Dee Mosbacher and Fawn Yawker, the producers of the outstanding video documentary, Training Rules, are at it again. They asked if I would post the following on my blog: The producers of a web campaign and video project in progress - The Last Closet - are searching for a young gay athlete (Jr. High … [Read more...]
The N-Word: Not Racist Anymore?
Image: John Hickey/Buffalo News This is a story about insensitivity, stupidity and racism all rolled up in one high school girls' basketball team from Kentucky. It seems that the girls had a pregame locker room ritual cheer which went like this, "1-2-3 N-Word," only they said the N-word … [Read more...]
Reflections on the Death of a Young Black Lesbian Athlete
It is difficult to put my white, middle class, middle-aged and lesbian feet in the basketball shoes of a young black lesbian athlete from the projects. I know nothing about what Tayshana Murphy’s life was like. I do know something about keeping secrets. I hid my own lesbian identity for … [Read more...]
Pat Griffin’s LGBT Sport Blog: Team Hazing, Respect and Sports
The Andover High School boys’ basketball team began their season this week under a cloud of public scrutiny resulting from allegations about team hazing that occurred this summer while the team was attending a privately operated sleep-away basketball camp.According to news accounts, two older … [Read more...]
Why We Need State and Federal Non-Discrimination Laws That Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Sorry for the clunky title, but I couldn’t figure out another way to get the point across in a snappy clever way in fewer words. Nikki Williams has been teaching geography for three years and was an assistant volleyball at a public charter school just outside Dallas, TX for three years. She … [Read more...]
And the Horse’s Patoot Salute goes to…Pat Lynch
I haven't awarded a Horse's Patoot Salute in a while, but I have a new winner for you. The Horse's Patoot Salute is my personal award for coaches, athletic administrators, physical education teachers and athletes who demonstrate stunning levels of intentional or unintentional homophobia, sexism and … [Read more...]
Skirting the Issue of Femininity in Women’s Boxing
Just when I think women's sports are making some progress, some goofball comes up with an Assinine (or Backasswards, take your pick) proposal that reminds me how long the slog toward sex equality in sport is. The step forward in this case is the inclusion of women's boxing in the 2012 Olympics. … [Read more...]
Respect. Just Do It. Swooshing Toward An LGBT Inclusive Sports World
Last spring just after GLSEN launched Changing the Game, our new sports project, I got an email from Edward Tylicki from Nike. Edward is a member of Nike's LGBT and Friends Network. Edward sought me out as director for the Sports Project because he wanted to know how Nike could support Changing … [Read more...]
A Long Road to Safety, Let Alone Freedom: The Murder of a High School Basketball Star
In mid-September nationally ranked high school basketball star, Tayshana "Chicken" Murphy was shot to death by three young men in the hallway of her apartment building. At first, police assumed the murder was a case of mistaken identity. Tayshana had on a hoodie and police thought she was mistaken … [Read more...]
WSF Releases Position Statement on Intersex Athletes
The Women's Sports Foundation has released a position statement this week on the Participation of Intersex Athletes in Women's Sports. The primary authors of the position paper, Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Erin Buzuvis, are to be commended for articulating a position that is clear, reasoned and based … [Read more...]