Central MA LGBT Athletes Respond to Jason Collins’ Coming Out
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Jenelle Devits -- University of New Hampshire Graduate
While a student-athlete at the University of New Hampshire, basketball player Jenelle Devits helped found Our Group, now Go! Athletes, in 2008 along with other student-athletes who came together to discuss the different issues and challenges that LGBTQA student-athletes face, and the different ways that they could help eliminate the homophobia that exists within athletics.
Originally from Malden, MA, Devits is currently a law student in New York. She spoke with GoLocalWorcester on Monday to offer her thoughts on Collins' announcement.
"From hearing the comments and seeing the coverage, the people who are reporting the story seem to be keeping it positive," said Devits. "What we're hearing is that for professional athletes, like any other professional, it's their job to be respectful of their teammates, and welcoming of their teammates, regardless of what their personal views may be."
Devits continued, "While I think that Collin's coming out is a great moment for the LGBT community, we need to realize that there have also been other high-profile female professional athletes who have come out recently, There's (WNBA draft pick) Britney Griner; Megan Rapinoe on the U.S. Women's Soccer Team came out last year. So yes, Collins' announcement is indeed a watershed moment, but it's really been a watershed year."
Meredith Sharka -- Assumption College
Regarding Collins' announcement, Sharka said, "Having a team that has your back is great; I love that many of [Collins'] teammates have already come and supported him. I felt the same way, so I can sympathize with him.”
“I would definitely say it’s groundbreaking. No gay male athlete in a major American sport has ever come out before. Some people may not think it’s that big of a deal. There are different reactions based on gender to athletes coming out. Females receive greater immediate acceptance to coming out.”
“There’s a stigma that gay people are soft, and that they do theater. But Jason Collins coming out says that it exists. He’s setting the tone. Being a guy, it’s a big deal to come out as an athlete," said Sharka.
Katie Camp -- Holy Cross
"I'm a senior at Holy Cross. I play rugby. I'm openly a lesbian," Camp told GoLocalWorcester on Monday. "I think in 60 years we’ll look back and think, ‘Why did we care so much?’ At least, I hope so."
"I hope we get to the point where it doesn’t have to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated each time it happens. Hopefully stories like this won’t be such a big deal in a few years," said Camp. “It is groundbreaking though. It counteracts what people think of masculinity and sexuality. Not all gay people are flamingly obvious and have a lisp.”
Still, Camp feels that progress still needs to be made. “Straight people are very comfortable with straight-looking gay people. He’s very masculine, so he’ll be fine. People will more accepting of him. It’s the same thing on campus. People who look stereotypically gay on campus get ripped apart," she said.
"There is still so much structural discrimination against gay people, and cultural discrimination as well. Coming out to friends and family is so difficult, and coming out to the world is so much harder," Camp said. "I don’t think straight people understand how hard it is.”
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