Anti-gay attitudes are still all too prevalent in the world of sports, and LGBT athletes, coaches and fans are often invisible in media coverage, whether it’s of college football, the NBA and WNBA, or the Olympics. However, as gay and transgender athletes continue to achieve at both the amateur and professional level, sports media have an opportunity to share their stories to help shift the culture in the sports world and encourage athletes be open about who they are.
GLAAD’s Sports Media Program works with gay and transgender athletes – both amateur and professional – and sports media outlets from ESPN to Sports Illustrated to elevate their voices, stories and accomplishments. GLAAD also works to address the persistent problem of homophobia in locker rooms and in the stands by encouraging media outlets to investigate these issues to generate conversation and help change hearts and minds. GLAAD also works to raise the profile of openly gay and transgender athletes through support of LGBT-focused sporting events such as the Gay Games.
At GLAAD, we are in the business of changing people's hearts and minds through what they see in the media. Fair, accurate and inclusive media images shatter stereotypes. They prove that we are connected through common, human experiences. And these are stories that we -- and the media -- have a responsibility to share.
To find out more, contact us at sports@glaad.org.
©2010 Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation