Homophobia and Discrimination on

<strong>Homophobia</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Discrimination</strong> on Grounds of Sexual Orientation <strong>and</strong> Gender Identity in the EU Member States
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there are numerous accounts of LGBT persons feeling harassed <strong>and</strong> rejected by their
fellow club members. 301
Good practice: Interviews revealed that in Finl<strong>and</strong>, the Sports Federation published a
guide Involved <strong>and</strong> Visible: Sexual <strong>and</strong> Gender Minorities in Sports <strong>and</strong> Physical
Activities in three languages, Finnish, Swedish <strong>and</strong> English. 302
Good practice: In Germany the Deutscher Fußball Bund [German Football
Confederation] launched a campaign entitled 'Football <strong>and</strong> <strong>Homophobia</strong>' <strong>and</strong> signed a
declaration against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in 2007. 303
LGBT visibility in sports
As reported by Outsports.com, at the last Beijing 2008 Olympics only 10 out of 10,708
athletes were openly gay or lesbian. 304 In the stakeholder e-survey 41 per cent stated
that there was 'no opportunity’ or a ‘low level of opportunity’ to be ‘out’ as LGBT even in
non-professional sport.
'Those who do play at a high level are usually in denial of their sexuality in order to
gain grants/scholarships etc. Being a known lesbian in sport in Irel<strong>and</strong> I think would
limit all types of support…both financial <strong>and</strong> social.' (Female, Irel<strong>and</strong>) 305
According to The Irish Equality Authority, LGBT athletes are largely invisible, creating a
de facto absence of LGBT role models in professional sport. 306 During interview the
NGOs Arcigay <strong>and</strong> Arcilesbica also noted the very low visibility of LGBT persons in
sports in Italy. 307
Combating homophobia in sports
A poll conducted in Sweden indicated that there is limited focus on identifying <strong>and</strong>
tackling homophobia in sports. 308 A project funded by the Swedish Ministry of Industry
polled 40 sports associations in Sweden <strong>and</strong> found that most had never discussed the
301 See http://www.eglsf.info/eglsf-about.php (10.08.2008)
302 Fieldwork meeting with the Ministry of Employment <strong>and</strong> Economy, the Ministry of Education <strong>and</strong> the
Ministry of the Interior (Finl<strong>and</strong>, 4 March 2008)
303 Germany, country report
304 See http://www.outsports.com/os/index.php/Olympics/2008/In-Beijing-Olympics-only-5-openly-gayathletes.html
(25.01.2009)
305 L. Greene (2007) Lesbian Athletes <strong>and</strong> Their Experiences of Gender <strong>and</strong> Sexuality in Competitive Sports
in Irel<strong>and</strong> (1980-2007), University College of Dublin: College of Human Sciences.
306 Fieldwork meeting with the Equality Authority, (Irel<strong>and</strong> 4 April 2008)
307 Fieldwork meeting with Arcigay <strong>and</strong> Arcilesbica (5 March 2008)
308 See http://www.homo.se/o.o.i.s/3950 (14.08.2008)