"Why the 'Mans Mans' Game is an Insult to Men"

The movie Training Rules is a powerful documentary illustrating homophobia in collegiate sport; specifically the Pennsylvania State University Women’s basketball team coached by Rene Portland. Portland was known for her leading Penn states repetitive wins and for her “training rules”: no drinking no drugs and no lesbians. This film has the ability to strengthen people’s knowledge on homophobia in sport. 

Although in today’s culture LGBT athletes do not feel welcomed to confront their true identities or sexualities, like racism, homophobia has the potential to essentially be overcome, too. Sport holds an inclusive identity within itself, being that athletes of all ages are stereotypically strong, masculine, tough and straight. I think these stereotypes hold great hidden context in terms of falsely attributed identities in sport. In effort to create a more inclusive culture in American sport, I do not think there is an easy road to take. I think various aspects of homophobia and its stereotypical norms go hand in hand with racism and its battle against American culture. In order to end racism, many women and men of all ages had to withstand negative abuse and hate. Jackie Robinson is a prime example depicting racism in correlation with sport in the US. He faced prejudice everyday in sport and his color was something that he could not hide unlike your sexuality.

Robbie Rogers, a former Leeds winger and hero to many for publicly announcing his hidden sexuality, expresses his feeling of freedom and peace at mind for finally confronting his identity at age 25. Being an openly gay athlete in the NBA, NFL, etc., there is a negative connotation with not only the individual athlete, but also the team they may play for. Recently, UMass basketball player Derrick Gordon came out as being gay. While he is the first openly gay division 1 men’s basketball player, he serves as an inspiration to many others whom may be in similar situations (Senne, 2014). With the assumption that inspiration will altar athletes’ decision to come out as gay, there is a window of opportunity to change culture.

References:

Steven, Senne. (2014). UMass player Derrick Gordon comes out as gay; says he was inspired by Collins. CTV News. DOI: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/umass-basketball-player-derrick-gordon-comes-out-as-gay-says-he-was-inspired-by-collins-1.1769554