Sports have a problem with homophobia. According to a study by GLSEN, gay high school students are nearly half as likely to participate in team sports and nearly a quarter of those who do participate in team sports or PE classes report being harassed because of their orientation.
Adolescence and young adulthood are especially critical times for gay people. LGBT people that age are more likely to be depressed than their straight peers and gay males at that age are 55 percent more likely to attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts. Roughly half of these suicidal thoughts are connected to their orientation.
In a sick irony, those young people that do brave participate in sports have higher GPA’s and report having a higher self-esteem than those who don’t. Studies have long suggested that participation in sports can reduce depression and anxiety well into young adulthood. Clearly, sports can have a positive impact on gay people’s lives but not if the culture of homophobia persists.
School administrators and national sporting bodies have already made important steps to ensure that LGBT people feel safe and welcome on sports teams. Nondiscrimination and inclusion policies remove institutional barriers toward LGBT people and help reduce harassment from teammates and opponents but more needs to be done.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Gay and inclusive teams make welcoming players of all orientations — including those who have been excluded from other teams – central to their mission. National and international organizations like International Gay Rugby, the National Gay Basketball Association or National Gay Flag Football League all support these local gay teams and represent their interests to national bodies.
International Gay Rugby is one of the largest gay sports organizations. It has 56 member teams around the world and has worked with rugby’s highest organizing bodies to enact nondiscrimination policies and to win logistical support for local teams.
My team, the Nashville Grizzlies, will be hosting the world championship of IGR this May. First held in 2002 and named after September 11 hero Mark Bingham, the Bingham Cup should attract over 1500 players and supporters representing 45 from around the world. This will be the first time since 2010 that the biennial Bingham Cup has been hosted in the United States and the first time it has ever been hosted in the mid-South.
We will be taking the inclusive mission of the Grizzlies and IGR a step further and will be conducting suicide prevention training sessions for all coaches and interested players in partnership with our charity of choice, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN). TSPN is the statewide suicide prevention nonprofit in Tennessee and has done important work in a state where suicide is a leading cause of death for adults. Scott Ridgway, TSPN’s executive director, hopes that the sessions will help “spread the message of suicide prevention across the U.S. and around the world”
It is our hope that coaches and supporters can take what they learn back to their home unions where they can have the greatest impact on making rugby more inclusive.
For more information on the Nashville Grizzlies, go here.
JerseyMike
Now I hope people can understand why people of color create organizations within their groups. They are not included or feel left out the same as gay people do. Until there is no sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. these organizations and groups are needed. When and if the day comes with equality for all there will be no need for separate groups or ezines like queerty. To be honest not sure if I am looking forward that day.
VampDC
No. We do not need gay sports teams. Maybe I’m 22 and from a younger generation but the concept is stupid to me.
Athletics are about the sport. To separate yourself makes gay men seem weaker.
corey
@VampDC: yes, you are too young, and most likely have never been bullied, thrown out of a class or your home, or anything else that many gays/LGBT face
corey
When it comes to team sports, who ever has the biggest “____” wins the respect of others. To do this, you have to beat up those weaker than yourself. There is no difference in a group of men playing sports than a group of male lions trying to prove who is the most dominant. All that aside, the most masculine guys I have met, are the biggest momma’ boys and whiney brats when off the field.
martinbakman
Anything that addresses suicide prevention get my kudos. Thank you for recognizing that need in Tennessee and doing something about it.
Go Grizzlies!!
Ryan M Kiernan
I’d love to do some gay kickball or baseball
Luke Ellison
Ooraw
Thad
Athletics, when you get to the point where you play for the fun and competition of it and not because you’re supposed to…are about the entire experience. If you can play with teammates you like, and who like you, that’s the point.
I’ve been involved with IGBO, the gay bowlers’ organization, and loved bowling with them. I also volunteered at Gay Games in 1994 in New York. If you’re at all interested, you should do it!