Indiana's RFRA and sports: Don't forget to include female LGBT athletes, too (Groan)

Sporting News' You Can Play LGBT Blog ^ | March 31, 2015 | Anna Aagenes, You Can Play Contributor 

[2ndDivisionVet]

The passage of SB 101 right before the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four weekend in Indianapolis has generated more discussion on the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) athletes than we have seen since Michael Sam came out right before entering the NFL draft. NCAA president Mark Emmert swiftly issued a statement expressing his concern “about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees,” and showed his interest in protecting those attending or competing in the Men's Final Four.

This position from the NCAA marks a clear shift in how far we have come as a movement for making awareness and support to LGBT athletes a national priority. As one of the most watched weekends in men’s college sports, and sports in general, the backdrop of the Men’s Final Four calls attention to how legalizing LGBT discrimination impacts the sports world. It is important to remind ourselves that for the most part, the national conversation on LGBT athletes has primarily focused on men’s sports — in particular on issues facing gay, cisgender men in marquee sports. Despite the invaluable contributions of numerous female pioneers within the LGBT sports movement, we often associate progress and protections as it relates to gay men in sports.

Men and women alike recognize the reality of the male-dominated sports market, which is why it seems natural to prioritize making sports safe for gay male athletes. Even those working within the LGBT sports movement, myself included, at times begin a talk or presentation to athletic groups with mentions of Jason Collins or Robbie Rogers instead of first highlighting the female athletes like Megan Rapinoe and Brittney Griner, who have been equally as brave in their decision to come out while professional athletes.

Many people falsely assume that female athletes encounter less discrimination and “have it better” than those participating in men’s sports. One reason for this assumption is the stereotype that many female athletes are lesbians. One could argue that this creates even more policing of sexual orientation than on men’s teams. In women’s basketball, for instance, you also see homophobia rear its ugly head in the forms of silencing athletes, firing lesbian and bisexual coaches, using negative recruiting as a method to scare students away from teams with lesbian coaches, and you see the pressure on many female athletes (gay and straight alike) to appear feminine to avoid being perceived as lesbians.

On the other hand, some of the most important work being done for LGBT athletes, coaches and fans across the board is led by former and current female basketball players. In spite of the disproportionate focus on homophobia in men’s sports, there are incredible individuals and organizations, such as Pat Griffin, Helen Carroll of NCLR, and Nevin Caple of Br{ache the Silence Campaign, who are working to end the silence and address bias in women’s sports.

This weekend, when we speak out and build solidarity, let us have a long-term vision to stay on course with our movement’s goals and bigger picture. For sports fans standing up for LGBT athletes: Will we pay as much attention when Indianapolis hosts the Women’s Final Four in 2016? Will professional athletes such as Charles Barkley or Reggie Miller speak out against anti-LGBT discrimination? If the law remains, can we imagine advocating with the same vigor and follow through, ensuring our goals of inclusion remain at the forefront no matter the politics at hand?

In addition to women athletes who are lesbian and bisexual, we need to include trans athletes in our future game plan to end LGBT bias in sports. An increasing number of high school, college and elite athletes (such as MMA fighter Fallon Fox and triathlete Chris Mosier) have come out as transgender, and fortunately, resources and policies are available for schools and leagues to provide equal opportunities for male and female trans athletes. “All young people should have the opportunity to play recreational sports and have their personal dignity respected,” states a report by the Transgender Law & Policy Institute, further concluding “the impact of such discrimination can be severe and can cause lifelong harm.”

As we await state and local governments to revoke anti-LGBT laws and enact non-discrimination legislation, ensuring the safety of the athletes must remain a priority. Leagues, teams and individuals who help promote an inclusive atmosphere will help shield those who are LGBT from potential bigotry they may encounter. In addition to league and team efforts toward LGBT inclusion, other authorities, such as school presidents and company CEOs, have the power to redirect their sponsorship and location of sporting events to states and counties with supportive legislation for LGBT people.

As we advocate, we cannot neglect female athletes simply because we receive a smaller national spotlight. If we only address the “G” of LGBT, in sports terms, we will have a losing record of 1-3. The LGBT Sports Coalition’s call to action is a perfect example of how we can pivot our attention to future sporting events held within Indiana. In addition to thinking of the future, however, we must think about the current, national situation for LGBT athletes: As ESPN’s Kate Fagan points out, right now, the 2015 Women’s Final Four is in Tampa, Florida, “a state that also has a ‘religious freedom’ bill, in a state also without extensive protections for LGBT people.”

