Pat Griffin

ASSESSING THE ATHLETIC CLIMATE FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AND COACHES

HOSTILE---CONDITIONALLY TOLERANT----INCLUSIVE

HOSTILE

• School and department non-discrimination policies do not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
• No one talks about homosexuality or gender identity or people only talk about them in negative ways.
• People believe that addressing the needs of LGBT athletes is not part of the department mission.
• People believe that LGBT issues only have to do with sex.
• No one in the athletic department has publicly affirmed that they are LGBT.
• Anti-gay jokes, slurs, or comments are unchallenged among athletes, coaches or other staff.
• LGBT issues are not included in department diversity programming.
• Anti-gay graffiti is on walls, windows in locker room, bathrooms.
• People who believe it is important to address LGBT issues in the athletic department are afraid to say so.
• People who say it is important to address the needs of LGBT athletes are assumed to be or teased about being LGBT themselves.
• Administrators avoid addressing LGBT issues because it is too controversial or because they believe it has nothing to do with athletics.
• Coaches with same-sex partners do not have domestic partner benefits available that are equivalent to the benefits available to heterosexual married coaches.
• LGBT coaches or those thought to be are discriminated against (fired, not hired, harassed).
• LGBT people would never bring a same-sex date or partner to team or department social events.
• LGBT athletes or those thought to be are isolated or harassed by teammates or coaches.
• A coach's perceived sexual orientation is a factor in hiring: Heterosexual coaches are preferred.
• A coach or athlete's feminine or masculine appearance and mannerisms are factors in recruiting or hiring.
• Department personnel assure parents of athletes that no LGBT athletes or coaches are present in the department.
• Coaches have formal or informal policies barring LGBT people from their teams.
• It is commonly believed that all the male coaches and athletes are heterosexual and that many women coaches and athletes are lesbian.

CONDITIONALLY TOLERANT

• School policies on non-discrimination and harassment include sexual orientation and gender identity, but few people are aware of it and there is no direct connection between the policies and programming.
• LGBT coaches and athletes are tolerated as long as they keep their identities and partners secret and hidden.
• Administrators allow individual coaches or teams to address LGBT issues but prefer that it be done privately.
• Though domestic partnership benefits are available, LGBT coaches are afraid to take advantage of them because it would require identifying themselves.
• People believe that LGBT issues are only relevant to LGBT people.
• The needs of LGBT athletes are treated as individual counseling issues.
• If alumni, parents or athletes complain about athletic department educational programs addressing LGBT issues, the program is immediately in jeopardy.
• LGBT coaches or athletes who become to visible in the commuity or on-campus are warned that their visibility is a problem.

OPEN AND INCLUSIVE

• LGBT coaches, staff, and athletes are publicly out if they choose to be.
• School non-discrimination policies include sexual orientation and gender identity and are known and used by staff and athletes.
• Athletes and staff are welcomed to bring same-sex partners to department or team social events.
• Expectations for appearance and dress are gender-neutral. LGBT athletes have access to school-based support and social programs designed to meet their needs.
• All athletic department staff members participate in staff development programs designed to help them address homophobia among athletes and to respond to the needs of LGBT athletes.
• The athletic director publicly supports programming to address homophobia in athletics and the needs of LGBT athletes.
• Making athletics safe for LGBT and heterosexual athletes is regarded by coaches and staff as a part of their professional responsibilities.
• Athletes who engage in anti-gay actions are disciplined and educated.
• Parental complants or concerns about LGBT coaches or athletes are received cordially, but administrators and coaches value diversity in the athletic program.
• A coach or athlete's sexual orientation is not a factor in determining their eligibility for teams, coaching positions, academic or athletic awards or other honors.

Developed by Pat Griffin
griffin@educ.umass.edu
www.lesbianandgaysports.com