I was glad to see Katee's post this morning, since I had also seen this same headline from the NCAA, outlining their position on the inclusion of transgendered athletes on college teams. The NCAA can certainly be applauded for taking a stance that does not allow the discrimination of transgendered athletes, though there may be some question about these new policies favoring trans-male athletes. This inclusivity will allow some athletes to play college sports without having to hide their true gender identity.
The attention this statement drew had me wondering about the NCAA’s silence on a more subtle exclusivity that currently exists in college sports. Sexual orientation is an important element of a person’s identity yet it is one that may not be welcome in the current climate of college athletics.
Multiple reports have spoken to the resistance in college athletics to accept openly gay athletes. Inside Higher Ed reports on the fear that closeted college football players experience. Gay college athletes hide their identity to avoid harassment from fellow players and even coaches. While the general public is more comfortable with gay college athletes, the culture of college football teams has not progressed as far. Players who come out to their team may be ousted from the team and lose a chance at a professional career.
Football is not the only sport where the culture is such that gay athletes have a difficult time coming out. New York Magazine recently explored the culture of gay athletes in professional sports. Gay athletes are not open about their sexual identity across all sports at the professional level. One exception to this rule is female athletes. Female athletes often have an easier time coming out to fellow players and the public.
Various professional organizations have not tolerated homophobic actions by players or other team professionals. In fact, it has become popular for teams and organizations to be vocal in support of the gay community. However, the environment is still not conducive to players wanting to reveal their sexual identity. The risk of losing a high-paying, prestigious job is too great for an athlete to share their identity with their team. Athletes, both professional and collegiate, often wait until their playing career is over before they come out.
Does the issue of accepting gay athletes begin at the collegiate level? Or, have professional teams influenced college sports in regards to the lack of tolerance?
Regardless of where this discrimination has begun, college athletics can take this opportunity to enact change. There have been improvements in recent years. Gay athletes in 2010 had more positive experiences with coming out to teammates, as compared to athletes in 2002.1 There are also more athletes self-identifying as gay. However, this number is not large and is mostly contained to smaller schools. As the prestige and size of the school increases, the likelihood for a gay athlete to come out decreases. The risk of losing exposure and a chance at a professional career is too great for athletes to share their sexual identity.
Advocates for gay athletes have been vocal about the need for change in college sports. Organizations and websites, such as Athlete Ally and Outsports have been established as a resource for gay athletes and their advocates.
Photographer Jeff Sheng photographs gay athletes for his exhibit Fearless. This photo series has been exhibited at high schools, colleges, the Olympics, and even at the ESPN headquarters. These photographs show images of athletes who have come out to their teammates. All of these organizations exist to challenge the athletic world to be more open-minded and accepting of others.
Advocates express hope for increased tolerance in college athletics. As society evolves, they trust the next generation will not even blink an eye upon hearing their teammate come out as a gay athlete. The students on our campuses seem to grow more accepting each year. Do you think they are already there?
1 Anderson, E. (2011). Updating the outcome: Gay athletes, straight teams, and coming out in educationally based sport teams. Gender & Society, 25: 250.
DOI: 10.1177/0891243210396872
I was surprised to read the first article I blogged about out from NCAA and as I learned more about Renee Richards and other athletes from the 70’s-I was impressed to discover the paradigm shift in thinking about gay and transgender issues in athletics to today. We are far from where we should be especially for higher education and our push to serve and be what we say-an inclusive community (campus culture). Is it the locker rooms or close proximity in which athletes share that freaks people out? I guess so when men slap each other on the ass before heading out for a football game is that now taboo? Or is someone thinking that they might be gay? I am continually grateful to the students who are advocates for the LGBT community and want to support students who want to play athletics no matter their gender, sex, and how they identify. Can we start using our time to talk about why women need to be objectified in lingerie to be considered football players instead of trying to figure out what sex a person is? I think we have some bigger issues to take care of especially with the media and how athletes are glorified (lingerie or not).
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your great comments! Unfortunately, because of the machismo that surrounds sports, homophobia still exists. The irrational fear of being stared at or groped in the shower or locker room is ludicrous, but very pervasive.
ReplyDeleteAs a closeted teen in high school athletics, I was hyper-aware of those stereotypes, which I think are more pervasive in small town America. These attitudes reinforced in my mind that homosexuality was "wrong", and caused me to internalize that homophobia. I went through a period of being strongly homophobic as a way of denying that aspect of my identity. Rather than repress or "heal" my gayness, all it did was negatively impact my self-concept, and kept me from living a full life until I was in my 30's.
As educators, we must push for full inclusion in every area. Having students hate themselves simply for who they are is not acceptable.