Leony Barroso: Leading USTA Kentucky

“League is my passion,” he said. Barroso has volunteered working a site at state and sectional tournaments, as most of Southern committee members do.

He continues to play adult teams and also has participated in Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance events with the goal of fundraising. Employing his organizational skills, he is working on an LGBTQ+ event in Louisville, Ky., and hopes to expand with a tournament in Lexington.

Barroso took the initiative to spread a sign of gay pride.

“I saw someone wearing a US Open hat with a pride bar at the US Open, even though it looked like it wasn’t official,” he explained. With the support of USTA Kentucky’s Executive Director Jason Miller and Manager, Marketing and Communications Kim Lonnemann, Barroso designed a pride hat that was approved for manufacture by USTA Marketing. 

More than 400 hats have been ordered by Southern and USTA offices in Kentucky, Georgia and North Carolina. Lonnemann said the hats are not for sale but are being given away at Kentucky events like sectionals.

“We have more open conversations because of the hat,” Barroso said. “If it’s bringing more awareness to the USTA and its goal of being more inclusive, than it’s important.”

With changing times, Barroso said he has become a bit more vocal, even if doing so doesn’t really fit his personality.

“I have been very subtle but more vocal about me being gay and in a leadership position. I’m not a flashy person and try not to be in somebody’s face,” he said. “Anything I can do to promote the sport and to be inclusive is a plus. If we can give people a platform to be themselves and have a way to be more physically active, I’m a supporter.”