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"Personally, one of the things I became aware on if sport environments is that often people may have a great personal relationship with someone and feel like they're an ally to them, but they may not be creating a safe space in terms of their language, or the jokes they tell (or laugh at)."
- Una Lunder, Canoe/Kayak Olympian
- Una Lunder, Canoe/Kayak Olympian
Inclusive Environments
LGBTQI2S Sports Inclusion Toolkit Checklist
Long Term Athlete Development Matrix - True Sport
Allyship in Action - GSLEN
A Coach's Guide: LBGTQI2S Sport Inclusion
Long Term Athlete Development Matrix - True Sport
Allyship in Action - GSLEN
A Coach's Guide: LBGTQI2S Sport Inclusion
One Team - Top 15 Essentials
1. RECOGNIZE THE REALITY OF HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA IN SPORT
Recognizing that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia exists and are a problem in sport is an important beginning to addressing the problem. Learn about how homophobia, biphobia and transphobia as well as heternormativity and cisnormativity look in the sport environments, as well as their impact on athletes and team performance. Learn about the impact of gender norms and stereotypes and how you can challenge them.
2. EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT LGBTQ+ ISSUES
Take time to learn about LGBTQ+ and gender creative identities, gender norms and stereotypes, and phobias heteronormativity and cisnormativity – what they are, how they manifest, and their impact. Keep up with current events and familiarize yourself with the Canadian Charter of Rights and your provincial or territorial Human Rights Code or Act. Understanding these things will help you to be more aware of the challenges facing LGBTQ+ children, youth and families.
3. RECOGNIZE YOUR OWN BIAS
Understand your own bias and its limitations as it relates to creating LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive spaces. If you are straight and/or cisgender, there will be things you don’t notice or are not aware of that exclude and create barriers for LGBTQ+ and gender creative individuals. Similarly, you may have preconceived ideas and attitudes about gender, gender norms, gender conformity and LGBTQ+ people in general. Recognizing your biases means you can recognize how they play out in the gymnasium or field, then work towards a greater understanding of what makes for an LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive space, and help to create such spaces. Talking about bias with athletes encourages them to be critical thinkers and learners, and provides an opening for discussion.
4. CHECK YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
We live in a heteronormative and cisnormative world, so it’s common to assume that everyone is straight and cisgender. Gender norms and stereotypes impact our assumptions about what and who boys and girls should like, what they should wear, and how they should act. Challenge the idea that gender
is binary and consider that it exists along a continuum.
is binary and consider that it exists along a continuum.
5. CREATE LGBTQ+ SAFER AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Challenging assumptions, gender norms and stereotypes, and being inclusive of various types of families is a way to
start creating safer and inclusive spaces or gender creative and LGBTQ+ athletes. Infusing LGBTQ+ issues into the education and challenging heteronormativity and cisnormativity at all levels helps to challenge the stigma, break the silence, and foster inclusion and acceptance. Being aware of
and challenging heteronormativity and cisnormativity and how they result in the exclusion and invisibility of LGBTQ+ individuals is also part of creating LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive environments since we learn what has value by omission and commission. Clear expectations around treating everyone
with respect, as well as ensuring policies and practices support LGBTQ+ inclusion is crucial.
start creating safer and inclusive spaces or gender creative and LGBTQ+ athletes. Infusing LGBTQ+ issues into the education and challenging heteronormativity and cisnormativity at all levels helps to challenge the stigma, break the silence, and foster inclusion and acceptance. Being aware of
and challenging heteronormativity and cisnormativity and how they result in the exclusion and invisibility of LGBTQ+ individuals is also part of creating LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive environments since we learn what has value by omission and commission. Clear expectations around treating everyone
with respect, as well as ensuring policies and practices support LGBTQ+ inclusion is crucial.
6. STAND UP AND SPEAK UP
Intervene when you encounter LGBTphobic words, behaviour or policies. Speak up against heternormativity and cisnormativity in policy, practice and language. Help raise awareness about these issues by pointing them out and speaking up. Encourage others to do the same.
7. USE LGBTQ+-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
Using gender neutral language helps to create LGBTQ+ inclusive and safer environments. Using words like partner, spouse, parent, letter carrier, firefighter, etc. allows for those people to be of any gender and doesn’t assume heterosexuality or gender identity. This use of language allows people to share more of who they are, if they choose, because your choice of words doesn’t assume their sexual orientation or gender identity. Similarly, the use of singular gender neutral pronouns such as “they” is also becoming more common as gender creative and trans individuals seek out options that don’t reinforce gender as binary (which “he” and “she” do).
8. LINK WITH PARTNERS
Collaborate with organizations like You Can Play, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays) and other LGBTQ+ groups in your community to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive spaces as well as LGBTQ+ people in sport. Some communities have LGBTQ+- specific sports teams who may be interested in helping with instruction.
and Gays) and other LGBTQ+ groups in your community to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ safer and inclusive spaces as well as LGBTQ+ people in sport. Some communities have LGBTQ+- specific sports teams who may be interested in helping with instruction.
