Coming out through sports : the lived experience of LGB Individuals

Abstract

Locally, there is a lack of research when it comes to the link between homosexuality and sports participation. Thus, this dissertation seeks to examine this link and find out whether sports participation helps LGB individuals throughout their coming out process, whilst also perceive whether it can be used as a tool in social work practice. This research will pave the way for multiple professionals such as; social workers, people within the sport sector, and social policy makers to be aware of such relationships, and will be able to enhance both the experience of coming out, and the environment within sports and society. This research is done through a qualitative research design, where six in depth interviews were conducted with two lesbians, two bisexuals and two gays who came out in sports. Findings from primary sources and the discussion were gathered and analysed through thematic analysis. The main finding of this research study was that sport does help LGB individuals throughout the coming out process; gay males were seen to be more supported through individual sport, whilst females were supported and helped more through team sport. It was also highlighted that most individuals who came out through sport did not feel the need to seek professional help. Thus, it can be concluded that social workers can use sport as a tool when it comes to working with LGB individuals, but practitioners must also be highly aware when it comes to choosing the sport with the LGB individual. This suggests that sport can be a form of therapy since it reduces the number of individuals seeking professional support. However, through this dissertation it can be deduced that more work needs to be done in order to reach equality in heteronormative sports and in broader society, as stereotypes are still present, which hinders LGB individuals from living freely in society. For instance, through this research it has been found that female athletes find it difficult to explain and make their parents understand that they are not homosexual because they are influenced by the type of sport, but simply because it is their identity. As aforementioned, greater improvements need to be seen and this can be tackled through several facets: introducing more homosexual role models in the world of sport; provision of education in schools; establishing psychoeducational groups for parents; and also, the provision of ongoing training for care professionals.