FAQs
Question 1
I consider myself a person of faith and find that many members of my religious community view homosexuality as a sin. How can I reconcile those with empowering a more affirming outlook in my faith community?
Question 2
My coaches use homophobic and sexist language as a way to motivate and challenge my teammates and me. It makes us want to be tougher, stronger and better at our sport. Will eliminating that language hurt the competitive spirit of my team?
Question 3
I want to be an Athlete Ally fostering inclusion in athletics, but I think some of my teammates would be uncomfortable showering with an out LGBTQ player. How can I talk to them about this?
Question 4
I spend as much time with my teammates outside of our sport as I do compete and practicing with them. We hang out together and even live together. I think most teammates respect openly gay players in the context of the game, but I’m concerned that they are less accepting in social settings, especially if a gay teammate brings a same-sex date to hang out with us. How can I work with my team to be inclusive in all contexts?
Answers
Answer 1
Faith is personal, which means that every individual has a unique experience incorporating allyship into his or her religious beliefs. Countless Athlete Allies are also people of faith. We recommend that you look closely at the values of allyship and see how they fit in the larger context of your religion. For example, being an ally means treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness. It means embracing difference and respecting people rather than judging them. We also suggest that you study why some members of your faith may negatively view LGBTQ people and ask yourself if those views make sense to you. Seek out LGBTQ- affirming organizations within your religion. We promise, they exist, and we are happy to help you find them. Learn about their views, ask constructive questions and share the answers with members of your religious community. Thoughtful questions are often the first point of productive conversation about being an ally of faith.
Answer 2
Coaches use a range of strategies to motivate athletes. They may penalize, criticize, compare, compliment or reward an athlete to help improve performance or work ethic. In any case, it’s wrong and discriminatory to use a coaching strategy at the expense of LGBTQ people or women. A derogatory slur insults or criticizes someone by degrading a group of people. A slur doesn’t just hurt the person you’re trying to insult, it hurts the community you’re referencing through the insult. Anti-gay or sexist language and conduct can make LGBTQ people and women feel insulted and degraded. Coaches have many options to motivate their players. Just like using physical violence or racist taunts, homophobic and sexist language is not acceptable. There are much more productive, appropriate and respectful options for motivating athletes and preserving the competitive spirit of a team.
Answer 3
Some straight athletes don’t realize that LGBTQ people are very active in sports. It’s estimated that 40% of LGBTQ youth have played at least one team sport. Chances are that you and your teammates have played alongside – and showered alongside - LGBTQ athletes in the past, though they may not have realized it. The only thing that changes when a player comes out is that he or she feels more comfortable being himself or herself. It’s also unfair and inaccurate to assume that an LGBTQ person will sexualize the locker room experience. LGBTQ athletes are there to play the game, just like everyone else, and they deserve the same opportunities and respect. If you need a quick response, simply tell your concerned teammates: “don’t flatter yourself.”
Answer 4
This is a journey for many people. Sometimes, a person will be inclusive in one context, like the playing field or at work, but not at ally at home or in social settings. Being an Athlete Ally means that you have to be ready to build bridges and work respectfully with people along their journeys. To help your teammates become allies in social settings, you may want to start showing support for LGBTQ inclusion on social media. Share stories of LGBTQ individuals and allies on Facebook and Twitter. This may demonstrate to your teammates that social allyship is well received. You may also want to mention fun stories or experiences with your LGBTQ friends in front of your teammates. Hopefully, the teammates will soon realize that they are missing out on great experiences and great people in their social lives.
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