The following series of case studies describe a variety of situations in which athletes, coaches, and athletic directors must make decisions about how to resolve questions of prejudice, harassment, or discrimination directed at LGBT coaches or athletes. Some of the case studies are better suited to high school and others are better suited for college settings.
Discussing the case studies can be an effective way to identify problems and solutions that promote fairness, respect, and safety for LGBT and heterosexual participants. Choose one or more cases for participants to discuss depending on the time available. Dividing the group into smaller groups, each with a different case study to discuss and report on to the larger group, is an effective way to encourage more participation.
Three discussion questions and a list of suggested topics to address in the discussion accompany each case study.
1) Ultimate Frisbee is a "Faggot" SportThe coach of the boys' ultimate Frisbee team asks to talk with the boys' baseball coach just before practice one afternoon. She tells him that the ultimate team has complained that, in the locker room, several baseball players have been calling them "homos" and saying that ultimate is a "faggot sport". An ultimate player found a male nude pin-up picture taped to his locker, and several baseball players laughed at him and made sexual gestures directed at him when he found it. The ultimate coach asks the baseball coach what ideas he has so they can address this behavior together. The baseball coach laughs and tell the ultimate coach that she is overreacting and that it is all just meant as inter-team rivalry and teasing. He doesn't see what the big deal is and tells her to lighten up.
Case Study Questions:
- How would you define the problem in this situation?
- What action suggestions would you make to the coach to address the problem?
- What action suggestions would you make to the athletes to address problem?
Topics to Discuss:
- Use of anti-gay slurs to put down sport and athletes not thought of as "manly"
- Anti-gay slurs - climate for gay athletes on either team - student rights law
- Traditional jock culture - learn to take it
- Harassment acceptable - teasing
- Same-sex sexual harassment - legal concern
2) Basketball Player Joins The GSAOne of the players on the girls' basketball team has joined the school Gay Student Allience. She is wearing a rainbow pin on her basketball jacket in school. She has also cut her hair very short and has a streak of green in it. Several of her teammates are very upset with her because they are concerned that people will think the whole team is gay because of her. This is causing problems on the team. No one wants to change near her in the locker room, and the team is not working well together when she is on the floor. The coach finds out about this because she overhears two players discussing it in the locker room after practice.
Case Study Questions:
- How would you define the problem in this situation?
- What action suggestions would you make to the coach to address the problem?
- What action suggestions would you make to the athletes to address problem?
Topics to Discuss:
- Assumptions about sexuality based on dress, hair, member of GSA
- Concern of girl athletes that people will think they are gay because they are athletes or associated with teammate perceived to be lesbian
- Stereotypes/fears of lesbians as sexual threats
- Wearing pin on team jacket
- Effects on team performance
- Effects of differences on .team chemistry.
- Girls in sport and "proving" heterosexuality
3) Parents' Concerns About College TeamsThe star pitcher on the softball team has been getting many contacts from college coaches who want to recruit her to their programs. Her parents come to the coach for advice about how to choose among the schools. Her father asks the coach what she knows about the coach or anything about the "lifestyle" at one of the colleges his daughter is considering. He praises the high school coach for being a good role model for his daughter because she a married with children, and he wants the same for his daughter's college coach. Though he does not say it directly, the coach assumes he wants to avoid sending his daughter to a school where there might be a lesbian coach or lesbians on the team.
Case Study Questions:
- How would you define the problem in this situation?
- What action suggestions would you make to the coach to address the problem?
- What action suggestions would you make to the athletes to address problem?
Topics to Discuss
- Assumption that lesbian coaches are a threat, not a good role model
- Assumption that the high school coach is straight, shares his beliefs about lesbians
- Assumption that having a lesbian coach might make his daughter a lesbian
4) Inseparable Teammates Two players on the girls' field hockey team are inseparable. They are together everywhere. They come to practice and leave together every day. They eat lunch together in the cafeteria. They always sit together on the bus traveling to games. Some of the rest of the team is starting to call them "the girlfriends" and make comments about them when they are not there. One Saturday afternoon the coach sees them holding hands in the town park. They do not see her.
Case Study Questions:
- How would you define the problem in this situation?
- What action suggestions would you make to the coach to address the problem?
- What action suggestions would you make to the athletes to address problem?
Topics to Discuss
- Assumption that they are lesbians because they are close
- Effect on team dynamics of having two players split off
- Dealing with lovers on a team - what's fair to them and the team
- Reactions of rest of team to having lesbian partners on the team
- Potential for problems from parents and others
5) Swimmer Comes Out to Coach A member of the boys' swim team waits around after practice to talk with his coach. He is fidgeting and reluctant to say what is on his mind. Finally, with some encouragement from the coach, he manages with much difficulty to say that he thinks he might be gay and that he does not know what to do. He says he doesn't want his parents to know because his dad will "go wild".
Case Study Questions:
- How would you define the problem in this situation?
- What action suggestions would you make to the coach to address the problem?
- What action suggestions would you make to the athletes to address problem?
Topics to Discuss:
- Being "approachable"
- Knowing how to respond if an athlete comes out
- Confidentiality issues
- Having resources available