With more people coming out as members of the LGBTQIA+ community in sport, it would be expected that the attitude towards sexuality on the field is becoming more accepting. Yet, the largest study done on homophobia in sport by Out on the fields paints a different picture.
In the study, 9500 people from various sexes and sexualities were questioned on their experiences and perspectives regarding homophobia. The study found that 80% of people have witnessed a form of homophobia in or around the sporting field. A further 78% indicated that they think an openly gay person would not feel comfortable in the crowd of a sporting event. Though, when it came to the target of homophobia, it was found that 50% of the participants from the LGBTQIA+ community were targeted by it, and a further 28% of straight men were targeted as well. 80% of the study group believed that gay people are not accepted in sporting culture.
When they dove into the gay participants’ experiences, they found that, compared to their lesbian counterparts, a significantly higher percentage of gay men were being bullied, receiving verbal threats or being physically abused. Finally, 81% of gay men and 74% lesbian women have said they are, in some form, in the closet while playing a sport.
Thus, even with society seeming to become more accepting of people, there is still a lot of ground to be covered, but the fact that studies can be done on this matter is a healthy sign. Hopefully going forward, people can be seen as people first before any of their other identities.