Mitcham Nominated for Top Sports Honor

Olympic Diving Gold Medalist, Matthew Mitcham is one of eight finalists in the 2008 Fairfax Sports Performer Awards, in the category of Sports Performer of the Year. The awards are determined by public vote via the internet. Fans of the gay golden boy can vote for him at http://sportsawards.smh.com.au until 5pm Friday, November 21. The winner will be announced at a ceremony held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on Wednesday, November 26.

GA Speaks with Pat Griffin from “It Takes A Team”

In our latest report from our “Out in the Workplace” series, GayAgenda had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Pat Griffin. Pat is the author of “Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sports.” She is a Professor Emerita in the Social Justice Education Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She also serves as the Director of the It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues in Sport, an initiative of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Hello Pat, and thank you for taking time to speak with us. Please tell us about “It takes a Team”. “It’s an initiative of Women’s Sports Foundation, which was started by Martina Navratilova’s fund raising help. It Takes A Team addresses homophobia in men and women’s sports. The goal of It Takes a Team is to become the premier “go to” education and information resource for coaches, athletes and parents when it comes to LGBT issues in sports with a focus on collegiate and high school athletics.”

On your blog, you include transgender when describing LGBT Issues in Sport. Do you know of any transgender people in sports? “Yes, I do. There isn’t a large percentage at this point but there is a growing number. Right now, there are way more resources for gay and lesbian athletes than for transgender, and few sport organizations have developed policy governing the participation of transgender athletes. We are making strides to make sure transgender athletes are able to obtain the information they need as well.”

Pat, tell me about any discrimination (sex based or sexual orientation) you have personally experienced. “I haven’t personally experienced a great deal of discrimination based on sexual orientation. I was so deeply closeted when competing and coaching and being closeted really protected me from discrimination. Of course, being in the closet has other damaging effects that I did experience like fear, shame, extra vigilance to see if someone had figured me out. I definitely experience sex-based discrimination as a pre-Title IX athlete. We never had equal access to resources when I was competing or when I was coaching, even after Title IX passed.”

Do you think it’s more acceptable to be lesbian than gay in sports? “I think that being gay or lesbian has become more accepted among athletes in general over the past 5 or 6 years, but I do think it’s more widely expected in women’s sports. Notice I say expected, not necessarily accepted. There are still far too many examples of discrimination based on perceived or actual sexual orientation in women’s sports. There tends to be more hostility in men’s sports. Football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse and ice hockey tend to be the most problematic, and sometimes the athletes are more accepting than the coaches, but awareness is increasing. When I work with coaches now, I can focus more on problem solving and policy development versus getting them to accept that this is a topic they should pay attention to and that is great progress.”

What do you think could be done to change the attitudes of homophobia in sports? “I’m an educator, so I will say education. Pre and post testing with schools that use our curriculum demonstrate how attitudes can be changed through education. It’s also important to have out athletes as role models for both gay and straight athletes. When an athlete is out, it puts a human face on the issue. That along with how the coaches handle the issue is key. A coach is a role model and how they handle the issue makes all the difference.”

What advice do you have for athletes who may want to come out? “First, where’s your support? Do an assessment of your support system. Also, athletes have a high degree of visibility, so be prepared to face scrutiny. I think athletes who come out need to do it from a position of feeling good about who they are with a strong base of support .”

What do you feel is the greatest issue facing the GLBT community today? “We are still fighting for basic civil rights. We have no federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and only about 18 states out of 50 have non-discrimination laws protecting against employment discrimination. There are no laws in many states to protect our young people in school from harassment or discrimination. Many of them have to go to school every day knowing what they will have to face anti-gay taunting and bullying without adequate support and legal recourse.”

What do you feel is the greatest disconnect within the GLBT community? “We have lots of work to do on issues like race, class, and sex discrimination within our community We have as much diversity within the LGBT community as in the broader society and we need to work on our own issues of prejudice and discrimination too.”

What do you feel is your greatest attribute as an LGBT activist? “I’m really good at joining people. I think I can invite people to work on homophobia by pulling from their best instincts. I really create an open environment in the classroom and in seminars allowing people to reach out and work with one another.”

