“As Long as They Don't Make an Issue of It … ”

At the request of the Dutch government, a group of researchers looked into the experiences of gay men and lesbians in organized, nonprofessional sports. The principal finding was that gay men and lesbians do not experience much discrimination. This circumstance results from the invisibility and silencing of homosexuality in athletics, both by sports organizations and by gay men and lesbians themselves. But in those sports where lesbians have become open about their sexuality, especially in soccer, they do encounter a high level of discrimination. Gay men, on the other hand, have not become visible in any sport. Several suggestions are offered on how to open up sports for lesbians and gay men.