Lesbians Coming Out in Sports

Lesbians should be able to come out into sports.(i know this is my discussion topic, but hell i feel pretty strong about it)  Out of all the reasons I found the thing that struck me the most was the suicide rate among lesbian teens. 38% of the teen lesbians polled (N=30,000) have tried to commit suicide, While straight teens were at about 8%. That’s over four times the amount. Counseling, anti-bullying and overall acceptance are obvious was to curve this but what I think will really help is if more athletes start to come out. We have seen kids in massive poverty escape gang life through sports by looking up to their sports heroes who have also “come from nothing”. If we get more girls to come out then I believe this attempted suicide rate will curve greatly. There have been past sports stars to come out but these ladies came out still when society was very hush about sexual orientation. Now, more than ever, our society is more accepting of the LGBT community. So I believe that if a group of lesbians in sport agreed to come out at the same time then it would be a statement that they are proud and it is “okay to be gay”. When younger, depressed, closet lesbians see this they will have someone to relate to, and instead of feeling alone they will have somebody to look up to. They will know that their sexual orientation is welcomed in mainstream society.

Im not arguing LGBT rights, marriage or anything like that, but I am stating that teen suicide could be curved. When I worked as an EMT up in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties (Richmond, Oakland, Hayward ect) I have had contacts with suicidal teens on 5150 holds (psychiatric hold, basically deemed a danger to themselves or others). Nothing was sadder when a young kid wanted to take their own life. If Lesbians were able to come out in sport and be accepted, and it changed just one girl’s thoughts of suicide it would be well worth it.

Matt Lendvay
338i
W 4-650