Raven Saunders: Mysterious About Their Love Life

So, Raven Saunders, that athlete who caught everyone’s eye with their mask and sunglasses, hasn’t really said if they’ve got a wife or a partner. They’re pretty private about that stuff.

Raven goes by they/them pronouns and identifies as non-binary. They’ve been competing for a while now, but when it comes to their personal life, they’re super low-key. If you check out their social media, there’s barely anything about who they’re dating. Sometimes, they’ll post about their mom, but that’s it.

Raven Came Out in High School but Keeps Love Life Under Wraps

Even though Raven’s not sharing relationship deets, they’ve been open about their pronouns and sexuality. They first came out to their mom in third grade, and by sixth grade, they were outed to their classmates. This happened when a classmate found a notebook with love songs they had remixed about a girl they liked.

By ninth grade, Raven got more comfortable with who they were. At the Tokyo Olympics, when they won silver, they did this “X” thing with their wrists on the podium. They said it was for “the intersection where all oppressed people meet.” Raven’s been all about supporting LGBTQ rights and mental health ever since.

They shouted out, “Shout out to all my Black people, shout out to all my LGBTQ community, shout out to everybody dealing with mental health.”

Their identity, mixing their Blackness, gender expression, and advocacy, has always been a big part of their athletic career. Even during the 2024 Olympics, their pronouns were mentioned by BBC’s Jazmin Sawyers during the shot-put prelims.

Raven’s always using their platform to support those facing oppression, especially Black women and Black gender non-conforming folks.

Growing Up in Mississippi Was Tough

Raven’s talked about what it was like growing up as a Black LGBTQ person in Mississippi, which is like the most old-school place in America. They said it was really tough trying to figure out who they were in a place where they didn’t really feel accepted.

But even with all that, Raven’s built a platform for people like them and has inspired a ton of others. Maybe one day they’ll share more about who they’re dating or married to, but for now, they’re keeping it to themselves.

Extra Stuff You Should Know

• Raven was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 15, 1996, and grew up with their sister, Tanzania. Sadly, their mom passed away in August 2024, just days after Raven won their first Olympic medal.
• Raven wears masks and shades while competing because it helps them focus and embrace their ‘Hulk’ alter ego.
• They were featured in the first episode of Out of the Dark, where they opened up about their personal journey with mental health.

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