Over the last several months an impressive number of high profile straight men in sport have stepped forward to speak out publicly in support of marriage equality and the inclusion of LGBTQ people in sports as well as against anti-LGBTQ bullying in schools. … [Read more...]
Study examines sports journalism, sexual orientation in sport
Sport is often linked to heterosexual masculinity, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for those who do not fit in sport’s perceived mold, especially homosexual athletes. Much research has been done examining sport and sexual orientation in terms of athletes. Ted Kian of Oklahoma State … [Read more...]
The Incredible Omnipresent Yet Invisible Lesbian Athlete
For someone like me who has made a career advocating for the elimination of the discrimination and harassment that LGBT people experience in sport, it has been a dizzying two years of progress. The topic of LGBT inclusion in sport is now a standard fixture in mainstream sport media. Everyone … [Read more...]
Lori Lindsey: Out and Proud
Lori Lindsey has been a fixture on the U.S. Women's National Team for the past several years. When not on the soccer field the midfielder often can be found joking around with her BFF, fellow player Megan Rapinoe. Yesterday Lindsey followed in her good pal's footsteps when in an interview with … [Read more...]
All In, All Out: a note on the amazing Megan Rapinoe
In two interviews, four years apart, two different USWNT players casually identified themselves as gay to reporters. Neither did so with the solemn declaration, "I'm a lesbian." Both players answered a reporter's question in a way that snuffed out the presumption of heterosexuality maintained by … [Read more...]
It’s not an either/or situation: WNBA needs to market to all of their fans
I asked two longtime Los Angeles Sparks season ticket holders recently to tell me about the demographics they see at WNBA games. One said:"I am not sure of the demographics or even if they are kept by the teams. Just by looking around my section and nearby areas, I have noticed a shift to more … [Read more...]
The Olympics Are Coming!
The London Olympic Games begin in a little over a week so, of course, speculation begins about the number of openly LGBT athletes will be competing. This Advocate articleidentifies a handful of openly lesbian and gay athletes who will be competing and I am sure this number will increase as we … [Read more...]
Undercurrent of homophobia still shapes women’s sports
This piece is troublesome, on many levels:Heartening as Iamstrong’s story may be to gay-rights and social-equality advocates, it is not necessarily representative of women’s athletics, a world in which, contrary to public perception and mainstream media attention, homophobia routinely … [Read more...]
Update on Lesbian Golf Coach’s Lawsuit Against the University of Minnesota
In December, 2010 I blogged about a lawsuit filed by Katie Brenny, a lesbian golf coach at the University of Minnesota who alleged that she was discriminated against on the basis of her sexual orientation. Included in the lawsuit were charges against the Director of Golf at the time, John … [Read more...]
Coaching and Preaching: When the Football Field Becomes A Church
Ron Brown, an assistant football coach at the University of Nebraska, has been on the public hot seat since he spoke against a proposed Omaha city ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In his testimony, Brown listed his address as Memorial Stadium … [Read more...]