“Everything inside of me wants to go to the hearing and be part of any type of issue such as this, if work permits me to do it,” Brown told the Journal Star.

Brown has been vocal about his opposition to non-discrimination policies in Omaha and Lincoln. He said during a hearing in Omaha that by protecting gay people from discrimination, the city would be “unprotecting” Christians. Despite his vehement opposition to protections for gay people, Brown wrote a letter to the Lincoln Journal Star claiming he supports the university’s non-discrimination policy:

I wholeheartedly agree with UNL’s Non-Discrimination Policy. As a follower of Jesus Christ, and a UNL employee for twenty-two years, I haven’t, nor will I violate this policy.

In 1979 I realized Christ’s death and resurrection freed me from the many sins I am guilty of. I received Christ’s forgiveness then and the Bible became my source of truth for every phase of life. God offers His grace to all of us. WOW!

Not all of my players have agreed with the Bible’s views. One example, of many, would be those choosing heterosexual sex outside of marriage. Though the Bible teaches this as sin, I haven’t penalized them with playing time or discrimination of any sort. Because I love them, I’ve invested in them even outside of football and gently asked them to consider God’s view on it.

If I coached a gay player, because the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, I would do the same. If he didn’t agree, I wouldn’t penalize him with playing time or any form of discrimination.

I have and will embrace every player I coach, gay or straight … but I won’t embrace a legal policy that supports a lifestyle that God calls sin.

– Ron Brown, private citizen of Nebraska

Unfortunately, Brown and the University of Nebraska still don’t get it. The school’s non-discrimination policy isn’t just about playing time, it’s about the environment fostered:

One aspect of this commitment is to foster a climate of inclusion and mutual support that will enhance our ability to achieve our overall goals…

Brown’s actions and his speech, likening gay people to criminals and advocating for their discrimination, are miles away from upholding that part of the policy. And despite saying over and over that he’s a private citizen (after saying on the record that his residence was Nebraska’s football stadium), he simply cannot separate his public language from his job, as Rick Reilly brilliantly points out:

Brown, 55, speaks out often about Christ and against homosexuality, which is his First Amendment right. But Ron Brown wouldn’t get one-tenth of these offers to speak if he weren’t a Huskers coach. He’s an in-state celebrity. He admits he uses Huskers football as a platform to get his message out. His personal opinions can’t be separated from his job. There are three paragraphs in the Nebraska media guide about his Christian work. At the Omaha public hearing, he gave his address as Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium.

The University, AD Tom Osbourne and head football coach Bo Pellini continue to support Brown in his crusade against the LGBT community. Help voice opposition to his war for discrimination by signing this change.org petition.

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The Baptist Press reminds its readers that gay people suffer from an unhealthy “psychiatric disease” and “experience greater levels of addiction, depression and diseases”:

Brown is more concerned with faithfulness to Scripture than cultural trends. The Scriptures are clear that homosexual behavior is sinful (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:26-27). “The same thing that was a sin 2,000 years ago is a sin today,” Brown has said. “The thing that was right 2,000 years ago is right today.”

Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star talks about Brown’s hateful diatribes about gay people, along with his more positive messages, and concluded:

What Brown said to the Omaha council — and may say Monday when the Lincoln City Council holds a public hearing on a similar anti-discrimination policy — is different speech, and the bottom line for me is in that difference. One lifts spirits, the other hurts and shouldn’t be tolerated a public university.

Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel echoed what I said weeks ago: The University of Nebraska is giving Brown the license to attack LGBT athletes.

Nebraska has taken him, except when Steve Pederson/Bill Callahan cut him loose. Brown was hired back by Bo Pelini in 2008 and everyone at NU knew the package that came with Brown. And that’s the important thing to know here: whatever you think Brown is today, Nebraska helped create that over the years. By standing by him. By tolerating his opinions. By granting him the freedom to be Ron Brown, citizen.

Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com broke it down beautifully:

Whether he realizes it or not, Brown’s supposed private stance has public — and Nebraska football — implications. His beliefs find their way back to his players and the message is this: I’ve got your back — as long as you’re not gay.

We’ll see what happens Monday…

You can sign Athlete Ally’s Change.org petition asking for the removal of Brown as football coach.

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Derick White

By Derick White

I’ll get right to the point.  My name is Derick White and I am a former collegiate head coach.  I am also gay.  I remained in the closet for my entire coaching career because of one simple factor –  fear.  I will explain this in more detail in a bit, but that fear kept me from having the kind of career I would have liked to have experienced.

My upbringing was typical for a young kid in the Midwest.  Unconditional love from my military father and stay-at-home mother, outstanding support from my grandparents and great-grandparents, and a close bond with my brother and sisters.  I was lucky to have such great relationships.  But I knew that there was something different about me that I didn’t understand.  It took me until I was 29 to finally admit what that was — I was gay.  But in that time, I learned a lot about myself and just how strong I could be.

