The Right Conversation

So what does it mean to be trapped in, what presumably feels like, the wrong skin? Bruce Jenner, an American icon, announced that he will be slowly transitioning to become female. In an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer, Bruce talks about his athletic career, family affairs and personal struggle. Throughout the interview, Bruce stressed that he didn’t want to discuss sexuality and to focus on gender. Below is my brief recap of what I saw and a couple takeaway messages from the discussion.

            During the introduction, to what was going to be a heavy two hours, Bruce began to review his athletic accomplishments with Diane. He loved to race, remembering the time he beat out his Russian rival to win gold. While starring in the reality show ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ people often forget he was an Olympic champion.  As the conversation became more open Bruce realized that he had no more cover, which initially terrified him. What beard* athletics was serving as was now gone and he needed another distraction to avoid his feelings. As Bruce began to get teary eyed, he admitted dealing with those feelings was too hard to handle. He shoved them deeper into his closet, finding comfort in all his notoriety. He ended up marrying Chrystie Crownover and making millions off endorsement deals and sponsorships. He was beginning to cling on to the things in his life that he could control and project into the public, often ignoring his true feelings. After the spotlight, he had to confront the issues and feelings that he had been repressing for so long. Finally facing his fears of being judged. With his marriage crumbling, he slowly began to realize that the skin he was in was not the skin he felt he belonged in. He divorced Chrystie and went through multiple marriages to come to the realization that  "He [I] was not fair to his [my] wives.*"

Bruce told Diane that he was born in the wrong skin. After that, the conversation got quite convoluted and it seemed as if they were going in circles. Bruce had to navigate Diane through what seemed like a complex maze of gender, sexuality and the intersection of the two. Diane wanted more answers and it appeared that he was hesitant to reveal too much too soon. He told 20/20 that his sexual transformation began in the 80’s with a series of strategic plastic surgeries. During this time he slowly began telling his closest loved ones starting with his sister. She found it hard to watch him suffer in the position that he was in but she was supportive throughout the process and still is. As the two spoke, you could see in his eyes that he was trying to convince people he is still the same person.

            This interview taught the world a lot about trans issues and how emotionally taxing the process can be. It isn’t simply a switch you can turn on and off. From having Laverne Cox on the cover of 'Time' to a hometown hero starting the transition, we are moving the conversation in the right direction. It appears that the overall response has been of outpouring love and acceptance. Having a familiar face and a lovable personality makes the conversation easier and allows people to be more open-minded. With issues like the abuse and neglect of people in the trans community across the country, Bruce has been given a unique opportunity. One of Bruce’s last comments was the positive message he will spread with his transition. “What I'm doing is going to do some good. We are going to change the world. We are going to make a difference in the world.*" The LGBT community and the athletes at GO! support you, Bruce. We encourage everyone, just as Bruce said, to have “an open mind and an open heart.*” If you want to read more about Bruce and his transformation head over to ABC.

*A “beard” is a term used commonly, referring to an act of cover for someone’s sexual orientation.

*All quotations and citations can be found in the interview transcript 

Three Reasons to Get Involved with GO! Athletes

Three Reasons to Get Involved with GO! Athletes

1.  GO! Athletes is an awesome network made for current and former LGBT athletes. If you are an LGBT athlete, we can offer you a great experience. Here are just a few of many reasons you should join us at GO! Athletes.

.     1. Learn from and interact with our “All Stars”: GO! Athletes kicked off their All Star Series with Wade Davis this past weekend. Wade, a former NFL player, shared his personal experiences with us and took time to answer our questions. Throughout the year, we will be bringing in more LGBT elite athletes for our conference calls. By engaging with us as a network, we can offer you valuable opportunities to get to know these all stars.

2.  2. Have a huge support network: GO! is dedicated to engaging with its members and showing support. We want to bring people together and get behind our student-athletes. Whether you are in high school or college, we can let everyone know you are competing and we will send you some love. You can also share your personal stories with us, and talk to us about important issues you think we should address.

3.   3. Make friends and network with other people like you: We aren’t just members of the GO! Athletes Network. We’re friends. The people at GO! love each other like a family. You’ll more than likely make a ton of friends through this network. The relationships that you build can last a lifetime. If you are an LGBT athlete looking for a sense of community, GO! Athletes is definitely for you.

Want to get involved with and LGBT support network? Want to talk to all stars and make new friends? Become a GO! Athlete.

Sign up for our listserv and information: https://docs.google.com/a/email.arizona.edu/forms/d/1J_yOEunOaQLM8uhcFgy7KqNcTBNdBPAimjUa1WPXS6Y/viewform

All In

When people think about inclusion in the athletic world they think about how an athlete feels at home with a team. Whether you belong on a XC course or on the court, everyone has the need to feel embraced, including LGBT athletes. We are athletes who want to succeed just as much as anyone else would, but for that to happen the team has to play a part. Inclusion is very hard to quantify, given it’s highly individualized repertoire. So to figure out a little more what inclusion means to athletes around the country, I asked a few fellow swimmers what it means to them. The swimmers that I have asked help open the dialogue on inclusion range from rising high school seniors to National Team members. Take a look at what being a part of the team means to some swimmers below.

