The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently co-hosted an inaugural ìThink Tankî on Homophobia in Sport, which included national experts and policymakers who addressed "negative recruiting" issues in school athletics. Negative Recruiting is the practice of using irrational stereotypes to deter recruits from going to rival schools based on allegations that a rival coach or team members are lesbian or gay. The Think Tank took place this fall in Indianapolis, Indiana at NCAA headquarters where top sports leaders from across the country, including NCAA staff, athletic directors, coaches and athletes, conference commissioners, researchers, and coaching organization representatives, came together with a shared vision of eliminating these recruiting problems. The group explored solutions and developed concrete steps to establish a positive environment for LGBT student-athletes and their teammates, as well as, coaches and athletic directors, which will profoundly change the climate for all involved in collegiate sports.
NCLR Sports Project Director, Helen Carroll, knows first hand the importance of addressing discrimination in college athletics. Having experience as a former NCAA Athletic Director and National Championship Basketball Coach, Carroll, said that ìputting an end to negative recruiting is critical not only to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender players and coaches, but also to attract and retain the best, most qualified coaches. As long as any athlete or coach can be harmed by being tagged with the "lesbian" or "gay" label, the goal of achieving true equality in sports will remain out of reach.î
In 2007, NCLR will continue to work closely with the NCAA to develop effective strategies to overcome discriminatory behavior. ìThe event couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Early next year, the NCAA will conduct its first-ever national campus climate survey,î said Carroll. The survey will mark the beginning of a process of change that will transform the environment of intercollegiate athletics.
Dr. Pat Griffin, Director of It Takes A Team, led an exercise, which identified other critical LGBT topics to be examined in-depth. Major issues brought up for discussion included addressing ìanti Lesbian, Gay, Bisexualî policies in coach hiring or athlete recruitment that may exist at certain universities. Also discussed where what strategies to take when parents of recruits ask about gays or lesbians on a team, and how and if to address romantic relationships between teammates. To address these concerns the NCAA Coaching Academies and the National Association for Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators will include discussion of negative recruiting in their course curriculums.
Meetings and discussions like these, as well as, NCAA committee management council actions, and college presidents involvements will go a long way toward changing the climate in sports to be more affirming and inclusive and to address issues of homophobia.
