Yeah I’m gay, but I’m strong.’ Physicality, physicalness, and sport persistence among sexual minority college students

Bibliographic Data

ID12973333
AuthorsCasper H Voyles (0000-0002-7018-463X, Drexel University, corresponding author), Jay Orne, Randall L Sell (0009-0008-3377-0155, Drexel University)
Year2023
Volume21
Issue4
Pages716-736
Publication date2023-08-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of LGBT Youth (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1936-1653 • E-ISSN: 1936-1661
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19361653.2023.2245394
OpenAlexW4385779769
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited46

Disparities in sexual minority (SM) sports participation have become better established in recent years, yet factors contributing to sport persistence among those who are involved in sport remain relatively unexplored. Using data from 23 qualitative interviews with SM college students who were high school athletes, we examined factors that influence sport persistence among this group. Our analyses revealed that physical aspects of sports participation - the embodied sense of movement and/or the physical contact with other athletes - influences sports persistence in different ways for sexual minority (SM) athletes of various genders. SM men frequently discussed participating in sports for external reasons that related to their perceptions about their own bodies' attractiveness. For SM women and non-binary individuals, however, the internal physical sensations derived from sports were empowering and facilitated sport persistence. However, for participants of all genders, the sexualization of their queer selves by others within their sports context affects their safety, performance, and presence depending upon the physicalness of the game. We argue that making queerness more visible in sports may alleviate the burden faced by SM athletes who are isolated as the only queer person on their teams and allows for a positive physical experience.Keywords: Sports participationsexualizationcollege studentsembodiment Correction StatementThis article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.Additional informationNotes on contributorsCasper H. VoylesCasper H. Voyles, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the department of Social Justice and Social Change at Hamline University. Dr. Voyles focuses on sexual and gender minority (SGM) social inclusion and the resultant effects on health. Dr. Voyles' recent work emphasizes inclusion in sports and how SGM identity disclosure within athletic spaces can influence athletes' participation.Jay OrneJay Orne, PhD, is Research Scientist and Harm Reduction Manager at the Aliveness Project. His academic work has focused on qualitative methods in examining urban queer communities and strategic outness enacted by sexual and gender minorities.Randall L. SellRandall L. Sell, ScD, is a Professor at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, in the Department of Community Health and Prevention. His most recent work has focused on critically examining demographic variables. This work originated in Dr. Sell's research on defining and measuring sexual orientations, and sampling sexual minorities for public health research

Athletes · Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Queer · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Transgender · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society

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