9. BE AN ALLY
Allies are tremendously helpful in creating LGBTQ+ safer spaces. Standing up for respect and inclusion for others sends a strong message. Having zero tolerance for LGBTQ+ bullying and harassment and dealing with it when it occurs gives athletes the tools to stand up for themselves and others. It
also lets them know who they can turn to for support. Within the sport environment, allyship is especially important among coaches. Participate in LGBTQ+-specific or inclusive events and activities.
also lets them know who they can turn to for support. Within the sport environment, allyship is especially important among coaches. Participate in LGBTQ+-specific or inclusive events and activities.
10. PROVIDE OR BE A ROLE MODEL
Having role models who identify as LGBTQ+ helps all athletes recognize that LGBTQ+ people exist and are successful, and that being LGBTQ+ is one part of a person’s identity and doesn’t limit what they can do. The more athletes who come out as LGBTQ+, the more the culture in sport will change and
the easier it will be for LGBTQ+ and gender creative athletes to participate in sports and feel safe and welcome to be who they are. Additionally, a positive relationship with a coach, program leader or other significant person in their lives who is an LGBTQ+ ally provides a role model for how to treat all people with respect and dignity.
the easier it will be for LGBTQ+ and gender creative athletes to participate in sports and feel safe and welcome to be who they are. Additionally, a positive relationship with a coach, program leader or other significant person in their lives who is an LGBTQ+ ally provides a role model for how to treat all people with respect and dignity.
11. USE LGBTQ+-INCLUSIVE AND TRANS-SPECIFIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES
Develop, promote and enforce policies and practices that are LGBTQ+-inclusive and support respect regardless of gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. The more specific these policies are in mentioning these identities, the more effective they are.
Specific policies around support for trans and gender creative students are also important. For example, flexible dress codes, gender inclusive bathrooms or gender-neutral options, all-gender sports teams and providing safer change room options are examples of policies and procedures that support trans and gender creative students and create safer spaces while sending a message of inclusion to the sport community.
Specific policies around support for trans and gender creative students are also important. For example, flexible dress codes, gender inclusive bathrooms or gender-neutral options, all-gender sports teams and providing safer change room options are examples of policies and procedures that support trans and gender creative students and create safer spaces while sending a message of inclusion to the sport community.
12. PROVIDE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Seeing LGBTQ+ people in positions of leadership provides role models for LGBTQ+ athletes and helps to break down stereotypes. People in positions of leadership include coaches as well as team captains or spokespeople. Leaders who can be out about their sexual orientation or gender identity can
inspire LGBTQ+ children and youth to pursue their interests.
inspire LGBTQ+ children and youth to pursue their interests.
13. RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA AND MARKETERS
While it may seem outside our scope of control, as consumers and leaders we have opportunities to influence. We need to recognize and address how the media and marketers portray LGBTQ+ people and reinforce heternormativity and cisnormativity as well as homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. We can help athletes to become more media savvy and encourage them to challenge and disengage from harmful messages and images.
14. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
Use every opportunity to use gender-neutral language, challenge norms and assumptions about gender and sexual orientation, and speak up against LGBTphobias. Learn from your mistakes! When you make a mistake, simply acknowledge it, apologize, commit to doing things differently and then do so.
15. BE BRAVE
Creating any kind of change takes courage. Be brave and surround yourself with other allies and resources that support you and this work.
Trans Athlete Inclusion
On the Team: Equal Opportunity for Transgender Student Athletes - GLSEN
Creating Inclusive Environments for Trans Participants in Canadian Sport: Policy and Practice Template for Sport Organizations
Actions to Expand Awareness of Transgender Issues - GSLEN
Creating Inclusive Environments for Trans Participants in Canadian Sport: Policy and Practice Template for Sport Organizations
Actions to Expand Awareness of Transgender Issues - GSLEN
5 Things to know about trans athletes
Use Names and Pronouns
- Work hard to respect the name and pronouns that an athlete wishes to be referred to by - even when it changes. You will make mistakes; correct yourself and move on!
- Never out a trans athlete to others without their consent. Outing betrays the athlete's trust and it can put them in danger.
- Stop separating athletes by gender. Even if there are no out trans students, many students are uncomfortable being assigned to groups by gender, or forced to choose between male and female groups.
- When an athletes comes out as trans or gender diverse, avoid assuming what that means to them, or what their goals of transition are. Not all athletes identify as male or female, or aim to transition from one binary to the other.
- Athletes know their own needs best. If you are unsure how to accommodate a trans or gender diverse athlete, the best solution is to ask them - What bathroom do they wish to use? What sports team do they wish to play on? Who would they like to share a room with for overnight trips?
Trans+Sport is a documentary short that highlights many of the barriers trans and genderqueer youth face in accessing sport and physical activity.
Through interviews with youth and adult leaders, viewers will gain a better understanding of why it is important to challenge these barriers, how individuals can create change, and the impact creating safer spaces will have for everyone in your community. This documentary was created by The 519, with support from The Toronto Community Foundation.
Through interviews with youth and adult leaders, viewers will gain a better understanding of why it is important to challenge these barriers, how individuals can create change, and the impact creating safer spaces will have for everyone in your community. This documentary was created by The 519, with support from The Toronto Community Foundation.