Given America’s recent lovefest following that adorable kiss between freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy and his boyfriend, actor Matt Wilkas (Bonding), on the slopes of Pyeongchang, it seems we may have turned a corner in the acceptance of gay athletes at the highest levels of sport. Yet as this stirring documentary shows, it can still be very difficult for professional athletes (and those with an eye on going pro) to decide to come out. The risk of losing their place in the game can weigh so heavily that life outside the sport is frequently a life lived inside the closet.

Alone in the Game follows a handful of athletes of varying levels, sports, and identities as they decide how to be true to themselves. Vanderbilt lineman Riley Tindol weighs the crushing isolation of being closeted against the fear of destroying his opportunity to play. Layana White and Haley Videckis contend with homophobic backlash that has succeeded in pushing them off their WNBA-tracked college team. High schooler Trevor Betts navigates gender affirmation through wrestling, while skier Kenworthy battles himself in a world where reputation and marketability are weighed equally with skill.

Featuring notable sports experts and athletes, including NBA center Jason Collins, Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, MLS cup champion Robbie Rogers, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Alone in the Game is a rallying cry for LGBTQ athletes to come out, play out, and be supported by the industry and fans alike. A Film by David McFarland.

— SOPHIA LANZA-WEIL