Life in high school was perfect on the outside.  My list of accomplishments and honors read like the type of resume any university would be crazy to turn down.  My life was great at first glance.  I was a friendly, outgoing, thoughtful and caring person.  I was that person who always aimed to please.  I knew I had a good life – who wouldn’t want to be the Homecoming King?  But under the surface, things were crashing down all around me.  Divorce, death and health issues in my family.  I didn’t know how to deal with these struggles and heartaches, so I ignored them.  And it worked …  temporarily.

Once college began, I immersed myself in so many activities and clubs that I didn’t have time to think about the hurt I had been experiencing.  I was so unhappy with myself and continued to hide it.  I played baseball at Missouri Southern State University and my teammates became my second family.  We spent so much time together at practice, games, weights, class, meals, bars and parties that they probably knew me more than anyone else.  But they still only knew a sliver of who I was.  My life was in a downward spiral, but this time I was doing it to myself.  I was the one that was supposed to be controlling my life but instead I had given up on myself a long time before.

Once I graduated with my degree in 2006, I took a position with my alma mater in the housing department.  Over the next year, I really worked on myself and finally was pleased with how things were going.  I started to make some changes and was feeling much better about myself and my future.  I knew I wanted to get back into athletics, I just wasn’t sure what route to take.

Photo by Laura Lewis

I accepted my first collegiate coaching position in 2007 at NCAA Division I University of Missouri-Kansas City as an assistant volleyball coach.  I had played volleyball growing up and had been coaching at a high school close to my hometown.  I was very lucky to have been given the opportunity to coach at such a high level for my first college job.  I made the move and began working immediately.  I loved coaching, the school, the athletes, the staff and the city.  It was a perfect match for me.

With the move, it allowed me to explore things about myself that I had always repressed.  I was so far inside the closet, I wasn’t sure how to meet people.  That was when I discovered several Internet sites (such as Craigslist) that made meeting other guys who were gay, bi or curious much easier.  I made a lot of mistakes and used some poor judgment on occasion. I was naïve and a bit too trusting at times, but I learned from those experiences. Luckily for me, I got out of those situations with no consequences for my actions.

In 2009, I accepted a head coaching position at Missouri Valley College, a smaller, private college in the middle of the state.  I continued using the Internet to meet people, but was much more careful in how I went about it.  I met someone within the first month of my new position and we started a relationship that would last for 15 months.  Neither of us were out, so it remained a secret for the duration of that time.  He lived about 2 1/2 hours away, so we got together whenever we could.  Things didn’t work out in the end and we both went our separate ways.  I had two other relationships during my time coaching at the college, but was never out to my athletes or department.  Not until now, that is.

I told my immediate family that I was gay in July 2011. I wanted to tell them all at the same time so I sent them an email.  I know it was very impersonal, but I wanted to be able to tell them everything that was in my heart and not leave anything out.  I was nervous to give them the news, especially my father, who had retired from the military and was very conservative.  I worked on the email for two days and finally with some strength I hit the “send” button.  Within minutes, my brother called me and told me how proud of me he was.  I was immediately in tears.  Before I awoke the next morning, I had heard from my sister and both of my parents.  All were very supportive and reassured me that they loved me no matter what.  A tremendous amount of weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  Since then, every person I have confided in has been great about it.  I am so lucky to have such amazing people in my life.

I resigned from my position at the college in late January.  I was offered a position with a pharmaceutical/healthcare IT corporation in Kansas City that I could not turn down.  I miss coaching tremendously (it was a very hard decision to make), but it was a decision that needed to be made for my future.  My partner Brad and I are looking to start a family and this new position will make that easier both financially and personally.  The new position is where he lives, so we will be able to be together full time and look toward a future family together.  It will also allow me more opportunities to continue my existing modeling and acting career, which is something I love doing.

Many factors contributed to my decision to keep quiet about my sexual orientation until now.  For many years I was ashamed of being gay.  That shame then turned to fear.  And I allowed that fear to run my life until I took action. It allowed me to finally felt joy and acceptance, not only from my family and close friends, but also from myself.  The biggest obstacle that I encountered in this journey was me … it just took me a while to discover this.

I wish I could have had the courage to speak out while I was still coaching at the college level.  Comments made by some administrators and parents made me believe that it would be in the best interest of the programs for me to remain silent.  I now realize that was ridiculous.  I was contributing to the whole situation I should have been fighting.  Yes, I was a gay collegiate head coach.  Did that have anything to do with my skills or abilities as a coach?  Not at all.

My only regret is that I would have chosen to live an open life during my coaching career.  It would have been a challenge within the athletic department, but it would not have hindered me from doing my job and winning games.

