Are we leveling the playing field? Trends and disparities in sports participation among sexual minority youth in Canada

Abstract

PurposeSports participation and physical fitness are widely beneficial for young people, yet activity levels among young people are declining. Despite growing popular media attention on the participation of sexual minority (e.g., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) youth in sports and various campaigns to improve the often homophobic climate of sports, there is limited evidence that sexual minority youth participate in sports. Our aim was to provide a current portrait of sports participation among 3 groups of sexual minority youth (e.g., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) in British Columbia, Canada, as well as to document population trends.MethodsPooled population-level data from British Columbia, Canada (n = 99,373) were used to examine trends and disparities in sports participation among sexual minority and heterosexual youth. Age-adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine changes in participation over time and disparities in participation over time (1998–2013).ResultsWe found an overall decline in sports participation and physical activity (PA) for all youth. Sexual minority students were less likely to participate in formal sports (with a coach) and informal sports (without a coach) compared with their heterosexual peers. The disparity in participating in informal sports between heterosexual and sexual minority youth has narrowed over time for some sexual orientation groups, whereas the disparity in participating in formal sports has widened over time in some cases.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive examination of sports participation among sexual minority youth over the past 15 years. Despite changing societal attitudes and laudable efforts to reduce homophobia in sports, results suggest that there are continued barriers to participation for sexual minority youth. Further research is needed to understand the factors that limit sports participation for these youth and to inform program development. PA is critical to lifelong health and well-being, and thus continued efforts are needed to increase the sports participation of sexual minority youth in particular.

Reviewing evidence of LGBTQ+ discrimination and exclusion in sport

“…Greenspan, Griffith, and Watson (2019) found evidence is stronger for males than it is for females and trans people, concluding, there is now "ample data to suggest the prejudicial nature (of sport environments) can serve as a deterrent for athletic participation for gay males, in particular, as this population appears to be targeted harshly" (p. 181-182). Their conclusions are supported by recent population studies by the CDC (Kann et al, 2016(Kann et al, , 2018, and by public health researchers in Canada who have found young gay males play team sports at half the rate (32.8% vs. 67.6%) of peers (Doull, Watson, Smith, Homma, & Saewyc, 2018). The CDC (Kann et al, 2018) reports lesbian (51.7%) and bisexual (38.1%) girls also play team sports at lower rates than their heterosexual peers (61.2%), but the impacts of sexuality-based discrimination is less clear because sexist and homophobic discrimination is intertwined for females in sport (Krane, 1997;Robertson et al, 2019;Storr et al, 2017;Symons et al, 2016).…”

Relationships between attitudes and norms with homophobic language use in male team sports

“…Research suggests these benefits may only be gained when participation occurs in a supportive environment. 10 Together, these findings indicate a clear need for effective interventions to stop homophobic language in sport. Unfortunately, the reasons why this language remains commonplace, despite positive shifts in public attitudes toward the acceptance of gay and bisexual people in western societies, 11 remain poorly understood.…”

“…8 Canadian research has found gay youth play team sports at half the rate (32.8% vs. 67.6%) of heterosexual males. 9 Research indicates gay and bisexual males may avoid sport because they view the use of homophobic language as expressions of homophobic attitudes by teammates and feel unsafe and unwelcome. 1 A review by Greenspan and colleagues concluded, "there is ample data to suggest the prejudicial nature of (sport environments) can serve as a deterrent for athletic participation for gay males."…”

Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Sport and Physical Activity Participation Trends

“…Interestingly, while these shifts in youths' preferences for sport and physical activity have been occurring, participation rates seem to be declining in organized sport among 2 of 15 youth in western countries [7,8]. A report by a Canadian non-profit organization found that although most Canadian youth do in fact participate in sport, the amount of sport and physical activity practiced is not enough to meet daily physical activity requirements [9].…”