Lauren Lappin's journey as an openly gay collegiate softball athlete

¶ … Athlete

Lauren Lappin was at the pinnacle of her lifelong passion sport after she adapted to any role in the softball field. Peace that fueled Lappin's success came from accepting the role she struggled to embrace. In an interview, Lappin highlighted her understanding as an openly gay athlete during the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as her experiences of coming out to her teammates and family, and the increasing acceptance of lesbians and bisexuals in elite sports. She indicated that being gay remains a source of ostracism and a reason for social stigma in many areas. Also, Lappin indicated that playing softball made her an easy target for profiling in those prejudices, regardless of whether utterances were merely meant to be comic hyperbole, or some sinister things. Hence, she shows that softball can paradoxically be a fertile ground for promoting intolerance among individuals seeking to assert a place in the supposed normality of heterosexuality. Although Lappin was not raised to understand that homosexuality was wrong, the implicit impact of silence on the issue reinforced the sense that it was abnormal or precisely, less than normal. Lappin never heard many parents talking about the issue, although teammates made comments that she believes influenced her to prolong her ability to accept her sexuality and be publicly comfortable with it. Hearing people talk negatively about lesbians was something she pretty experienced throughout her high school and college education. As difficult as it was to accept what she felt, she could not fathom explaining it to her father or mother. Lappin never disclosed being a lesbian publicly until she graduated from Stanford; however, she acknowledges the level of comfort she enjoyed when confiding in teammates as well as the reaction she got that helped ease her anxiety (Hays, 2010).

Personal Support

Although Lappin had her own inner struggle when accepting her sexuality, she indicates that she was lucky she had support of her family in that difficult time. She was worried about coming out to her parents, particularly her father. Her father was a coach for both baseball and football in high school, and was fairly eminent in the community. It was difficult coming out to him since she was not sure how her father would take it and she did not want to frustrate him (Hogan, 2009). Other female athletes report an absence of personal support, with one athlete stating that she perceived zero support from the athletic department and staff (Fynes, 2014. p.50)..

Discussion of role models and what Krane's article say about the importance of role models

Lappin indicates that being proud of one's sexuality is the most important thing. She goes ahead to show that it is right to be gay, although mainstream society implies otherwise. Lappin highlights that she loves the fact that she managed to figure out who she is and does not fear being a lesbian athlete (Hogan, 2009).

Krane's article discussed role models. As per the social identity model described in Krane's work, people attach emotional significance and value to their social- and self-categorizations; hence, social identity affects self-esteem. Typically, people belonging to high-status social groups will have a positive self-perception because of their membership in the valued group, while those belonging to marginalized groups will not have a very positive self-image on account of their membership in a devalued group. Nevertheless, one theory, which looked into lesbians' socialization in the sporting domain within a homonegative and heterosexist context, indicates that a number of people belonging to devalued groups don't form negative self-perspectives; therefore, the result may be either negative or positive self-perspectives. She maintained that the personal internalized responses of lesbians to homonegativism resulted in negative manifestations in the form of lesbians concealing their sexual identity; not raising their voices against discrimination directed at lesbians; not feeling comfortable around open lesbians, depression; inferiority complex; low athletic performance; self-defeating activities; reduced self-esteem; substance abuse; anger, shame and self-loathing; loneliness; over- or under- achievement; and distrust. Yet, she further claimed that lesbians might adopt a positive homosexual identity from personal responses to homonegativism. Formation of positive identity among lesbian athletes can ensue from robust societal support, from lesbian as well as heterosexual communities, and the presence of positive, visible role models. Therefore, a feeling of pride in being part of a particular group (such as, lesbian athletes), as well as a positive homosexual community offered support; also, role models reinforced the marginalized cluster's collective esteem. Bella, for instance, similarly stated that, at first, she did not believe she could honestly express herself to team members or anyone else. She further states how vital team support is to lesbian athletes: "I wish I had a role model ... I wanted to be out and I wanted to be proud of myself and I wanted to ... try to be that person for someone else" (Shaw, 2010, p.26). Further research is required to look into chances of formation of a support organization for lesbian athletes, as it can be a great opportunity for them to express their emotions, validate and normalize their qualms, and bond with others experiencing similar processes; the group will be able to provide a supportive atmosphere for lesbian sportswomen, by increasing visibility of heterosexual allies and homosexual role models (Krane, 2001; Krane, 1996)

Discussed difficulties of LGBT athlete

Lappin indicates that it is intimidating thinking of where she would be as an individual and the way her life would turn out to be. Although she is happy livings her truth daily, she was reluctant coming out, fearing that it would hurt her opportunity of being a member of the Olympic team, or even make sponsors wary of endorsing her to promote their softball gear. In addition, she indicates that there is no doubt that her coaching career would have been easier, if she did not publicly share her sexuality. She indicates that at least now a few doors may not open as wide as they would otherwise open. Lappin's fame in the sport acts as a form of security measure for her. Nevertheless, for other athletes thinking about coming out, she points out that there is a choice involved that entails two parts of the athletes i.e. personal peace and professional security (Hays, 2010).

Numerous challenges faced by lesbian players are underscored by Fynes (2014). A few mistaken beliefs of society about lesbians are that they prefer certain sports over others; that one can turn homosexual by playing sports; that athletes who are lesbians are a bad influence to children; and that lesbian coaches and players can prey on younger female athletes who are heterosexual (Griffin, 1998). Other misconceptions are as follows: lesbian sportswomen rally against their heterosexual counterparts; and lesbian sportswomen have an advantage over straight women players because the former are "masculine." Krane (1996) refutes these wrong beliefs by stating that, "Lesbians in sport are not a problem; how lesbians are treated and discrimination toward all female athletes are problems" (p. 237). Further, media concentrates on women athletes perceived as "heterosexual" and "feminine" by relaying their personal life to audiences; they highlight specific sportswomen's sex appeal for drawing sponsors' and men's attention (Griffin, 1998). People will endeavor to form or seek teams comprising only of heterosexual players, or having a highly heterosexual image. Moreover, there is an abundance of prejudice against, and persecution of lesbian coaches and sportswomen; the latter are subject to verbal persecution and sports departments prefer hiring male coaches to avoid the issue of society considering female coaches hired by them as lesbians (Griffin, 1998). Lastly, some female coaches and players will do their utmost to avoid association with lesbian coaches and counterparts, even if they recognize their presence (Fynes, 2014).