Leo Baker identifies as non-binary or genderqueer, a gender different from being solely a male or a female. The goofy-footed American skateboarder was, however, born a female in 1991 to Donna Baker and Marshall Lambert Rohner on 24 November. Below are interesting facts about Leo, who owns the queer skateboarding company, Glue, and starred in a Nike ad campaign, a video game by Tony Hawk, and most recently, a Documentary on Netflix.
Leo Baker’s Profile Summary
- Name: Leo Baker
- Date of Birth: 24 November 1991
- Place of Birth: Covina, California, USA
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Gender Specificity: TransMasculine
- Gender: nonbinary, genderqueer
- Pronouns: they/them
- Occupation: Skateboarder
- Height: 5 feet 3 inches
- Weight: 61 kg
- Instagram: leo_baker
Leo Baker Identifies as Non-Binary
Quote: “I almost feel like there is no gender; I don’t identify with any of that. All of it feels so foreign. I’m not a woman, and if you take the “standard” definition of what a man is, I’m definitely not that. I’m floating around in space somewhere between the two…”
As a non-binary, Leo Baker is referred to with gender-neutral pronouns like they/them. Leo’s name at the point of birth was officially Lacey Baker (declared female biologically). They were also formerly known as Lee Baker before changing their first name to Leo.
Being biologically known as a female, Leo got to the stage of puberty and had some insecurities to sort out. From childhood, he had originally started dressing like a tomboy. He had no option but to use two extra sports bras to solve his boobs’ visibility. This worked for some time until they discovered binders. By 2022, Leo opted to get surgery.
Leo Began Skating at a Very Young Age
Leo Baker had always imagined skateboarding as doing what he loves best. At age 5, he started skateboarding and became more focused on it by the age of 11. In 2006, he won his first street competitions in Calgary and Toronto, Canada. This made them feature in the Kid’s Skateboard Mag in 2007 with featured pictures of a hard flip down 8 stairs and a 360 flip.
Baker also won the Street League Skateboarding Super Crown World Championship (2016). A year later, he got nominated for an ESPY award in the category of Best Female Action Sports Athlete. Leo has numerous awards courtesy of street competitions across Brazil, Minnesota, California, England, Norway, Washington, Texas, Norway, South Africa, Illinois, and the Czech Republic.
He Spent a Chunk of His Childhood in Foster Care
Leo Baker spent most of his childhood in foster care. His parents, Donna Baker and Marshall Lambert Rohner, had issues with drugs and, as a result, spent long periods of time in rehab. It was during one of their stints in a medical facility that their paths crossed, and Donna got pregnant.
Donna was clean when she had her child but soon later relapsed, so her three children had to be moved to foster care. It was in foster care that Leo started skateboarding with two foster brothers. Baker was lucky enough to practice with the ramp in the backyard. He was so good that he ended up pursuing a career as a skateboarder.
When Donna was eventually able to get her kids together, she ensured that Leo kept skateboarding since that was obviously what served as a form of happiness for him.
Who Are Leo Baker’s Parents?
Leo Baker’s father is Marshall Lambert, who was born in December 1963. He was a musician for over 30 years. He started his career in the entertainment industry as a guitarist and an actor when he was a teenager. He featured in Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984), Medium Rare (1987), and Road House (1989). He is known to be emotionally attached to his children simply because he is known to have placed the image of his two children (Jeffrey Fisher and Leo Baker) on the back of his amplifier.
Marshall passed away in 2005 when he was 41 years old. He got infected with AIDS, which was a result of complications from his experiments with intravenous drugs in the 80s.
Baker’s mother Donna Baker, on the other hand, is presently a certified Esthetician in Covina, Los Angeles. She has a documented history with drugs but has been a supportive part of Leo’s life. She went through heartbreaking moments as a result of her addiction to meth.
He Has a Documentary About His Life on Netflix
Not long after choosing not to join the US Olympics team, Leo Baker received an opportunity to tell his story through a documentary on Netflix. The Netflix documentary titled Stay on Board gives a trail of their life so far and what lies ahead in the next chapter. The story is made with authenticity through the pure view of a trans member to ensure this.
The documentary was released in July and August 2022, and Leo shares that the main expectation on what people should take from his story is just to be involved in listening and accepting what it is as children would and also to prioritize authenticity over temporary success. Combining narration of both his personal and professional career, his life with other persons was revealing as regards his father, his mother, his girlfriend, and his friends.
Leo Baker Has a Girlfriend named Melissa
Leo Baker’s girlfriend has been identified as Melissa Bueno Woerner. The relationship began sometime around 2018 but has been kept under the radar. Melissa is not an athlete like her partner. She is in the entertainment business and is said to have been a producer of the Leo Baker Story on Netflix. She has been so supportive of Leo’s self-discovery journey and promises to be by his side throughout.
