After reading "Why Sports Are Important For Young LGBT People" by Pat Griffin, I couldn't help but to think about my experience as a high school athlete. It was by far the best experience of my life. Then I thought of how that experience would have been if I were gay or bisexual. All of the relationships that I had with teammates, friends, and coaches would probably have been completely different. It would have most likely been a terrible feeling.
But why does this have to be the case? Why can't high school athletics be a great experience for everyone who loves sports? Before reading "Out Of The Locker Room Closet" by Roger Brigham, I had never heard of any LGBT athlete having a great experience in high school athletics. Most of the stories I have heard or seen are about the prejudice and discrimination that LGBT athletes deal with about their sexual orientation. The story of Jamie Loo, a high school wrestler in San Francisco, is about an athlete who has had a great experience in high school athletics despite coming out to his teammates and coaches. Jaime struggled with the decision to come out, but is happy he did. All of his coaches and teammates, and even people outside of his high school wrestling team, have accepted Jaime for the way he is.
So why can't all young LGBT athletes have experiences like Jaime? I think it starts with support from coaches and teachers, like Griffin suggested. But support from their peers is just as important. Understanding and empathy from coaches and teammates can have a dramatic impact on the sporting experiences of these athletes. There are thousands of young LGBT athletes who have struggled with this very issue. Many of them have fallen victim to discrimination, depression, and even suicide. Jaime's story has shown that it is possible to have great success in high school sports. So when will more people have sporting experiences like Jaime?
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