More gays in sports need to come out
Professional football has been slow to embrace inclusion. The hypermasculine nature of the sport coupled with the locker room makes coming out as a gay man more difficult than in other industries. How can we remove the stigma so that LGBTQ athletes can feel comfortable showing their authentic selves on the field AND reaching their full potential? Is it possible for gays to finally be represented in sports without consequences?
Hear from Landon Foster about gays in sports
Landon Foster played football at the University of Kentucky, where he was an All-American on the field and a two-time Academic All-American. He studied finance and marketing and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a grade point average of 3.92. In April, Landon gave a TED Talk at TEDxUSF: Breaking Barriers to address the fact that he had not come out during his college athletic career and to encourage others to live authentically and be their full selves . He was still fighting the stigmatization of gays in sports.
Landon joins us to talk about the inspiration for his TED talk. He explains how much he regrets not going to college and how his performance on the field suffered because of it. Landon discusses why sports have been slow to embrace LGBT inclusivity, how his team and fans may have responded, and how the climate for LGBTQ athletes has changed in recent years. Listen to understand why Landon is pursuing a career in financial services and get his advice for young LGBTQ athletes!
Listen to Landon’s story and more about gays in sports:
Covered topics about gays in sports
The inspiration for Landon’s TED Talk
- Give back, inspire others
- The path for the next generation of athletes will be easier
Why Landon’s performance was affected in his senior year
- Kim Davis story on local news
- Classes, relationship AND consideration of the NFL
Why gays in sports are still such a hurdle
- Hypermasculine character of football
- Concerns about sharing the locker room
How Landon’s team, coaches and fans might have reacted
- I have received support since he came out
- I wish he had had the courage
Landon’s perspective on the role of religion in team sports
- Players bring something with them depending on where/how they grew up
- No pressure from school
How the climate has changed for LGBTQ athletes
- As far as visibility goes, it’s better across the board
- Depending on sport, region and team culture
Landon’s decision to pursue a career in financial services
- Technical aspects appeal to athletes
- Accepting, inclusive industry
Landon’s advice for young LGBTQ athletes
- Come to yourself first
- Conversations with the coach, parents and friends