Over the past years and months, equality in sports have been a hot topic addressed by many sports federations, organizations, and national ministries. Class, gender, and race are the main areas covered in such equality programs.
Equality based on sexual orientation on the other hand is still a taboo in some societies and therefore not addressed as much as it should be. However, TV documentaries, action plans from governments, news in the media, and international sports event, such as the VIII Gay Games, raised awareness in 2010.
In order to know if addressing homophobia in sports was still relevant nowadays, and if both men and women have different answers to this question, I interviewed 58 gay and lesbian athletes during the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, in August 2010. In addition, because sport has been associated from the very beginning with masculinity, I was curious to see if it played the role of a catalyst when comparing it with discrimination based on sexual orientation experienced at work.
The results show that discrimination in sports still exists, is more experienced in masculine sports, and is felt like men are more targeted than women. Regarding the work place, it is seen as where there is the most discrimination; indeed gay and lesbian athletes have the choice to avoid discrimination by joining LGBT sports clubs, but they do not have the same option for their work position.
A summmary of her report can be found HERE.
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