Athletes Action Guide: Making Athletics Safe for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
- Stop using anti-gay or other slurs or comments that demean groups of
people because of their race, culture, gender, or religion.
- Speak out against anti-gay harassment directed at individuals or teams
from spectators, opponents, coaches, or teammates. Your silence supports
prejudice.
- Do not let others intimidate you by calling you gay or lesbian
- Judge teammates and coaches on the basis of their character and personality,
not their sexual orientation or gender expression
- Support teammates who are targeted by anti-gay harassment, vandalism,
or violence
- If you are targeted by anti-gay or gender discrimination, harassment,
or violence, tell someone who can help
- Support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teammates who choose to
identify themselves to others
- Respect the rights of all teammates to safety.
- Treat all teammates and coaches with respect regardless of your differences.
- Do not make assumptions about teammates' or coaches' sexual orientation
based on appearance
- Do not make assumptions about teammates or coaches based on their sexual
orientation or gender expression
- Assume that every team is a mixed group of gay/lesbian, bisexual, transgender,
and heterosexual people
- If a teammate is depressed or afraid about sexuality or gender issues,
encourage them to seek help (counselors, coaches, trained peer support groups)
- Encourage your athletic department or coach to schedule seminars on homophobia,
racism, sexual harassment in sport
- Understand that when someone uses anti-gay slurs or harasses lesbian,
gay, bisexual, or transgender people, they are expressing prejudice and
fear
- Take classes or seminars that will help you to better understand prejudice
and discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation, and religion
- Understand the important role that heterosexual allies can play in making
athletics safe and welcoming for everyone
- If you are a team leader, use your leadership role to set an example for
other members of the team
Developed by Pat Griffin
griffin@educ.umass.edu
www.lesbianandgaysports.com