The International Gay & Lesbian Athletics Conference sheds light on significant issues and concerns facing gay athletes
Published: November 5, 2004
Each year at the International Gay & Lesbian Athletics Conference, prominent leaders in the sports community meet to share their experiences in dealing with important issues facing athletes including racial discrimination, homophobia and the struggles and challenges gay athletes may meet in the sports world.
In March at the 2004 conference, Yolanda Jackson, director of athlete marketing and promotions at the Women's Sports Foundation, led a panel discussion titled "Race and Racism in LGBT Sports," featuring Peter Roby, director of the Center for Study of Sport in Society, and Dora Dome, an attorney and chairwoman of Our Family Coalition, among others. The discussion was focused on discrimination and acceptance as elite, collegiate and recreational
athletes.
At the 2003 conference, Olympians Holly Metcalfe and Mark Tewksbury told their stories of overcoming fear and homophobia to become Olympic athletes. Metcalfe won a gold medal in rowing at the 1984 Olympic Games and Tewksbury won a gold medal in swimming at the 1992 Olympic Games.