The notion of sexual identity in sport is not discussed enough. Many people are open to people having a different sexual identity. People support gay rights and same sex marriage. However, in sport it still seems taboo. It shouldn’t be.
A couple of weekends ago I was moved to read this column by Sydney Morning Herald chief sports writer Andrew Webster, in which he discusses, for the first time publicly, his sexual identity.
Homophobia is still alive and well in sport. Take this tweet by (now former) Newcastle Knights player Ryan Stig, in which he suggests homosexuality is the work of Satan. While this post is his own opinion (and a reflection of his faith), it’s opinions like that which are causing the continual marginalisation of the LGBT community within the sporting world.
It was Stig’s post that spurred Webster to write his column. He talks about keeping his true identity secret, and the struggles he went through in doing so. I applaud him for being open about his sexual identity in an environment that encourages heterosexual masculinity.
Sport, and sports journalism, has historically been considered a masculine pursuit. Sport itself was created by men, for men and encouraged traditional masculine ideals – strength, agility, competitiveness, aggression, toughness. In the early years of our nation sports like rugby were introduced into school curriculums at boys’ schools as a way to encourage and teach skills that define “men”. That’s why what Webster did is so important to the cause. He is breaking the traditional ideals associated with men in sport, and we need more people like him.
How would you feel if an All Black was to be open about their sexual identity? Would it change the way you would look at them? Would you applaud them for their courage? Would you support them as they go about redefining the ideals of the sport?
Over time sports traditionally played by men have also been naturalised by women. Rugby, cricket, golf, softball: you name it, women are playing it. But when women participate in sports that are deemed inherently masculine, women can face scrutiny regarding their sexual identity. This is because these women are challenging the traditional social norms of femininity. How do you feel about the women who participate in rugby, cricket and basketball?
Now consider the women involved in netball and hockey. Is there a difference? Some sports are deemed “men’s sports”, while the others are seen as being more “feminine” (especially when it comes to their uniforms, but that’s a blog for another day.) Would women of particular sexual identities be drawn to certain sports because of that perception of masculinity/femininity within the sporting environment? (A thought-provoking documentary on this topic is Training Rules, which follows the Penn State women’s basketball team and the coach’s policy around the sexual identity of her players).
There are a number of female athletes who are open about their sexual identity. Two of the most influential are American tennis legend Billie Jean King, who is a vocal advocate for gay rights in the States, and, closer to home, former netballer and rugby player Louisa Wall, who is now an MP for the Labour Party and was a driving force behind the Marriage Equality Bill.
But what about male athletes? Kiwi speed skater Blake Skjellerup is one; Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas is another.
Once again we can draw on that notion that sport encouraging heterosexual masculinity. Rugby especially holds a special place in our hearts as our national game. We admire the men who play it. They uphold Kiwi masculinity. But can you think of one gay rugby player in New Zealand? Imagine how difficult it must be to be of a certain identity when heterosexual masculinity is the “status quo”.
How would you feel if an All Black was to be openly queer? Would it change the way you would look at them? Would you applaud them for their courage? Would you support them as they go about redefining the ideals of the sport?
The sporting community needs to make more of an effort to be welcoming to everyone, and positive role models within the high rankings of sport in this country need to stand up and show their support.