Unlike with the 2014 Olympics in Russia, the concern of discrimination against elite-level LGBT athletes is not happening on another continent. The issue is happening right now and in our own backyard. The NCAA Men’s Final Four shows us the unfortunate reality that discriminatory state policies can have direct impact on athletes. This realization requires us to step up our game to protect athletes, coaches and fans. Once the games are over, however, we must pivot and remember that our work is not over until women athletes are given our sustained attention.

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You Can Play brings stories of LGBT athletes and allies while providing an outlet for these stories to be told. You Can Play will have monthly features on Sporting News.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So they've embedded themselves in every nook and cranny of society?

Anna Aagenes is currently the Vice President of Program Development and Community Relations for You Can Play. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of GO! (Generation Out) Athletes and she was the Deputy Chief of Staff for PA State Representative Brian Sims. During college, Anna competed as a NCAA Division I Women's Track & Field athlete for the University of Pennsylvania.

You Can Play is a social activism campaign dedicated to the eradication of homophobia in sports, centered on the slogan, "If you can play, you can play." The campaign was launched on March 4, 2012, by its three co-founders: Patrick Burke (a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers and son of former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke), Brian Kitts, and Glenn Witman (both of GForce Sports). The campaign was precipitated by the death of Brendan Burke, son of Brian and brother of Patrick. You Can Play is an official partner of the National Hockey League. The current executive director of the organization is Wade Davis.

[Paladin2]

Get the Indian out of Indianapolis and we’ll talk....

[GeronL]

These people are pathetic parodies of human beings.

[Vendome]

States with RFRAs
Edit

There are 21 states that have a version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act enacted by their legislature:

Alabama (state constitution amendment)[22][23]
Arizona[24]
Arkansas[25]
Connecticut[26]
Florida[26]
Idaho[26]
Illinois[26]
Indiana[27]
Kansas[26]
Kentucky[28]
Louisiana[26]
Mississippi[29][30]
Missouri[26]
New Mexico[26]
Oklahoma[24]
Pennsylvania[26]
Rhode Island[26]
South Carolina[26]
Tennessee[26]
Texas[26]
Virginia[26]

From their favorite source “Wikipedia “

[Rummyfan]

These people are pathetic parodies of human beings.

Agreed!

[Rummyfan]

...Emmert swiftly issued a statement expressing his concern “about how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees,” and showed his interest in protecting those attending or competing in the Men's Final Four.

Protect them from WHAT????

[Paladin2]

Those Indians in Indiana sold their Toll Road to the Spaniards.

[lavaroise]

Maybe we should start fund raising in order to force LgBT “sport” clubs to accept ISIS athletes.

[lavaroise]

These idiots basically are saying we discriminate athletes, when it is about preventing gay clubs from imposing their terms.No one is imposing anything on gay athletes.

also, last but not least, if it is a slippery slope they are talking about, shall we remind them that when we talked about the slippery slope to bestiality, they called it homophobic comments.

thus, how can they be such religiousophobe now, accusing us of dark ulterior motives amd agendas!

[lavaroise]

We should call them islamophobes for not being accepting of Islam and not facing them in Saudi Arabia, out of the closet.

[Ken H]

[Slaps forehead] But of course! How could we forget?

[RginTN]

The hysterical left is gonna harm their cause with their Christian bashing.

[Oberon]

Yeah, hey... one of them might not be able to buy a wedding cake from each and every bakery in the yellow pages.

The horror!!!

[Unam Sanctam]

Protect them from not being able to get a wedding cake on short notice in case two of them of the same sex want to get hitched while in state.

[RichInOC]

The real ones or do we have to include the ones who were born with penises too?

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Will humanity ever learn from the lessons of history? Do these sodomites and perverts not recall how the Roman Empire ultimately met its demise?

Allowing--no--CELEBRATING perversity and sodomy has been the vehicle through which the demise of almost EVERY major empire in history has occurred. Will humanity ever stop the perpetual "groundhog day" effect?

[bray]

Christians need to boycott the NCAA Final 4.

Pray Americans are waking