Changing the Game: Including
LGBT Students on School Sports
Teams
AAHPERD, 2012
Pat Griffin,
Director, Changing the Game: The GLSEN Sports
Project
sports.glsen.org
Workshop Goals
Discuss why we focus on physical
education and athletics
Identify ways to address anti-LGBT namecalling in PE and athletics
Identify GLSEN Sports Project resources
for PE teachers and coaches
sports.glsen.org
Some Definitions
Sexual Orientation: Our feelings of sexual and
emotional attraction to others: Heterosexual,
gay, lesbian and bisexual
Gender Identity: Our internal sense of identity
as a boy, girl, man, woman, for example
sports.glsen.org
Some Definitions
Transgender: Describes a person whose
gender identity is not the same as the
gender they were assigned at birth
Gender Expression: The names, pronouns,
behaviors, dress, mannerisms, etc. that we
use to communicate our gender to others
sports.glsen.org
Some Definitions
LGBT is a shorthand reference to
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender
Q = Queer, Questioning
Why Focus on Sports and
Physical Education?
• Importance of physical activity to overall
student health and well-being
• Central role of athletics in schools
• Leadership and visibility of coaches and
athletes in schools
sports.glsen.org
Why Focus on Sports and
Physical Education?
• Sport culture in which anti-LGBT name
calling, taunting, bullying, hazing are
sometimes viewed as part of the game
• Gender and sexuality stereotypes
associated with sports participation
• Locker rooms, PE classes and sports
teams as gendered spaces
sports.glsen.org
Why Focus on Sports and
Physical Education?
• Unique nature of physical activity
instructional environment
• Many physical education preparation
programs do not address these issues
• Many part-time coaches do not participate in
staff development, leading to decreased
awareness of school anti-bullying policies
sports.glsen.org
GLSEN School Climate Survey Results
Many Students Perceive Locker
Rooms, Bathrooms, Gyms, Playing
Fields as Unsafe Spaces
sports.glsen.org
Anti-LGBT Name-Calling and Bullying
in School Athletics And Physical Education:
What Does It Look Like?
sports.glsen.org
Anti-LGBT Name-Calling and Bullying
in School Athletics And Physical Education:
What Does It Look Like?
Taunting in Competition,
PE Class
Teacher, Coach Attempts to
Motivate or Shame
Spectator Chants, Taunting
sports.glsen.org
Anti-LGBT Name-Calling and Bullying
in School Athletics And Physical Education:
What Does It Look Like?
Team Hazing Rituals
Locker Room Bullying
All Purpose Putdown
sports.glsen.org
Name-Calling/Bullying:
How Do We Stop It?
FAGGOT!
LEZZY!
INSERT
RESPONSE
HERE
HOMO!
That’s
So Gay!
sports.glsen.org
What Keeps Teachers from Responding to
Name-Calling/Bullying?
• Pervasiveness, Belief that things won’t change
• Belief that name-calling is a harmless right of
passage for young people
• Lack of Skills, Don’t know what to say
• Lack of Awareness, Don’t see/hear it
• Fear of Student Reaction, Losing control
• Lack of Administrative Support
sports.glsen.org
Being the Change You Want to See
A Model for Changing the Climate
S.P.R.E.
A Model for Addressing NameCalling/Bullying
Show
Prevent
Respond
sports.glsen.org
Educate
Show = Be an Example of Respect and
Support
•
•
•
•
•
•
Use respectful language
Use inclusive, gender-neutral language
Learn and use students’ preferred names
Be positive and encouraging
Expect the best from students
Show interest in individual students
sports.glsen.org
Prevent = Communicate Expectations
From the Start
• Discuss/Identify expectations for student
interactions at the start of each unit/season
• Post rules for student interactions
• Give specific examples
• Ask students to sign a class/team respect
pledge
sports.glsen.org
Student Behavior
Expectations
Participation and Interaction Rules
Post
Correct
Reward
Review
Monitor
sports.glsen.org
Respond = If It’s Mean, Intervene
• If you see something, say something
• Keep it simple: “That’s not ok in this class” or
“You are better than that.”
• Address it and keep things moving
sports.glsen.org
Educate = Expand on Response
• Grab a Teachable Moment – Take more time,
follow-up, have a conversation
• Plan a Lesson – Plan and teach a
lesson/activity with the objective of increasing
respectful student interactions, eliminating
name-calling
• Talk about Respect Challenge – Why, What
sports.glsen.org
What Do You Typically Do?
Show
Prevent
Respond
sports.glsen.org
Educate
How Can You Expand on What is
Typical for You?
Show
Prevent
Respond
sports.glsen.org
Educate
Practice: The Key to Success
Form Triad
Practice Response
Give Feedback
Practice: The Key to Success
Student calls classmate “gay” because he
dropped the ball
Student tells a teammate her haircut is
“gay.”
Coach/PE teacher calls a student a “little
faggot.”
A student tells a teacher/coach, calling
someone “gay” is just kidding around
A Great Resource for
Physical Education and
Athletics
sports.glsen.org
Sports Project Mission
Make K-12 athletics and physical
education safe, respectful and
inclusive for students of all sexual
orientations and gender
identities/expressions
sports.glsen.org
Sports Project Resources
Resources For:
• Coaches
• Physical Educators
• Students
• Parents
• Administrators
sports.glsen.org
Sports Project Resources
sports.glsen.org
Safe Sports
Space
Campaign
Ask School Physical Education and Coaching Staff to
Participate in the Safe Sports Space Campaign
Our School’s
Safe Sports Space Rules
No Teasing or Taunting
No Name-Calling
No Bullying
Play Within the Rules
Treat Others With Respect
Take Turns
Cheer Others On
Share the Ball
Have Fun
Win or Lose, Be A Good Sport
sports.glsen.org
Even More Resources
Physical
Education Class
Respect Pledge
No Name-Calling
Lesson/Activity Plan
sports.glsen.org
Sports Project Resources
Team Respect Challenge
Amherst Regional High School
Girls Softball Team
sports.glsen.org
Staples High School
Boys Soccer Team
Invite School Teams to Take The
Team Respect Challenge Pledge
Sports Project Resources
Start a Bring Your ‘A’ Game Campaign Among Athletes in Your School
sports.glsen.org
If LGBT students in your school named an all-star
adult ally team, would you make the cut?
sports.glsen.org
How Can LGBT Students Know
If You Are A Supportive,
Approachable Adult?
• Use Respectful and Inclusive Language
• Call All Students By Preferred Name
• Give Clear Expectations for Respectful
Student Interactions and Behavior
• Respond to Name-Calling and Bullying
• Post “Safe Space” Posters or Stickers
• Monitor Safety in Locker Rooms, Bathrooms
• Participate in GSA-sponsored Events
sports.glsen.org
How Can You Change The
Game In Your Program?
What Strategies or Ideas Did You Learn Today?
What Will You Do To Make Your PE or Athletic Program Safer
and More Inclusive for All Students?
What is Your Plan Of Action?
sports.glsen.org
RESPECT.
Are You Bringin’ It?
Pat Griffin
[email protected]
sports.glsen.org