QUEER WORD
HIGH-FIVE

What it means:

a celebratory gesture where two people slap their open palms together, usually raised in the air.

Let's Use It In A Sentence:

Josh may have clumsily missed every shot in his amateur basketball game, but he still high-fived everyone like he’d invented the sport—and, in spirit, maybe he had.

A Wee Bit of History

Now, I’m not someone who usually goes in for the whole ‘brave queer athlete’ thing. It often feels like cis gay male athletes get elevated to some higher echelon of queerness - as if being good at sport and being out makes you somehow more heroic than the rest of us.

But this week, I’m making an exception. Because the story of baseballer Glenn Burke is one worth telling.

So... What Does This Have to Do With High-Fives?

While reading up on queer San Francisco history (specifically the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot), I came across a brief note about a wandering stranger known for spreading joy in the Castro district by offering high-fives to strangers.

That someone, I later found out, was Glenn Burke, widely credited with inventing the high-five.

My first reaction? A big fat dollop of skepticism.

After all, how could anyone possibly verify who invented the high-five?

But digging deeper, I found a story full of pride, resistance, and heartbreak.

The Birth of the High-Five

Glenn Burke played professional baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the late 1970s. Known for his charisma and generosity, Burke was beloved by teammates and audiences.

Now, the story goes that during a match in his rookie season, Burke spontaneously raised his hand in celebration as his teammate Dusty Baker rounded home plate. Baker slapped it, and just like that, the very first high-five was born.

The gesture caught on fast. The Dodgers embraced it as a team symbol, even trademarking it and incorporating it into their branding (which is equal parts cool and deeply gross).

But Burke’s Career Was Cut Short

Though Burke was out to his teammates, the wider system of Major League Baseball was far less accepting.

He was controversially traded to another team early in his career. While no official reason was ever given, many former teammates suspect that his sexuality played a major role.

His new team was unwelcoming, and his career faltered amid injuries and increasing hostility. He retired in 1980 at a measly 27 years old.

A Bittersweet Legacy

Burke’s post-baseball life was tough. He struggled with drug use, was injured in a car accident, and spent time in prison. He passed away in 1995 at the young age of 42 due to complications from AIDS.

In a 1994 interview with People magazine, he reflected on his life:

Whether or not Burke technically invented the high-five, I love the image of him wandering through the Castro, lifting his arm in joy, spreading a simple, defiant gesture of pride.

Final Thoughts

There’s something deliciously ironic about the fact that a symbol of athletic success and masculine bonding might have originated with a Black, gay baseball player - and is now used by thousands of sports fans (including the homophobic ones!) every weekend, most of whom have no idea who Glenn Burke was.

So the next time you slap someone’s hand in celebration, think of it as more than just a gesture.

Think of it as a tiny act of queer joy.

A high-five for Glenn.