Youth Coaches suspended for allowing homphobic taunts

The News-Dispatch in Michigan City, Indiana is reporting that 2 coaches have been suspended for one year for allowing homophobic taunts to be used on some boys continually on the baseball fields. Click here to read the entire news article by Laura Wink.

Key paragraphs in the article that are alarming:

[Garbacik's decision came after a two-month investigation that started with complaints a 12-year-old baseball player was being harassed. The boy's parents contacted Garbacik in June after finding out their son was being called names such as "gay, fag, homo and queer" by other players.

Kaletha told Garbacik he was aware of the comments, but called it "joking and humor" and "just boys being boys." ]

How to address these problems?

There is hope and help on the play field. Dr. Pat Griffin is director of "It takes a Team!". Information and resources are available for coaches and families on the Women's Sports Foundation web site.

http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Issues-And-Research/Homophobia.aspx

About It Takes A Team!
Educational Campaign for LGBT Issues in Sport

• Many girls don't play sports because they are afraid someone will call them a lesbian or they are afraid one of their teammates or a coach might be a lesbian
• Transgender athletes were formerly excluded from sports by sex verification policies
• Lesbian and bisexual women in sport are discriminated against based on stereotypes and homophobia
• Gay boys and men in sport keep their identities secret out of fear of harassment from teammates and coaches It Takes A Team! is an educational program designed to end homophobia in sport.
Learn more