LGBT Equality In Sports

As a group, we all collectively perceive that the progress on LGBT equality in sport, although slow, is a good start in a long battle in diminishing inequality. We can see, through history, how long it took for the sports industry to slowly accept diversity in sports in terms of one’s sexuality. Back in 1975 no gay, transgender, bisexual, or lesbian athlete dared to come out publicly, now we have more and more athletes coming out every year (Griffin, 2012). We see the first state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation was not passed until 1982 (Griffin, 2012). We then see the second law being passed in 1989 in Massachusetts which outlawed the discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (Griffin, 2012). Since the 1980’s we have seen an increase not only are LGBT people publicly out in all professions and in the mainstream media, but we can also see progress on such policy and legal issues as hate crime laws, legal recognition of same-sex relationships and families, the elimination of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, anti-bullying laws and programs, and the increasing addition of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity/expression” to non-discrimination laws and organizational policies. With acceptance increasing we see …show more content…
While it is expected that white heterosexual men and women will make the most significant impact, including coloured heterosexual men and women would make more sense as fluidity in sexuality is not exclusive to a specific demographic. For example, when people can relate to individuals like them - whether that be white, African American, East Indian, Aboriginal, woman, male, heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, the list goes on - the easier it is for people to get on board and support