Half of gay athletes participating in all Australian codes have reported they have been the direct target of verbal threats, bullying, violence or exclusion from sport.

The alarming results come from a survey of gay and lesbian athletes around Australia called Out on the Fields.

Commissioned by the organisers of the gay rugby World Cup and backed by the Australian Sports Commission, Victoria University and the Federation of
Gay Games, the survey interviewed gay and straight participants aged 15 and up.

More than 2,500 people have taken part, coming from all levels of sport.

The survey found that sixty-four per cent of gay and lesbian respondents to the survey said homophobia was more common in sporting environments than in other areas of society.

One in five gay and lesbian participants said they had been excluded from social groups because of their sexuality, and 82 per cent said they had heard of been a target of verbal homophobic slurs, like ‘fag’ or ‘dyke’.

Verbal abuse was by far the most common form of homophobia and casual comments like “that’s so gay” were routinely used without thought that it can offend people.

Of those who said they had been victims of abuse in sport, 13 per cent had suffered physical assaults.

These situations, even the more minor ones, have created an atmosphere where gay and lesbian athletes do not feel safe or accepted to play a sport.
In many cases, rampant homophobia has forced many athletes out of the sport.

Two weeks ago, swimming great Ian Thorpe finally felt safe to admit he was gay after years of denying it in the media.

One of his reasons for not coming out sooner was seeing the effect coming out had on the career of fellow gay swimmer, Mark Tewksbury.
Tewksbury came out because rumours about his sexual orientation almost cost him a six-figure contract.

Thorpe had been the subject of media speculation on his sexual orientation from the age of 16. Coming out last week was a chance to become a role model to young gay athletes.

“I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man. And I don’t want young people to feel the same way that I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay,” he said in his interview with Michael Parkinson.

In April, heads of the AFL, NRL, Australian Rugby Union and Cricket Australia made a commitment to rid Australian sports of homophobia.

All codes agreed to introduce policies in line with the new Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion Framework by the end of August.

The initiative was a world fist, and it’s hoped if successful, it will garner global support.

“We think there’s a real opportunity for sporting codes around the world to take a leaf out of their book and actually come together and do something collectively,” Bingham Cup president Andrew Purchas said.

You can take the survey and share your story on www.outonthefields.com

For gay and lesbian people needing help and assistance, contact QLife on 1800 184 527 or visit www.qlife.org.au/

Source: The Age