The Women’s Sports Foundation is committed to creating an athletic climate that is respectful and safe for all people and eliminating barriers to all girls being active and healthy. It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Sport is an education project focused on eliminating homophobia as a barrier to all women and men participating in sport. Our primary goals are to develop and disseminate practical educational information and resources to athletic administrators, coaches, parents and athletes at the high school and college levels to make sport safe and welcoming for all.
Prejudice against lesbian and bisexual women in sports discourages girls and women from participating in sport out of fear of being called “lesbian.” Homophobic attitudes and policies that target lesbian and bisexual athletes, coaches and administrators perpetuate this prejudice. The practical effects of such discrimination and prejudice are that all female athletes are denied a healthy and fulfilling sport experience and environment.
The Foundation also recognizes that homophobia pervades all of sport, influencing the lives of male as well as female athletes. Addressing homophobia in women’s sport and in men’s sport acknowledges the web of sexism, homophobia and gender oppression that can limit the experiences of athletes of all genders and sexual orientations. It Takes A Team! reflects this inclusive approach to addressing homophobia in sport. Though It Takes A Team! focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in sport, we are committed to creating athletic climates that are respectful and safe for people of all races, religions, abilities and socio-economic statuses.
The project is intended to help coaches and school administrators educate student-athletes about the harmful effects of homophobia and asks the question, "How can we make sure that people in athletics are evaluated, not based on their sexual orientation or gender expression, but on their individual character and accomplishments?"
Originally called The Project to Eliminate Homophobia in Sport, It Takes A Team! started in 1996, enabled by fundraising efforts by tennis legend, Martina Navratilova. The Project to Eliminate Homophobia in Sport was a collaborative effort among the Women’s Sports Foundation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Gay and Lesbian Education Network, the Ms. Foundation, Uncommon Legacy and ASTRAEA. Under the leadership of Lisa Dawn Thompson, the project developed a comprehensive educational kit which was first released in 2002. In 2005, Pat Griffin became director of It Takes A Team! and is continuing the project’s commitment developing and disseminating high quality educational materials promoting sports equality for all.
The Educational KitThe It Takes A Team educational kit includes a 15-minute video, discussion and action guides, "Safe Space" stickers, posters and a list of resources addressing LGBT issues in sport. The kit establishes five basic rights of all athletes and coaches:
- safety from physical or verbal harassment or violence
- fair treatment in all aspects of programming
- equal access to all aspects of programming
- support for developing positive self-esteem and acceptance of others
- education about social diversity, prejudice and discrimination
The benefits of bringing this program into your community are invaluable. Once the myths and stereotypes are erased, coaches and athletes can speak intelligently about issues of discrimination and foster an attitude of acceptance toward diversity. Being labeled gay or lesbian will no longer be a mark of shame on any athlete, and destructive verbal and physical harassment will no longer be a right of passage in the locker room. Perhaps most importantly, lesbian and gay athletes and coaches may finally feel safe enough to reveal themselves to their teammates, improving team chemistry and allowing LGBT athletes to enjoy the same whole and fulfilling experience as their heterosexual peers. In this way, "coming out" can become a positive and rewarding moment in life, rather than living in constant fear of exposure.