As you reflect on your life up to the present, what are you most grateful for? “Having learned to love myself. I came from a time and place where I was filled with complete shame about who I was I first came out to myself. Gays and lesbians were considered, and I considered myself a deviant. Now, I love who I am and I love my life. I’ve come to know I may be a sinner, but not because I’m a lesbian. I am so fortunate to be comfortable in my own skin.”

If you could deliver one message to the entire world, what would that be? “There is enough to go around! Civil rights, food, and healthcare! We can’t only think about ourselves. Every battle isn’t a win or lose, it’s about what’s for the good of all people.”

And one last question, any thoughts on the upcoming election? “I hope that Obama wins. We are on the verge of hope, and if he does win, we have lots of work to do, but I will have new hope for our nation and the world.”

Again, we would like to take the opportunity to thank Pat for speaking with us. Its people like her, and the efforts they have dedicated their life to, which make the world a better place, not only for those of us in the LGBT community, but the entire world.

For more information about Pat Griffin and her work, please visit ItTakesATeam.org or check out Pat’s blog at: ittakesateam.blogspot.com.

*For other great LGBT Sport interviews, also check out GA’s interview with former NBA player John Amaechi, and “out” Ivy league athlete Jamal Brown.

Advocating Worldwide Equality in Sports

From Cherrygrrl.com:

The visibility and acknowledgement of LGBT athletes in mainstream organized sports is still lacking in this country and others worldwide – as evidenced by the many closeted competitors taking part in the Olympics and the still prominent sexual orientation discrimination that takes place in the locker rooms of high schools, colleges, and professional sports teams everywhere. However, many organizations and associations are working to promote and enhance gay individuals in sports and ensure that all athletes are given the opportunity to prove their abilities and be treated with respect and equality. The Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) is a leader in this field and, as a democratically governed, international association of LGBT sport organizations from around the world, is making huge differences in the lives and careers of deserving athletes everywhere. Modeled after existing multi-sport organizations, GLISA’s members are international sporting federations, continental associations representing sport teams, clubs from the major regions of the world, host cities of GLISA’s World Outgames, and other organizations that support the mandate of GLISA. GLISA presently has 75 member organizations from five continents.

Red the rest of this amazing article by clicking here.

GayAgenda Speaks with John Amaechi

For those of you who don’t know, John Amaechi, is the 6 ft 10 in, 270 lb center who was signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball) in 1995. He played 28 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during that season. From there, he went on to play for two years in Europe.

He returned to the USA to play for the Orlando Magic in 1999. With a solid 1999-2000 season, where he averaged 10.5 points in 21.1 minutes per contest, he gained notoriety for scoring the NBA’s first points in the year 2000. Later that same year, Amaechi turned down a $17 million contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in order to remain in Orlando for $600,000 per year. Amaechi went on to play for the Utah Jazz from 2001 to 2003. His final stint with the NBA was in Houston, where he played for the Rockets.

It was during his NBA career that John earned a degree in psychology and founded the ABC Foundation in his hometown of Manchester, England. The Foundation and its Amaechi Basketball Centre simply subscribe to Amaechi’s theory that “no child shall go uncoached: in life or in sport.”

More recently, Amaechi provided co-commentary for the BBC at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Today, Amaechi owns Animus Consulting, which provides motivational speakers, and is a partner in Animus Development, an executive training program.

Post NBA, Amaechi came out of retirement to represent England during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, helping the England national basketball team win the bronze medal. He also came out…as gay.

In February 2007, Amaechi spoke about his homosexuality on ESPN’s Outside the Lines program. He also released a book, Man in the Middle, published by ESPN Books, which discusses his career and life as a closeted professional athlete. Amaechi is the first NBA player to speak publicly about being gay. He has spoken about his sexuality on shows such as Oprah.

This year, Amaechi has made several appearances on Shirts & Skins, a reality series about a gay basketball team on LOGO Television. Amaechi acted as team “mentor” and “psychologist” to the San Francisco Rockdogs. He also shared his experiences on basketball, life, and coming out.

