In an August 18 Reuters article, Paul Majendie draws attention to the fact that only 10 of the 10,500 athletes competing in Beijing during this summer's Olympics are openly gay. The article explained that many athletes fear coming out and facing disapproval from fans and teammates.
Majendie points out that the lack of openly gay athletes creates an environment in which being a gay athlete is perceived to be a deterrent to success. The lack of encouragement for openly gay athletes permeates through the world of athletics, and is rarely given the much needed attention Majendie offers with this article. He details some of the tangible consequences athletes could face if they come out, such as lost endorsement deals and unwanted media attention distracting them from their performances.
Read the full article here.
