In response to today's New York Times article, I have an opinion about LGBT sports organization that limit the number of straight players who play on a team. I'll start by saying I haven't read all of the information available on this subject, nor have I heard every argument both for or against. So this opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it: (smile)
Using sexual orientation to disallow players from participation in an LGBT tournament is discriminatory. Regardless of how you look at it, it discriminates against someone based on what they are. I understand that we're talking about the "Gay World Series", however, if the straight participants respect and abide by the mission statement of the organization, I see no reason to disallow them from participating.
These organizations were set up to create a safe space for LGBT athletes to play the sports they love in an environment which levels the sexual orientation playing field. In the past, these athletes may have felt like they did not fit in because they were gay. What message are we sending to the straight athletes whose sexual orientation is questioned, and whose participation is limited or banned due to their heterosexuality? Is "heterophobia" a new term we'll start hearing soon?
As the Director of the NYC Gay Hockey Association, I am proud that 50% of our membership heterosexual. They are our allies and they support the mission statement of the organization. Many of them actually walked with us in the Heritage of Pride March last weekend to show their support for NYCGHA and the gay community. I could not imagine turning any of them away simply because they are heterosexual.