John was also kind enough to grant GayAgenda.com with an interview, which follows.

GA: In your interview with Oprah, you stated; “I knew that I had something of value to say, and I knew that I wanted to try and be, not necessarily a vanguard, but a role model. … I just didn’t think I would have the opportunity to have this kind of massive platform, but I’m really going to embrace that.” What have you done to embrace that?

JA: “I wrap my head around that, and keep it in my head at all times. I always think of myself as a role model at all times, not only when the camera is on.”

GA: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to become an activist and isn’t sure where to start?

JA: “A platform really isn’t required. Find a niche. Donate time at food banks and community centers. We disengage from each other so much. Small gestures produce grand results. When I met kids in Orlando, I would simply remember their names. It’s small gestures like that which go a long way.”

GA: What was your inspiration behind your book, “Man in the Middle”?

JA: “It is something I am passionate about. I wanted to become an agent for change.”

GA: I’m not asking you to name anyone specifically, but in general, you have mentioned you know other gay professional athletes who are not out. What have they told you is their reason for not coming out?

JA: “I know many, and the reasons vary. The answer is never simple, as for financial reasons. When you’re a professional athlete, you often become a one-dimensional character. It would be easy for people to define you by your sexuality. Many professional athletes have strong corporate ties they are afraid of losing. Also, athletes are typically ranked higher than politicians in popularity. They are role models for men whom women want to be with. That alone can make it very difficult to come out.”

GA: What advice do you have for athletes who may want to come out?

JA: “My advice is the same for a 15 year-old lesbian, as it is for a male professional athlete. Find one person, at least, who they can trust and be themselves with before coming out.”

GA: With the issues of gay marriage and civil rights being such hot topics, do you have any thoughts on the upcoming U.S. election?

JA: “As non-nuanced as it is, fundamentally I feel there is very poor dialogue. Neither candidate is being as fourth right as they should, however McCain is simply a poor candidate for a country under the gun. Obama provides the U.S. with a legitimate chance at gaining the respect of the world.”

GA: What is your fondest and worst memory of your NBA career?

JA: “My first season with the Orlando Magic is my fondest. The experience was unique and they were a great team. I really don’t have a worst memory however. Basketball has not been the highlight of my life.”

GA: Do you think race plays a specific role in sexuality?

JA: “I believe it depends on your environment. There is a lot to consider. It’s different for people in urban environments. Also churches play a large role in this issue. It’s very different in Eastern European countries than it is from the U.S. In other countries, black doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about a person.”

GA: What do you feel is the greatest issue facing the GLBT community today?

JA: “Apathy. So many in the community feel they have done enough, or enough has been done, so they just want to coast through life.”

GA: What do you think could be done to change the attitudes of homophobic people in our society?

JA: “Our presence. We need to be seen to become more than issues, or just the LGBT community, but rather a part of society.”

GA: Why do you think people bring religion into discussions of GLBT issues?

JA: “Because everyone wants the ultimate authority on their side. They want to believe how or what they feel is justified and correct.”

GA: What do you feel is the greatest disconnect within the GLBT community?

JA: “The GLB does not recognize the T. It’s a great shame.”

GA: Do you know any transgender persons?

JA: “Yes, several.”

GA: OK John, I want to get a little more person now. You have mentioned in previous interview that you are “somewhat of a loner”. Has that changed for you since coming out?

JA: “No, I’m still a loner. When I’m in public, a lot of people point and stare. Not so much because they recognize me, but because of my size. Also, as a psychologist, I am around people most of the time when I’m not at home, so I still very much appreciate my alone time.”

GA: What do you feel is your greatest attribute?

JA: “Empathy. My ability to connect with people and their struggles.”

GA: As you reflect on your life up to the present, what are you most grateful for?

JA: “My mother, a truly wonderful person in all aspects.”

GA: Going back for a moment to when you were on Oprah, she asked if you had a boyfriend and you said no. She mentioned something to the effect of “you will now”. Do you?

JA: “No (with a small laugh), I am not everyone’s cup of tea.”

