1. What is the role of the athletic director in addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in the athletic department?
• Policymaking: zero-tolerance policies for harassment and discrimination against LGBT people as part of overall harassment and discrimination policies.
• Providing educational programs for coaches, athletes, and parents.
• Identifying resources for coaches, athletes and parents.
2. How would you ensure that everyone on your staff treats lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender coaches fairly? • Set the tone in the department by example.
• Have policy in place, make it known and enforce it.
• Include family and significant others in athletic department social events.
• Organize educational programs for coaches and athletes.
3. How would you address a parent who asked if there are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people on your teams? • Cite the athletic department‘s commitment to the value of diversity.
• Reply that you assume that LGBT are part of the program.
• Note that the school and athletic department have adopted a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Ask what their concerns are.
• Tell them that all athletes are expected to treat each other with respect.
4. How might you use your leadership role to set the tone for how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender athletes and coaches are treated? • Speak out against harassment and discrimination.
• Use inclusive language and don’t assume all athletes and coaches are heterosexual.
• Be a public ally by participating in programs on LGBT issues at conferences and in school.
• Plan educational programs for coaches, parents, and athletes that address LGBT issues.
• Respond promptly and according to policy to any harassment or discrimination charges.
5. Does your school offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples? • See sample policy.
• Have you advocated for this benefit?
• How do you make these benefits known to staff?
6. What resources at your school can assist you in addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in athletics? What collaborative efforts are there to work together with these resources? • It Takes A Team education kit available in schools.
• Contact faculty and student Gay-Straight Alliances.
• Identify resources in the school: Counseling, educational, social.
• Include books and videos in the athletic department library.
• Plan an event in collaboration with other groups in the school.
7. Do you have a non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity? • See samples in this kit
• Contact National Center for Lesbian Rights or other legal resource for sample policies.
• Check with school administrators about school policy to include in athletic department material.
8. How do your current policies and procedures address incidents of anti-gay harassment or discrimination in athletics? • See samples in this kit.
• Contact National Center for Lesbian Rights or other legal resource for sample policies.
• Check with school administrators about school policy to include in athletic department material.
9. How would you address negative recruiting incidents where coaches make disparaging comments about lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender coaches or athletes at another school? • Make sure coaches, parents and athletes understand policy against negative recruiting.
• Follow up on reports of negative recruiting at your school or against your school.
10. What are your legal responsibilities to address anti-gay discrimination or harassment in athletics? • Check on school policy, local, state, federal law that applies.
• Include policies in all department material.
• If no policy exists, work with school administrators to establish policies.
11. What can athletic directors do when coaches use anti-gay or sexist language with athletes? • Discuss non-discrimination and harassment policies with the coach.
• Talk with the coach about the negative effects of this kind of motivational tool on team relations and individual athletes.
• Make it clear that this is an unacceptable coaching strategy.