I’m sure there would have been some backlash from some of my athletes and their parents, but as a coach, I am used to others not liking or agreeing with some decisions.  The only difference here is that this was not a “decision” that I made for myself.  I am proud of who I am and who I have become as a person, leader and coach.  I hope that my former athletes and mentors would agree.

Since leaving Missouri Valley, I have not heard much from anyone at the school.  A couple of my players will text or contact me on Facebook me, but nothing from the administration, other coaches or faculty.

I have formed solid bonds with Nick Clark and Kirk Walker (two coaches that I reached out to after reading their stories on Outsports) and have the utmost respect and admiration for them as both coaches and people.  They have both been very instrumental to my progress in coaching and also in my personal life.  Kirk has been a great sounding board for me and is always willing to listen when I need an ear.  He also has no problem beating me soundly in a friendly game of Words With Friends (he is cut-throat!). Nick and I have developed a great relationship that all started with our love of volleyball.  We actually coached against each other a few years ago in the same conference and I am so proud to see what his career has blossomed to.  Both are great individuals who are wonderful advocates for all in athletics.

I am eager to find different ways to get out there and do my part to combat homosexual prejudices in athletics as well as in our communities.  I am always refreshed when I read about others doing their part and I am ready to take more on my shoulders as well.  Nick and I were texting a couple days ago about how I wanted to find some stuff that we could do together or separately.  Blogs, videos, appearances, whatever I could do to help others out there (no matter what age or career) that are in the same boat as I was.  If you have any ideas or connections, I am up for suggestions.

The reason I am coming forth now isn’t for any recognition or praise.  I am doing this so that other athletes or coaches can know that they are not alone.

I know of other closeted coaches out there and for so long I was playing the same part. But I know now how much I let fear overshadow the truth. My advice is simple: If you expect your athletes to give you everything they have, you must do the same in return.  If you are dealing with issues in your own personal life, your coaching will suffer.  Be fair to yourself and your athletes by giving them everything.

I hope that others can learn from my story and gain support in knowing that they have someone out there that has their back.  I know how much that helped me.  If there is anything I can do to help spread the word and provide support, please do not hesitate to contact me.  No matter what anyone tells you, it does and it will get better.

Derick White can be reached via email at derickwhite@hotmail.com or on Facebook.

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Homophobia is racism and it is indispensable that we make further steps to look after all aspects of individuals living their own lives, including sporting figures. …

We must all work for a sporting culture that respects the individual in every manifestation of his truth and freedom. Hopefully soon some players will come out.

It’s rare to find someone in European pro soccer who vocally supports equality for gay athletes, so we applaud Prandelli for his strong position!

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Brown said in an interview with The Associated Press that “to be fired for my faith would be a greater honor than to be fired because we didn’t win enough games. I haven’t lost any sleep over it. I realize at some point, we live in a politically correct enough culture where that very well could happen.”

Coach Bo Pelini and athletic director Tom Osborne say Brown is a good coach and he is within his rights to express his personal views.

I could not find a longer version of his AP interview, but he is doubling down on his views rather than backing down, clearly seeing himself as some sort of martyr and framing this as a religious freedom issue. Cyd wrote a powerful column advocating why Brown should be fired for his strident and public opposition to gays; Athlete Ally also started a Change.org petition asking for his removal. But it appears as if there is no chance of that happening with his coach and athletic director firmly in his corner.

Sign the Athlete Ally Change.org petition.

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Bozeman was a complete disaster as head coach of the Colonials. The team had been to the postseason each of the previous 18 seasons, going to the Sweet 16 the two years prior to his tenure. Bozeman single-handedly destroyed the program, leading them to a combined 25-61 in his final three seasons. In no three seasons did he predecessor, Joe McKeown, have half the number of losses Bozeman’s team suffered.

He also handled the coming-out of Kye Allums horribly. Instead of rallying the team around Allums, he blamed his trans player for his terrible season two years ago. He said this before the season:

Do I think it was a difficult situation? I think so. But I think it was difficult for Kye, too. We’ve moved on, and this season is not about rebounding from that. This season is about displaying the skill and the discipline that’s necessary to be a successful program.

It was not difficult because Allums was transgender or because he came out publicly. It was difficult because I believe Bozeman is married to his transphobic religion, and because he showed no leadership. A good coach rallies his team around diversity; Men like Bozeman use differences to divide their teams.

We’ll have to see where he ends up as a basketball coach, if anywhere. For now, good riddance to a man who couldn’t fully embrace an athlete struggling with his gender identity.

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I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that motherf***** is still here.

Many have wondered if Guillen would also say he loves and respects Adolf Hitler for coming to power and massacring those he disagrees with.

But what would have happened if he used a homophobic slur? We actually have a good idea. Six years ago he called a writer a “fag.” The Chicago White Sox issued no penalty, and Major League Baseball handed out a token $20k fine. The difference? He was brought to Miami to attract the fans he has so desperately alienated with his comments. The Marlins had no problem with what Guillen said…until the local fanbase threatened a revolt.

