CAAWS salutes work being done to make sport more welcoming to those who are LGBTQ and announces the development of a coaching resource in partnership with Coaches of Canada and AthletesCan
May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and as we look back over the past year, it is important to recognize and celebrate progress being made in making sport more welcoming to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ).
CAAWS would like to acknowledge the continued leadership of the University of Toronto, and the work being done by Dr. Bruce Kidd in particular. Whether creating welcoming spaces on the playing fields, rinks and gyms, or in the classroom, advocating for the elimination of discriminatory gender policies internationally, or exploring ways to maximize the legacy of the 2015 Pan/Para Pan American Games in Toronto in the LGBTQ community, Dr. Kidd continues to make a difference in the lives of those in sport who are LGBTQ. And building on the University of Toronto legacy is the important work now being done at McMaster University Athletic Dept., and started at UBC, as part of the CAAWS / Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Pilot to have conversations about and create welcoming spaces in sport for those who are LGBTQ.
And in the past two months, we have seen the courageous coming out of Brittney Griner, the No. 1 WNBA draft pick, and Jason Collins, an NBA player, both still active players in their professional sport, and the mostly positive reception their coming out has received. Kudos also to Nike for sponsoring Brittney after she came out, as well as hosting their second annual Nike LGBT Sports Summit in June 2013. The Summit, which CAAWS has been invited to attend, will bring leaders who are actively advocating for LGBT equality in sports to continue their work on a team game plan for ending homophobia and transphobia in sport that takes advantage of the best thinking and strengths of each organization.
Earlier this year, You Can Play, an organization founded after Brendan Burke’s tragic death by his brother Patrick and father Brian Burke (former Toronto Maple Leafs GM) to honour and build on the legacy of Brendan’s heroic coming out, announced partnerships with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players Association. Dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation, You Can Play works to raise awareness about what organizations and individuals can do to create sport where athletes are judged by other athletes, coaches and fans alike only by what they contribute to the sport or their team’s success, not their sexual orientation.
But we also know that there is work left to do before those who are LGBTQ can participate in sport fully and without fear that their sexual orientation will be an issue, or the target of hurtful jokes or derogatory language from their teammates, their coaches, or spectators. It is getting better but there is a reason why so many athletes, coaches, administrators, and health and medical practitioners continue to hide their LGBTQ sexual orientation, even in Canadian sport. And we also know the critical role coaches can play and that they too are looking for guidance on what they can be doing to lead the way. So, in partnership with Coaches of Canada and Athletes CAN, CAAWS will be developing a practical coaching resource to raise awareness about LGBTQ issues in sport and what actions coaches can take to make sport better for all, regardless of sexual orientation.
CAAWS looks forward to working with our national partners on this important resource in the months ahead. In the meantime, you can find out more about Canada’s national Step Up! Speak Out! Ally Campaign for Inclusive Sport initiative to make sport more welcoming by encouraging athletes, coaches, officials, sport administrators, parents and fans to respect all individuals regardless of perceived or actual sexual orientation at http://www.stepupspeakout.ca/e/. More information and resources are also available at CAAWS’ Addressing Homophobia in sport website at http://www.caaws-homophobiainsport.ca/e/.