GA: If you could be remembered for one thing, what would you want that to be?

JA: “Well, I don’t want to be remembered as a basketball player. What is really important is how you make people feel. If you can make people feel good, that is an enduring legacy.”

GA: And finally John, if you could deliver one message to the entire world, what would that be?

JA: “I don’t have one. When you try to address the ills of the world, especially by placing them into one category, you become a politician. I don’t want to be a politician.”

Thank you John for taking time to speak with us. You are an asset to the GLBT community and a gentleman in the greatest respect of the word. Our best wishes to you, your family and your future endeavors.

Want to learn more about John Amaechi? Check out his website by clicking here.

GA Interviews Jamal Brown: Out Athlete

As part of GayAgenda’s “Out in the Workplace” Series, celebrating GLBT History Month and Nation Coming Out day, we are please to announce the distinct honor of speaking with Jamal Brown.

Mr. Brown is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College, where he ran track as an openly gay collegiate athlete. He is presently employed by the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) in Boston. Here he has found a place where he can put actions behind his commitment to make the world better for gay people.

Jamal hasn’t always been out however. It wasn’t too long ago he was still in high school, where he remained in the closet. During his high school years he heard homophobic slurs on a daily basis. Many times throughout his high school career, he would find himself lowering his voice in an attempt to “butch it up” a bit, not an uncommon defense mechanism for many closeted gays. “Its very difficult to be out in an environment where doing so is an endangerment to your mental well-being an possibly even your health”, Brown said. I asked Mr. Brown if he ever took part in the harassment and he replied, “Maybe to close friends, but not to anyone’s face. I was very scared to be myself back then.”

Jamal first realized he was gay “way before the age of 10.” He told me, “I remember when I was 7 or 8, having a crush on a boy in the second grade. Of course at that age, I never said anything.” But it just prior to his senior year of high school when he made his first attempt at become comfortable with his sexual orientation and started to come out. Jamal said, “I was going to school in Sacramento, California. I was about to begin my senior year when I came out to my best friend. He ended up coming out to me too. Then, throughout my senior year, I just stopped caring. I had been accepted to Dartmouth, I was a top athlete, I started dressing differently and I was going out to clubs, but I wasn’t out to any of my straight friends or family. I was really living a duel life at that time.” He said.

But it wasn’t until he was in attendance at Dartmouth when he decided to really make his first attempt at coming out.

Coming out at Dartmouth was not an easy decision for Jamal however. As a matter of fact, he was, “considering not being out at all at Dartmouth.” “I really wasn’t sure if I should jeopardize being on the track team. I loved track, and still do,” he said, “Track played a large role in my reasoning for going to Dartmouth, but it was during (campus) orientation, I met a guy who I would secretly date while building the courage to come out.” Brown added. So, he decided to test the waters. He placed a post on his Facebook page, which stated he was “interested in men”. After that, he recalls, coming out just started to spiral. The very next day, one of his Dartmouth track mates, a Junior at the time, approached him on the field before practice as he was stretching. His teammate mentioned he had seen Jamal’s Facebook page and pressed the issue. Jamal didn’t acknowledge his teammates comments. He said, “I didn’t really say anything, I just kind of shrugged and went back to stretching.” He does recall however a response he did not anticipate. “My teammate said, it doesn’t matter, we’re here for you.” Brown recalls.

Speaking about his tenure at Dartmouth, Jamal said, “Being an athlete put me in an odd position with other black men on campus. Some accepted me, and close friends of others accepted me so they had to accept me too. I feel fortunate that being homophobic or racist was really looked down upon at Dartmouth. Because of that, I was able to use my sexuality to create a safe place for others and myself. I was a product of my environment, and yet was able to shape my environment.”

Jamal also contributes his ease of coming out at home to his positive coming out experience at Dartmouth. “It was the summer after my freshmen year when I came out at home.” He said. “I am an only child, and it was a Saturday night in July when my Mother and I were talking. We began to argue about an issue she was having with her computer. I quickly realized it wasn’t the computer that had her upset when she began accusing me of lying. She finally came out and asked; “Are you gay.” I said yes, and it wasn’t mentioned again until the end of the summer.”

