Details
Synopsis
Openly gay athletes from a variety of sports, as well as coaches and educators, discuss the challenges, harassment, and acceptance they received as a result of their sexual orientation.
| Size | | Length: | 236 pages | | Height: | 9.3 in | | Width: | 6.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 10.4 oz |
Industry Reviews
"Young athletes gay and straight often receive subtle messages that homosexuality is something to be mocked, avoided, or feared," notes Woog, a soccer coach and the author of School's Out: The Impact of Gay and Lesbian Issues on America's Schools (Alyson, 1995). The author conducted interviews with high school and college coaches and athletes in the fields of wrestling, tennis, running, and other athletics. The resulting collection of over two dozen personal profiles, disputing the contention that "gay jock" is an oxymoron, reiterates the destructive effects of lack of support for closeted players. These courageous stories succinctly and sensitively dispel many stereotypes as they effectively evoke the jubilant triumphs and heartbreaking disappointments of lives affected by homophobia in sports. This important addition to the literature of sports education ultimately informs all coaches about the necessity and wide-reaching benefits of their role in promoting a safe environment for all players. James E. Van Buskirk, San Francisco P.L.
Bernstein
In this courageous, enlightening report, Woog (School's Out), a gay soccer coach in Connecticut, presents profiles of some 30 openly gay athletes, physical educators and coaches involved in high school, college or professional sports. Their candid stories show the difficulties of being a gay male athlete, given widespread homophobia, vicious locker-room taunts and even harassment and physical abuse from competitors and/or classmates. Yet many of those interviewed find tolerance among teammates and coaches, and it is interesting to read how these gays came to accept their homosexuality and reconcile it with their self-image as athletes. Among the gay jocks we meet are high school track coach Eric Anderson, who came out in conservative Orange County, Calif.; National Hockey League referee Brett Parson; a suicidal college soccer star identified as Greg (some subjects chose to be anonymous); and gay wrestlers, gymnasts, swimmers and basketball, tennis and football players. An appendix sets forth guidelines for coaches and instructors to address homophobia in their schools. Author tour. (Jan.)
Bernstein
Each [athlete profiled] has acknowledged his homosexuality and, with one poignant exception ('The Suicidal Jock,' still adjusting as a college junior), has come out to coaches and teammates, or, if a coach himself, to students. Woog writes vividly about them all, communicating the fulfillment they find in sports as well as the satisfaction they experience in being out. . . . Besides plenty of soccer players (Woog has coached the sport for 20 years), swimmers, gymnasts, wrestlers, runners, basketballers, hockey players, and even an 'impostor,' who admits going out for junior-high sports to be near other boys, also appear, and Woog concludes with advice to coaches on dealing with homophobia.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Olson
[This] collection of over two dozen personal profiles, disputing the contention that 'gay jock' is an oxymoron, reiterates the destructive effects of lack of support for closeted players. These courageous stories succinctly and sensitively dispel many stereotypes as they effectively evoke the jubilant triumphs and heartbreaking disappointments of lives affected by homophobia in sports. This important addition to the literature of sports education ultimately informs all coaches about the necessity and wide-reaching benefits of their role in promoting a safe environment for all players.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Van Buskirk
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