Background/Purpose Athletes who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are an integral part of many collegiate teams and athletic departments (Anderson, 2011). Considering the heterosexism prevalent in sport (Sartore & Cunningham, 2010), providing a supportive and safe environment for LGBT athletes is imperative. However, research into this process is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative investigation was to examine what factors create a more inclusive team atmosphere for athletes who are LGBT.
Method Interviews were conducted with 17 lesbian student-athletes enrolled at Division I public universities in the Southwest. Most of the athletes were current athletes (n = 11) or had completed their eligibility within the last 3 years (n = 6). They were African American (n = 9), Caucasian (n = 5), and Latina (n = 3).
Analysis/Results Each interview was transcribed verbatim, and the data were analyzed continually during the entire research process. The four formal steps of data analysis included: familiarization with the data, open coding, axial coding, and connection of high order themes. The athletes described how both heterosexual and LGBT teammates were their greatest sources of support—particularly during the coming out process. However, though the athletes did have positive collegiate experiences, they did not feel as if their coaches or athletic department offered any form of formal support for LGBT athletes.
Conclusions Results suggest supportive team environments and individual teammates can lead to positive athletic and personal outcomes. However, the lack of support from coaches and administrators signals a need for diversity training efforts.
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