COACHES ACTION GUIDE: WAYS TO MAKE ATHLETICS SAFER FOR
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER COACHES AND ATHLETES
- Educate yourself and colleagues about LGBT issues in sport (read, attend
workshops, talk with school counselors or community groups).
- Put a "Safe Zone" sticker on the locker room door and your office door.
- Discourage slurs, jokes or other comments or actions that demean or attack
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people.
- Use inclusive language that does not assume that all coaches or athletes
are heterosexual.
- Schedule an educational program on LGBT issues in athletics for your team.
- Use the words "lesbian," "gay," and "bisexual," "transgender" in positive
ways.
- Always assume that there are LGBT people on athletic teams, among the
coaching and support staff even if they have chosen not to identify themselves.
- Monitor your own stereotyped beliefs about LGBT people and commit yourself
to challenging them.
- Treat all athletes and coaches fairly and respectfully regardless of their
sexual orientation or gender expression.
- " Make clear your expectations for acceptance of diversity among all members
of athletic teams.
- If LGBT athletes or coaches identify themselves to you, respect their
right to confidentiality and privacy.
- Be prepared to provide information about Parents, Family and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to parents of LGBT athletes.
- Expect the same standards of behavior from all athletes regardless of
their sexual orientation or gender expression.
- Ask LGBT friends or colleagues how you can show support for them.
- Propose a non-discrimination policy for your athletic department that
includes sexual orientation and gender expression.
- Know what campus groups or agencies provide resources or support for LGBT
students and staff.
- Make it clear to athletes and coaches that anti-gay actions will not be
tolerated.
- Answer questions from athletes' parents about lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender people in your program in ways that do not support or accept
prejudice.
- Answer questions from the media about homophobia or LGBT people in sport
in ways that do not support or accept prejudice.
Developed by Pat Griffin
griffin@educ.umass.edu
www.lesbianandgaysports.com