The Foundation's innovative program designed to eliminate homophobia in sports
Published: October 31, 2002
In October 1996, Martina Navratilova joined the Women's Sports Foundation's Board of Stewards with her sights set on one primary goal: to eliminate homophobia in sports. In October 2002, six years since Navratilova laid the groundwork for this mission, the Foundation unveiled "It Takes A Team: Making Sports Safe For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Athletes and Coaches," an educational project to address homophobia in sports. The project is intended to help coaches and school administrators educate student-athletes about the harmful effects of homophobia and asks the question, "How can we make sure that people in athletics are evaluated, not based on their sexual orientation or gender expression, but on their individual character and accomplishments?"
The need for this educational resource is simple: prejudice, in all forms, can only breed violence, segregation and hatred. Unfortunately, today's youth commit more than 70% of all hate crimes – crimes that are sprung out of prejudiced beliefs. Often this intolerance is aimed at homosexuals and perpetuated in the locker rooms and hallways of our educational institutions, where individuality, creativity and acceptance should flourish. According to Dr. Pat Griffin, author of Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport and co-author of the It Takes A Team project, "The time has come to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues openly, and this project is the first real step to bring these issues into the locker room."
The It Takes A Team educational kit includes a 15-minute video, discussion and action guides, "Safe Space" stickers, posters and a list of resources addressing LGBT issues in sport. The kit establishes five basic rights of all athletes and coaches:
- safety from physical or verbal harassment or violence
- fair treatment in all aspects of programming
- equal access to all aspects of programming
- support for developing positive self-esteem and acceptance of others
- education about social diversity, prejudice and discrimination
The benefits of bringing this program into your community are invaluable. Once the myths and stereotypes are erased, coaches and athletes can speak intelligently about issues of discrimination and foster an attitude of acceptance toward diversity. Being labeled gay or lesbian will no longer be a mark of shame on any athlete, and destructive verbal and physical harassment will no longer be a right of passage in the locker room. Perhaps most importantly, lesbian and gay athletes and coaches may finally feel safe enough to reveal themselves to their teammates, improving team chemistry and allowing LGBT athletes to enjoy the same whole and fulfilling experience as their heterosexual peers. In this way, "coming out" can become a positive and rewarding moment in life, rather than living in constant fear of exposure.
It Takes A Team would not exist without the laudable efforts of seven national organizations: Astrea, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Ms. Foundation, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Uncommon Legacy Foundation and the Women's Sports Foundation. Their commitment to this project has opened the once impenetrable locker room doors to the education and prevention of homophobia in sports. With their help, the well of loneliness that isolated so many lesbian and gay athletes in the past will no longer burden future generations. To become a part of this team or to find out more about the Project To Eliminate Homophobia In Sport, please see the project's Web site. And remember, it is everyone's responsibility to make sports a safe space – it truly does take a team.