It Takes A Team! Director Pat Griffin interviews Beth Burton, the throwing coach for the California State University at Chico women’s and men’s track and field team. Beth is an out lesbian.
PG: Where did you compete in college? Other competitions?
BB: I competed for Cal State Northridge from 1993-1998. We were in the American West Conference, then I moved to the Big Sky Conference in 1997. I competed in the Indoor USA Nationals in 1997 in the weight throw, 1997 Outdoor USA Nationals in the hammer throw, 1998 Indoor USA Nationals in the weight throw and shot put and the 1998 Outdoor USA Nationals in the hammer throw and shot put.
PG: What honors or awards have you won as an athlete?
BB: I am a three-time, Division I All- American. I was the athlete-of –the-year at Cal State Northridge in 1998. I won multiple conference championships in the shot put, weight throw and hammer throw. Current school record holder in the shot put 54’8 ¾” and the weight throw at 67’ 1”.
PG: What is your current coaching position?
BB: I am currently the throwing coach at Chico State. I coach the men’s and women’s shot put, discus and hammer, as well as strength and conditioning.
PG: How long have you been in this position?
BB: Five years.
PG: When did you first identify yourself as a lesbian?
BB: I first identified as a lesbian my senior year of college. I knew in junior high and high school that I was attracted to women but growing up in a devout Mormon household, I wasn’t allowed to express those feelings.
PG: Were you out as a lesbian to your teammates or coaches when you were competing in college?
BB: Once I acknowledged to myself that I was a lesbian, I was out with my teammates and coaches. My coach was a lesbian and she wasn’t out with any of the athletes. I wish that she would have been open with me and I think I would have come out sooner.
PG: When and how did you come out to teammates or coaches?
BB: 1998 was a weird year. It seemed that everyone was coming out. I first told my roommate, who was also my teammate. She told me that it was no surprise to her. The coaches were very compassionate and supportive.
PG: How did you decide to become a coach?
BB: I was planning on teaching and coaching out of high school. I started by coaching at the high school level than moved on to the college level when the position opened.
PG: Have you been out to your coaching colleagues and team since you began coaching?
BB: I was out with some of my high school athletes and with all of my college athletes and all of the coaches. My wife, Shannon, has always volunteered and assisted the head coaches running meets.
PG: Describe your coaching experience as an out lesbian?
BB: I have had an amazing coaching experience. We just returned from the Division II National Championships with six All-Americans. I have coached two school record holders and many conference champions. Being an out lesbian doesn’t have anything to do with what I have my athletes do in the weight room and on the track.
PG: How have team members and coaches reacted to your being out?
BB: My athletes and fellow coaches are very supportive of my wife and myself. Many of them attended my wedding in October and they were sending out NO on Proposition 8 information during the November election (NO on 8 was the unsuccessful California campaign to keep same-sex marriage legal in the state.)
PG: Have you ever been targeted by negative recruiting?
BB: No.
PG: How have parents of athletes on your team responded to having an out lesbian coach?
BB: A few of my athletes’ parents have come up to me and thanked me for being out and open with their children. These parents see how dedicated my wife and I are to their child’s success at school and in athletics.
PG: You are one of very few coaches in the United States who lists a same-sex spouse in the team media guide and on-line athletic department websites. How did you decide to include this information?
BB: After Shannon and I were married I wanted everyone to know. I submitted a new information sheet about me and the sports information person put it up immediately. I felt that I was lying and being short-changed when I didn’t have anything about my personal life on the website and all the other coaches did.
PG: Can you describe any reactions (negative or positive) you’ve had to your openly acknowledging your family in the team media guide?
BB: I haven’t received any reactions.
PG: How have other coaches reacted to your including this information in the team media guide?
BB: They haven’t mentioned anything to me.
PG: What advice do you have for other coaches who would like to include information about same-sex spouses in their team media guides?
BB: If they are out and open in their public life, they should include their information. I would encourage all gay and lesbian coaches to do this, but I can understand those that choose not to.
PG: Thanks, Beth, for taking time to talk to me. I am sure It Takes A Team! readers enjoyed hearing about your experiences as an out lesbian coach.