.news
December 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Today is the last day to take advantage of the lifetime 20% discount on annual subscriptions to my newsletter. I lost over 40 paid subscribers when I left Subst*ack and I'm almost back to the number I had when I initially moved to Beehiiv. Subscribe here: www.thefrankiedlc.news/upgrade
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
It's my birthday and all I'd want is for ten people to preorder the book that I spent the entire last year finishing up. Is that asking for too much? www.hachettebookgroup.com/grand-centra...
Moses and the Doctor Preorder Offer
Preorder it now! Praise for Moses and the Doctor “On these pages, Luke Epplin delivers a thoroughly researched and artfully rendered appreciation of both players and their place in the histor…
www.hachettebookgroup.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
It's my birthday and all I'd want is for ten people to preorder the book that I spent the entire last year finishing up. Is that asking for too much? www.hachettebookgroup.com/grand-centra...
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Boris Becker wrote a memoir about his eight-month prison hitch. It’s in dire need of a heavy edit, but to my surprise, I got a little teary at the end.
Dickensian prison, Dickens lessons. 🎄🇬🇧🎾
Dickensian prison, Dickens lessons. 🎄🇬🇧🎾
Big House Boris - The Second Serve
Book review: "Inside: Winning, Losing and Starting Again" by Boris Becker
www.thesecondserve.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Boris Becker wrote a memoir about his eight-month prison hitch. It’s in dire need of a heavy edit, but to my surprise, I got a little teary at the end.
Dickensian prison, Dickens lessons. 🎄🇬🇧🎾
Dickensian prison, Dickens lessons. 🎄🇬🇧🎾
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Joining us on 1/15 for a @squawkinsports.bsky.social trans writer panel with @juliekliegman.com @xbennyboo.bsky.social & @dirtbagqueer.rocks is a great way to show support and have a beer with ballers. Also @davidjroth.bsky.social
Tix make a fine 🎄🎁 🍻
greenlightbookstore.com/event/2026-0...
Tix make a fine 🎄🎁 🍻
greenlightbookstore.com/event/2026-0...
December 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Joining us on 1/15 for a @squawkinsports.bsky.social trans writer panel with @juliekliegman.com @xbennyboo.bsky.social & @dirtbagqueer.rocks is a great way to show support and have a beer with ballers. Also @davidjroth.bsky.social
Tix make a fine 🎄🎁 🍻
greenlightbookstore.com/event/2026-0...
Tix make a fine 🎄🎁 🍻
greenlightbookstore.com/event/2026-0...
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
If you're looking for a lunchtime read, I wrote about Peter Vecsey's impact and the forever-changing NBA media landscape.
Finally have a minute to share this one, which took everything out of me. (In the best way.)
For @poynterinstitute.bsky.social, I profiled Peter Vecsey, the original NBA insider. With thoughts from Adam Silver, Phil Jackson, Howard Beck, Mike Breen, and others. www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
For @poynterinstitute.bsky.social, I profiled Peter Vecsey, the original NBA insider. With thoughts from Adam Silver, Phil Jackson, Howard Beck, Mike Breen, and others. www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Why Peter Vecsey is spending the fourth quarter on the bench - Poynter
The legendary NBA insider, late of The New York Post and ‘NBA on NBC,’ is an anachronism in the media landscape he defined
www.poynter.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If you're looking for a lunchtime read, I wrote about Peter Vecsey's impact and the forever-changing NBA media landscape.
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Full disclosure: I’ve lost nearly 40 paid subscribers since leaving Substack and this newsletter is 2/3 of my income. If you want to support an independent trans journalist, this is a great way to do so. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
November 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Full disclosure: I’ve lost nearly 40 paid subscribers since leaving Substack and this newsletter is 2/3 of my income. If you want to support an independent trans journalist, this is a great way to do so. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
The White House getting in the Christmas spirit by blaming the most vulnerable members of society for the suffering Trump is responsible for.
Jesus would have hated these people.
Jesus would have hated these people.
December 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The White House getting in the Christmas spirit by blaming the most vulnerable members of society for the suffering Trump is responsible for.
Jesus would have hated these people.
Jesus would have hated these people.
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
My biography FINDING RENÉE RICHARDS (August 2026) is avail for preorder wherever you buy books btw
December 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My biography FINDING RENÉE RICHARDS (August 2026) is avail for preorder wherever you buy books btw
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
I wrote for @slate.com about the tennis ban on trans women and girls, and the Renée Richards of it all
The Attack on Women in Sports Just Claimed Another Victory—This One Really Hurts
50 years of progress undone, just like that.
slate.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I wrote for @slate.com about the tennis ban on trans women and girls, and the Renée Richards of it all
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
at the end of the day, I just feel badly for trans people. they are always being used to fuel some culture war when all they want is to live peacefully like everyone else.
the anti-trans propaganda hurts women who don’t fit the feminine stereotype, too.
exhausting shit.
the anti-trans propaganda hurts women who don’t fit the feminine stereotype, too.
exhausting shit.
Sabalenka says women facing transgender athletes not fair reut.rs/4iJVpik
Sabalenka says women facing transgender athletes not fair
World number one Aryna Sabalenka weighed into the participation of transgender athletes in women's sport, saying it would be unfair for women to face "biological men" in professional tennis.
reut.rs
December 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
at the end of the day, I just feel badly for trans people. they are always being used to fuel some culture war when all they want is to live peacefully like everyone else.
the anti-trans propaganda hurts women who don’t fit the feminine stereotype, too.
exhausting shit.
the anti-trans propaganda hurts women who don’t fit the feminine stereotype, too.
exhausting shit.
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Remember I said I was promoting books if you reached out?
Gabriel has just written something on class, race, and … let’s just say it… the APPROPRIATED WHITENESS of 19th and 20thc tennis 🎾 and how much it’s unacknowledged.