As he continued with his story, I must admit, I found a great deal of humor in what Jamal told me next, mostly because I think we’ve all been in this situation before. “It was the next morning, and I was a bit nervous.” He said. “After I awoke, I went into the kitchen and my Mother had made a huge breakfast for me. I was really afraid to eat it. I thought she might be trying to poison me.” We both got a good laugh out of this.

When I asked him about coming out to any other family members, Jamal said with another small laugh, “I didn’t have to worry about telling the rest of the family, my Mom did that for me.”

From this point on however, Jamal was completely out of the closet. “Being out gave me time to focus on athletics,” he said, “But my sexuality always lingered in my mind, especially when teammates would make careless jokes about being gay.”

After we spoke about his life, and coming out, I asked Jamal some more specific questions as well.

What was one of your biggest fears of being an out athlete? “My teammates being afraid to shower at the same time as me. As athletes do, we spent a lot of time hanging out in the showers. I was part of that culture. Fortunately for me however, it really never was an issue. I found that straight guys check each other out in the shower too. When teammates would be talking about hooking-up with girls, they would always ask me if I met any guys, just like it was no big deal.”

Did you have other athletes approach you who were gay and afraid to come out? “Yes, and many of them are still in the closet.”

What are you most grateful for? “That’s a tough question, because there are so many things. To put it in one word, I guess I’d say life. I am also grateful for my Mother. For a time, we were on welfare, but I always had the love of my Mother. She exemplifies the spirit each of us have.”

What is your greatest attribute? “The ability to communicate with people on all different scales of life. I see people as just that, people. Wealthy or poor, both are human. I acknowledge and accept people for who they are. I love people no matter how different they are.”

What is your greatest weakness? “Thinking too much. I internalize being gay, being black and being gay and black. From birth we are socialized to like the opposite sex, so I think it’s easy to internalize being gay, although we shouldn’t. I am still looking forward to the day I don’t have to think, and I can just be.”

What do you feel is the greatest disconnect within the GLBT community today? “Are we a community? The greatest disconnect I see too much transphobia within our community. There is racism, sexism, and classism within our community. Also, there’s a very poor representation of our community from within. While a kid is being beaten and called a faggot, people in our community call each other by the same name. We can’t expect others to respect us if we don’t respect ourselves.”

What do you think we can do to change the homophobic attitude of society? “One of the main reasons people denounce homosexuality is the thought of two people of the same sex have intercourse together. We don’t talk enough about the sham attached to sex. We’re doing a great job combating the stigma attached to the gay identity, but not addressing the root issue. People want their way of life to be THE way of life. Not talking about sex and not acting politically is holding back progression.”

Do you view yourself as a duel minority? “Yes. Although it depends greatly on the space I’m in, I don’t always feel accepted by the GLBT community because of my race, and I don’t always feel accepted by the black community because of my sexuality. I feel a constant struggle to be accepted by both communities. Also, mainstream gay media is reluctant to cover gay black men, so we are often put into the crossfire. We really need to concentrate on increasing visibility of the entire GLBT community, not just a select group. If we do, someday there will be a happy median.”

If you could deliver one message to the entire world, what would that message be? “Value the time we have. Don’t get caught up in the small things. Realize we all have struggles. Value and accept each other for who we are.”

What are your aspirations for the future? “To see a better life for ourselves and for the world.”

And Lastly, the question we all want to know, do you currently have a boyfriend or partner? (With an adorable laugh) “No. I’m single. If I do become involved however, I’m looking for someone who isn’t perfect, and knows they aren’t. I’m also looking for someone who’s going to challenge me and won’t be afraid to tell me wrong. And someone who constantly wants to learn, grow and who at their core, embodies altruism.”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Brown for sharing his incredible journey with us. Jamal is truly an asset to the GLBT community, but more importantly to society as a whole. His efforts have helped shape the world to be a better place for all of us. His honesty and openness about who he is as a person, serves as a positive roll model for gay and straight people alike. Thank you again!

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