We have come a long way in addressing and recognizing LGBTQIA rights in America. We have several states that now allow same sex marriage, and larger institutions are now implementing policies to protect the rights of those who do not identify as heterosexual. We may pat our backs for these accomplishments, but the reality is that homophobia is far from being a sentiment of the past. People are fearful to reveal their sexual orientation because of potential backlash, slandering, physical violence, or career-ending decisions made by institutions or people in power.
Sport is certainly one institution that does not provide a safe space for the LGBT community. As documented in "Training Rules", blatant homophobia is oftentimes ignored and athletes who identify as lesbian or gay face scrutiny and criticism for their sexual orientation. People like Rene Portland are able to use intimidation and remove scholarships from student athletes because they are in a position of power. Schools claim to take care of such issues, or turn a blind eye to homophobia in their athletic departments. This can be because Portland and others are the coaches that win championships and have excellent records, and by removing them from their position, the school may lose donations from alumni. Another reason may be because homophobia is an incredibly large issue that is multidimensional and intimidating. This issue is larger than college sports, and it is bigger than the case Rene Portland. The NFL reports of a pro athlete considering coming out as gay in the near future. This individual is only considering revealing his sexual orientation, because he fears for the potential (probably inevitable) backlash that he will receive. Sports is not a safe place for the LGBT community, and we need to make some serious changes to remedy that.
I would suggest implementing stricter sanctions for those who engage in homophobic behavior and threaten those whom they believe to be gay or lesbian. This can be accomplished by having players anonymously reporting such behavior to a higher authority, or sending in professionals to observe team dynamics and evaluate the safety of the athletic department. Awareness should be spread to athletic teams both in the NCAA and in professional sports on what homophobia looks like, how to address homophobic acts, and who to contact if players feel threatened or unsafe. Athletes need to feel safe and accepted for who they are and the groups they identify with. This takes a paradigm shift, but it is a necessary movement we need to take for human rights.
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