Hello #TennisSky !
Gabriel has just written something on class, race, and … let’s just say it… the APPROPRIATED WHITENESS of 19th and 20thc tennis 🎾 and how much it’s unacknowledged.
Hello #TennisSky !
Not able to DM you but I’ll take you up on this if the offer still stands. Here’s a link, though it’s available elsewhere for those who prefer to avoid Amazon: a.co/d/5mFaa9I
Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport: Allen, Gabriel: 9798316681723: Amazon.com: Books
Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport [Allen, Gabriel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of ...
a.co
December 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Remember I said I was promoting books if you reached out?
Gabriel has just written something on class, race, and … let’s just say it… the APPROPRIATED WHITENESS of 19th and 20thc tennis 🎾 and how much it’s unacknowledged.
Hello #TennisSky !
Gabriel has just written something on class, race, and … let’s just say it… the APPROPRIATED WHITENESS of 19th and 20thc tennis 🎾 and how much it’s unacknowledged.
Hello #TennisSky !
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
This is disgusting, cowardly garbage. Let trans women play tennis. Everyone who entertained 'just asking questions about men in women's sports' should understand that this was never, and is is not, about sports, but pretending it was sure did pave the way to erasing trans people from public life.
USTA bans trans athletes from competing as women to comply with Trump executive order
The national tennis governing body's policy change was made with no announcement.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 4, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This is disgusting, cowardly garbage. Let trans women play tennis. Everyone who entertained 'just asking questions about men in women's sports' should understand that this was never, and is is not, about sports, but pretending it was sure did pave the way to erasing trans people from public life.
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Hey, I’m literally writing the book on Renée Richards. If any of you need someone to write or pod or vid chat on this subject, I’m here! Eager to contextualize what this all ~means~
SCOOP: The United States Tennis Association (USTA) quietly updated its player eligibility policy to ban trans women from competing as women in their leagues, tournaments and competitions in order to comply with Trump's anti-trans sports executive order. The policy went into effect on Monday.
USTA bans trans athletes from competing as women to comply with Trump executive order
The national tennis governing body's policy change was made with no announcement.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Hey, I’m literally writing the book on Renée Richards. If any of you need someone to write or pod or vid chat on this subject, I’m here! Eager to contextualize what this all ~means~
Need something to help pass the days during the offseason? Learn how & why tennis was invented, the original rules, how & why the rules changed, how the rules & culture of the sport can be improved, & much more in Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport. a.co/d/bHDLY3b
December 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Need something to help pass the days during the offseason? Learn how & why tennis was invented, the original rules, how & why the rules changed, how the rules & culture of the sport can be improved, & much more in Tennis Tensions: Class, Race and Gender in the Evolution of the Sport. a.co/d/bHDLY3b
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
This thread highlights why I think you’ll like subscribing to my queer sports newsletter and what a paid subscription gets you:
If you’ve been waiting to upgrade to a paid subscription to Out of Your League, now’s your chance! It’s my annual birthday-season sale! Also makes a great gift for your queer, sports-loving pal. bit.ly/ooylsagseaso...
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This thread highlights why I think you’ll like subscribing to my queer sports newsletter and what a paid subscription gets you:
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Reminder for the morning crowd- if you are an author, I’m happy to do this in this crucial holiday sales period- just tag or DM .
Also- if you are an author , and you have a book you want to promote for people to buy for the holidays…. Tag or DM me because I’m happy to promote the hell out of literature.
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reminder for the morning crowd- if you are an author, I’m happy to do this in this crucial holiday sales period- just tag or DM .
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
"The usual Thanksgiving depiction overlooks Indigenous rituals that give thanks, including harvest festivals," Thomas Tweed writes for The Conversation. https://to.pbs.org/49x8xVF
A historian explains how the Pilgrims took over Thanksgiving – and who has been erased
Communal rituals of giving thanks have a longer history in North America, and it was only around the turn of the 20th century that most people in the U.S. came to associate Thanksgiving with Plymouth ...
to.pbs.org
November 28, 2025 at 12:03 AM
"The usual Thanksgiving depiction overlooks Indigenous rituals that give thanks, including harvest festivals," Thomas Tweed writes for The Conversation. https://to.pbs.org/49x8xVF
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Out of Your League is so much more than just a newsletter. It’s a community. It’s my livelihood. And I can’t do it without all of you.
I've shared some real talk on what it's been like since leaving Substack and how you can help. This newsletter is not AI slop and it is written by a human (me!), and I pay other people to help me create the product you receive in your inbox on a regular basis. But I can't do it without you!
it's time for some real talk
and my annual sagittarius season sale!
www.thefrankiedlc.news
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Out of Your League is so much more than just a newsletter. It’s a community. It’s my livelihood. And I can’t do it without all of you.
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
Now with a fancy new banner--if you order a copy of "Moses and the Doctor" from my local bookstore, Astoria Bookshop, it'll come signed. Preorder here: www.astoriabookshop.com/item/koW0Owl...
November 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Now with a fancy new banner--if you order a copy of "Moses and the Doctor" from my local bookstore, Astoria Bookshop, it'll come signed. Preorder here: www.astoriabookshop.com/item/koW0Owl...
Reposted by Gabriel Allen
I’m real proud of this essay and touched by the reception so far
Hi! I wrote a thing about swimming and trans athletes and [*checks notes*] Santana for @defector.com, would mean a lot if you give it a read
What Does A Great Trans Athlete Deserve? | Defector
Once every week or two, I swim molasses-slow laps at the YMCA. I’ve been on something of a fitness journey this year, testing out different forms of exercise to see what sticks—what feels the least to...
defector.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I’m real proud of this essay and touched by the reception so far
