I found an interesting article on Lauren Lappin who is a successful softball player. After the discussion in our last class about stereotyping of females in softball, I thought it was interesting to see how an actual player felt about the issue. Lappin is gay and she discusses the stereotype that haunts softball players and how they feel the need to defend their sexuality. In the article Lappin touched on the subjects of her anxiety to come out and how she felt it would affect her chances to make the Olympic team. She also talked about the support she received from her teammates when she told them and how she lives the happiness everyday for “living her truth” everyday. This reminds me of the panel debates we had about whether athletes should come out in their sport. Lappin had a good coming out experience, but I think for many athletes it is internal struggle. Lappin said in the article, “For other athletes contemplating coming out, there is indeed a choice involved. A choice between two parts of themselves, between professional security and personal peace.” I think this is a strong point to consider for athletes contemplating coming out and I think they are powerful words coming from an athlete with this understanding. Like Lappin, I agree that acceptance of the gay community is making progress, but I think that it is still has a long way to go. Female athletes already have obstacles to overcome, but I think that for female gay athletes it is even more difficult. This class has taught me a lot about the various struggle encountered by female athletes not only for equality in sports, but also issues in the media and homophobia. It has changed my awareness of female athletes and how important it is to support female in sports.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=5671978
Nadia Higgins
Kin 338I
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I am realy happy that you posted something positive about someone coming out. The news or sports websites never let the world see that side of an athlete. Being gay is alway portrayed as bad, and hearing about Lappin, maybe more girls will come out. As far as making the choice between personal peace and job security, that must be so hard for an athlete to make. I couldnt imagine having to make a decision like that. Maybe some day in the future it wont matter whether you are gay or not in sport. A person's sexual preference should have no affect on their sporting career. In the debates when they were talking about whether an athlete should come out or not, this should prove that not all experiences are bad, and usualy with teammates, they will support eachother no matter what because they do so much together and know each other so well. Because of this i dont really see how you can have a bad experience within the team at least. If the media shows a bad light on it i would think the support would overwhelm the bad.
Lyndsay Eden kin 338i s4
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