PHOTO: Apr 7, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen (13) watches during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

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Jay Hayes

Jay Hayes, captain of the men’s volleyball team at New York University, is openly gay and he wanted to share his story. He thought about doing a personal video for the It Gets Better Project. He then had a better idea — involve all of NYU athletics to make a video, showing support from athletes, coaches and administrators (see their work below). Hayes, who introduces the video, tells Outsports how it all came together:

The NYU Athletics It Gets Better video was the product of a lot of hard work from a dedicated group of people. I originated the idea of a department wide video, after wanting to make a personal It Gets Better video myself. I thought the message could be so much stronger with the whole NYU Athletics community support. After first approaching the Director of Athletics, Chris Bledsoe, and receiving his full support, I knew this project had the chance to be a huge success.

The production team then assembled. It was comprised of myself, Assistant Athletic Director Peter Krasny, and NYU Tisch film students Mary Ellen Pesanello, Lucas Woods, Bryan Fox and Jon Annunziata. The score you hear during the video was produced by the very talented Andy Stein, also a senior captain of the NYU men’s basketball team. …

This video is intended to encourage young LGBT athletes to know it is possible to not only come out in their respective athletic communities, but thrive in them while being out. Being an athlete should never hinder someone from being themselves, and we here at NYU have tried to show that.

In addition to Hayes stating that he is gay, we also hear from Jolie Ward, women’s volleyball coach, who says, “I’m gay and I’m proud of who I am.” There is also an interesting soundbite from Scott Donie, assistant swimming and diving coach, who says there are people “bullied for their sexual orientation or their perceived sexual orientation. As a diver, this is something I experienced growing up.” Donie is not gay.

The video has great production values (I would have expected nothing less from NYU) but the real strength comes through in the words of those involved.

Jay Hayes can be reached via email at jrh373@nyu.edu or on Facebook.

Related: Check out a nice profile of Hayes in NYU Local.

Resources:

• It Gets Better Project
• GLSEN sports project
• Outsports coming out stories

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Portland State's Sherri Murrell is the only out lesbian coach in Div. 1 basketball

With the NCAA women’s Final Four underway, ESPN has produced an exhaustive story that looks at the dwindling number of women coaching women’s college teams (it’s down from a high of 90% in 1970 to 42.9% now). Sexism plays a huge role in it, with women finding it hard to get second jobs after they’ve lost one (not true of men). So does homophobia, the reporting by Kate Fagan and Luke Cyphers finds, citing Outsports’ 2011 Persons of the Year, Pat Griffin and Helen Carroll.

“When you look at the decline in the percentage of women coaches,” says Helen Carroll, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, “sexual orientation has a lot to do with it.”

Homophobia has haunted women’s sports throughout the Title IX era, forcing coaches to stay closeted for fear of losing their jobs, or at least recruits. In some quarters, coaches have been known to signal quietly to prospects or their parents that a competing program is run by a lesbian, in an effort to turn the recruit away.

To this day, there is only one out lesbian coach in Division I basketball, Portland State’s Sherri Murrell. In a 2009 paper on negative recruiting, Carroll and Pat Griffin, of the Women’s Sports Foundation, wrote, “The psychological toll of silence, denial and secrecy results in a climate of fear and hostility that many lesbian, gay and bisexual coaches endure in order to pursue their profession. Others simply choose to leave the profession.”

It’s not only established coaches who check out. Former players often decide the hassle isn’t worth it. Two former collegiate stars, Sue Wicks of Rutgers and Abby Conklin of Tennessee, told ESPN The Magazine in 2011 that homophobia still casts a wide shadow over the sidelines. In the same story, former WNBA star Kate Starbird stressed that she wouldn’t consider coaching because she refused to be closeted. “I didn’t want to live my life that way,” she said.

The homophobia angle is just one part of this important and timely story ESPN calls “The Glass Wall.” It refers to the reality that men can get jobs coaching both males and females, while women only land jobs coaching females and can only watch as they have virtually no chance to land a men’s job. It includes this surprising statistic: “Since 2000, NCAA programs have added 1,774 women’s head coaching jobs. Men have filled 1,220 of the openings.” That’s the opposite of progress despite the increased visibility of women in collegiate sports. “Coaching is a man’s world,” the story concludes.

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“Lisa Howe knows first-hand how it is to come out in the work place and suffer discrimination because of sexual orientation,” said Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce President Michael Fluck. “After a national search we are pleased to announce that she is the first ever full time executive director for the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce. She has a passion for workplace equality that can’t be matched and is the perfect fit as our new executive director.”

Since being fired, Howe has not been shy with her efforts to shed light on homophobia in sports and in the work place. This does seem like a potential great fit for both parties. Good luck, Lisa!

Hat tip to Helen Carroll.

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