Action Guide for Sport Organizations:
Making Sport Organizations more welcoming for LGBTQ people


Adapted from: © Pat Griffin, 368 Hills South, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545- 0211, griffin@educ.umass.edu


Policy Guidelines for Ensuring Fair Treatment for LGBTQ People
  • Avoid treating LGBTQ athletes and the issues raised by their participation in sport as a "special" situation. Integrate policy applying to LGBTQ athletes into overall team or department policy.
  • Rather than responding to individual situations case by case, identify overall policy to apply in individual situations.
  • Be proactive. Anticipate issues that might arise and plan sound policy before a problem arises.
  • Make policy based on ethical principles and fairness, not prejudice and fear.
  • Ensure your organizations media strategy includes all your athletes and coaches, not just the heterosexual ones.


Legislate: Develop Institutional Policies and Procedures Protecting LGBTQ People
  • Include sexual orientation and gender identity in non-discrimination policies and if your province has an inclusive non-discrimination policy, expect all staff and volunteers to abide by that policy.
  • Develop anti-harassment policies that address harassment based on perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sex, race, or religion. If your organization has an inclusive anti-harassment policy, expect all staff and volunteers to abide by that policy.
  • Develop policies that address the use of lesbian baiting to intimidate women who challenge gender inequity in sport.
  • Develop same-sex partnership policies for athletes and athletic department personnel.
  • Develop ethics policies that address sexual relationships between coaches and athletes, between athletes, or between coaches without regard to the gender or sexual orientation of the people involved.
  • Encourage coaching associations and other sport governing bodies to develop similar policies.


Educate: Provide Educational Programming and Material about Policies and Expectations
  • Provide orientation programs for new staff and volunteers about non-discrimination, anti-harassment and coaching ethics policies and procedures.
  • Provide information about non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies to parents of athletes.
  • Schedule regular workshops or seminars about homophobia or discrimination against LGBTQ people for athletes, coaches, and other personnel.
  • Provide a way for coaches to discuss issues related to homophobia and discrimination.
  • Encourage coaches’ associations and other sport governing bodies to provide educational programs and materials.
  • Share the CAAWS position paper with your Board, staff, volunteers, coaches and athletes and encourage discussion about your organization’s experiences with homophobia.


Locate: Identify Local and National Resources for LGBTQ People
  • Identify campus and community resources for athletes, coaches, or parents of athletes seeking LGBTQ affirmative counseling or support services.
  • Identify sport advocacy or sport governing organizations that can provide resources and support for addressing homophobia in sport.
  • Identify resources for athletes, coaches, or other personnel who engage in anti-gay harassment or discrimination.
  • Identify print, video, and Internet resources for addressing homophobia in sport.
  • Identify workshop or seminar leaders and consultants who can address homophobia or other issues related to LGBTQ people in sport.
  • Encourage coaches’ associations and other sport governing bodies to develop resource materials or collect resource lists for coaches, athletic directors, parents, and athletes.