Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Professional and Amateur Sports Coaches"
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There is a large international field of LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. These individuals are present in a wide range of sports categories. Most have made their mark previously as athletes in their chosen sports, including Olympic medal winners, world champions or national champions. A few have earned the title of 'Coach of the Year' in their respective professions. | There is a large international field of LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. These individuals are present in a wide range of sports categories. Most have made their mark previously as athletes in their chosen sports, including Olympic medal winners, world champions or national champions. A few have earned the title of 'Coach of the Year' in their respective professions. | ||
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+ | LGBTQ coaches play an important role in sports. They are not only mentors and leaders for the overall community, they also represent role models for individual LGBTQ athletes in sports, and often within their own teams. It is important for them to be proactive in rooting out homophobia on and off the field of play. As noted in the articles below, surveys have found that 84% of gay men and 82% of lesbians have heard homophobic slurs in locker rooms. | ||
Regrettably, some of these individuals were fired from (or 'contracts not renewed') from their position when they came out. In all of these particular cases, this made them LGBTQ activists for change in professional sports to eliminate homophobia. Others on the list are prominent LGBTQ activists regardless and have become notable specialists in the field of diversity. | Regrettably, some of these individuals were fired from (or 'contracts not renewed') from their position when they came out. In all of these particular cases, this made them LGBTQ activists for change in professional sports to eliminate homophobia. Others on the list are prominent LGBTQ activists regardless and have become notable specialists in the field of diversity. | ||
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==Further Reading/Research== | ==Further Reading/Research== | ||
− | + | * http://www.caaws-homophobiainsport.ca/e/ | |
− | + | * http://www.advocate.com/sports/2016/1/20/new-foundation-launches-support-lgbt-athletes-and-coaches | |
+ | * http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/08/18/coaches-power--stop-homophobia-open-closet-gay-athlete/31886659/ | ||
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Revision as of 21:04, 20 June 2016
There is a large international field of LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. These individuals are present in a wide range of sports categories. Most have made their mark previously as athletes in their chosen sports, including Olympic medal winners, world champions or national champions. A few have earned the title of 'Coach of the Year' in their respective professions.
LGBTQ coaches play an important role in sports. They are not only mentors and leaders for the overall community, they also represent role models for individual LGBTQ athletes in sports, and often within their own teams. It is important for them to be proactive in rooting out homophobia on and off the field of play. As noted in the articles below, surveys have found that 84% of gay men and 82% of lesbians have heard homophobic slurs in locker rooms.
Regrettably, some of these individuals were fired from (or 'contracts not renewed') from their position when they came out. In all of these particular cases, this made them LGBTQ activists for change in professional sports to eliminate homophobia. Others on the list are prominent LGBTQ activists regardless and have become notable specialists in the field of diversity.
There are several firsts in the list. Eric Anderson is considered to have been the first high school coach to have come out as gay and has written a book about this - today, he is a noted Professor of Masculinities, Sexualities, and Sport. Tennis sensation Renee Richards is a noted transgender leader in sports.
The range of sports represented in the list is notable. The most popular sports are basketball, soccer/football, and tennis. These are followed by figure skating and track & field. Such a wide variety of sports begs the question why there is not greater success in challenging homophobia in sports?
We have identified the following individuals as LGBTQ professional and amateur sports coaches. They hail from Canada, Venezuela, Australia, Cuba, Great Britain, Germany, United States, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, and Sweden. Simply click on their names to read their fascinating biographies.
Basketball
- Jennifer Azzi, United States
- Chris Burns, United States
- Helen Carroll, United States
- Kenny Dow, United States
- Curt Miller, United States
- Sherri Murrell, United States
- Sheryl Swoopes, United States
- Stephanie Wheeler, United States
- Stephanie White, United States
- Sue Wicks, United States
Biathlon
- Joan Guetschow, United States
Bodybuilding
- Shawn Stinson, United States
Boxing
- Savoy Howe, Canada
Cross-Country Skiiing
- Nat Brown, United States
Cycling
- Emma Trott, Great Britain
- Brendan Housler, United States
Diving
- Jhonmar Castillo, Venezuela
Equestrian
- Gunther Seidel, Germany
Field Hockey
- Alyson Annan, Australia
Figure Skating
- Lyndon Johnston, Canada
- Brian Orser, Canada
- Robert Wagenhoffer, United States
- David Wilson, Canada
Ice Hockey
- Yiva Lindberg, Sweden
Lacrosse
- Kyle Hawkins, United States
Soccer /Football
- Nadine Angerer, Germany
- Ursulla Holl, Germany
- Hope Powell, Great Britain
- Pia Sundhage, Sweden
- Olivier Rouyer, France
Softball
- Jenny Allard, United States
- Vicky Galindo, United States
- Sue Rankin, United States
Speedskating
- Renate Groenewold, Netherlands
Swimming
- Daniel Kowalski, Australia
- Rafael Polinario, Cuba
Tennis
- Sean Burns, United States
- Billie Jean King, United States
- Renee Richards, United States
- Tine Scheuer-Larsen, Denmark
- Simon Thibodeau, United States
Track & Field
- Eric Anderson, United States
- Harriet Metcalf, United States
- Michael Muska, United States
- Otto Peltzer, Germany
Trampoline
- Tom Bosworth, Great Britain
Triathlon
- Christopher Bergland, United States
Volleyball
- Betty Baxter, Canada
Weightlifting
- Rob Kearney, United States
Wrestling
- Gene Dermody, United States
- Hudson Taylor, United States
See Also
- LGBTQ Sports Management
- LGBTQ Sports Referees and Umpires
- LGBTQ Personal Trainers and Lifestyle Coaches
- LGBTQ Tennis
- LGBTQ Cyclists