If you're a sports fan, chances are good you've heard some trash-talk at sporting events. Athletes are now bringing their A-game to promote tolerance.
The San Francisco Giants have made sports history with their contribution to Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth with the promise that their futures will be brighter. The National Basketball Association along with its partners has promoted Think B4 You Speak during the NBA finals.
The Library has several resources to help understand the history and culture of sports which includes bullying and homophobia:
- Jocks: True Stories of America's Gay Male Athletes
- What's My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistence in the United States
- Strong Women, Deep Closets
- Not Just a Game (DVD)
In addition, coaches and parents can also find resources at the Library to help understand and prevent bullying on the field. It gets better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living, a print resource compiling stories from the Web project, is a timely overview. Whether due to sanctions or simply being proactive, this sports fan cheers for those organizations who are doing the right thing.