Ryan Murtha, Villanova University ‘16
What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion is more than just being allowed to participate in a sport. It’s being valued for who you are and what makes you different. Everybody on the team is coming from a different background, and has a unique viewpoint as a result. Inclusion is accepting and fostering what makes each person unique within the structure of the team.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

Absolutely! I’d imagine that, most of the time, the lack of there being some sort of inclusion policy is not malicious in nature. I feel like it’s just that, if it hasn’t been made an issue of yet at your specific institution, it’s possible that nobody thought to make one. I think by informing administrators and coaches of the importance of having these types of policies in place, more often than not they’d be very open to drafting one. Or at least I hope they’d be.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career? 

If it wasn’t for my teammates’ acceptance of me, I might not be swimming anymore. And I know for sure I wouldn’t be enjoying it as much as I am, or doing as well as I am. The ability to be honest with my teammates about who I am allows me to lower my guard around them. I can focus on what’s going on in the pool and not have to worry about any of the outside stuff that was weighing on me before I came out. In the few months since, I’ve had more fun with swimming than I’ve had in a long time, and my times have reflected that renewed love of the sport.

Tom Luchsinger, USA Swimming, ArenaUSA

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion to me means the ability to participate in the sport I love, despite the fact that I’m a proud gay man!

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I do! Education and awareness are two extremely powerful tools. We are fortunate enough to live in a time where people are much more willing listen and learn than to pass preconceived notions.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career?

I have fallen in love with the sport of swimming all over again since coming out. Even though the workouts are extremely challenging, I’m always sore and I’m always tired, I feel like the 10 year old kid who just loved to be in the water. It is no longer a coping mechanism that I have to do—it is something that I want to do, and enjoy doing. It also just so happens to be my job, which is pretty great! My practices are more consistent, I’m able to recover faster from a challenging workout or lift, and I’m improving in my events. A huge difference from a year ago when I wasn’t sleeping, loosing weight and always stressed out about being found out.

Jack Thorne, Loveland Swim Club, Northwestern ‘19

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

To me, inclusion is when the team environment is, not only accepting, but also positive and the coach as well as the team; treat you as if you were not “different” because you are not different.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I think it could. I think that many athletic departments could utilize some education and training in order to figure out how to best create policies that are inclusive and appropriate. I know that many clubs and some athletic departments don’t think that LGBT students and athletes are not an issue, so they haven’t thought about drafting these policies. With education and awareness these issues could be fixed.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career? 

Being accepted has made a huge impact. Before I was out, I was so preoccupied with how my team would treat me once I was out, how recruiting would go, how my coach would interact with me that I think it began to negatively impact my swimming. After I came out to my team I no longer had to worry about any of those things and I could focus my time and energy on becoming the best swimmer that I could possibly be.

Lauren Neidigh, GO! Athletes, University of Arizona ‘15

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion means equal treatment of athletes regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. To me, it meant unconditional love and acceptance from the people around me.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I think education and awareness are extremely helpful. It would help organizations identify possible issues and solutions to the problems. This is very important because it keeps people active and engaged in incorporation of inclusion policies.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career?

I came to a point in my life where I realized that I couldn't swim because of the environment I was in. I felt threatened by some language that was used and the treatment of other LGBT athletes even though I was closeted. People probably didn't mean to hurt me, but they did. When I found a more inclusive environment, I found my love for the sport again and was able to finish my career on a good note.

Want to read more about what these athletes think about inclusion? ClickHere for the full article for more Q&A from Lauren, Jack, Ryan and Tom!

All In, Full Interviews

When people think about inclusion in the athletic world they think about how an athlete feels at home with a team. Whether you belong on a XC course or on the court, everyone has the need to feel embraced, including LGBT athletes. We are athletes who want to succeed just as much as anyone else would, but for that to happen the team has to play a part. Inclusion is very hard to quantify, given it’s highly individualized repertoire. So to figure out a little more what inclusion means to athletes around the country, I asked a few fellow swimmers what it means to them. The swimmers that I have asked help open the dialogue on inclusion range from rising high school seniors to National Team members. Take a look at what being a part of the team means to some swimmers below.

Ryan Murtha, Villanova University ‘16

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion is more than just being allowed to participate in a sport. It’s being valued for who you are and what makes you different. Everybody on the team is coming from a different background, and has a unique viewpoint as a result. Inclusion is accepting and fostering what makes each person unique within the structure of the team.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career? 

If it wasn’t for my teammates’ acceptance of me, I might not be swimming anymore. And I know for sure I wouldn’t be enjoying it as much as I am, or doing as well as I am. The ability to be honest with my teammates about who I am allows me to lower my guard around them. I can focus on what’s going on in the pool and not have to worry about any of the outside stuff that was weighing on me before I came out. In the few months since, I’ve had more fun with swimming than I’ve had in a long time, and my times have reflected that renewed love of the sport.

Is their any LGBT inclusion policies or non-discrimination statement of support from your athletic department or club you're associated with? 

The athletics website says that it wishes to “establish an atmosphere of diversity, respect, and inclusion.” That said, if there’s any statement or policy on non-discrimination from the athletic department either online or in the student-athlete handbook we’re given, it’s pretty hard to find.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

Absolutely! I’d imagine that, most of the time, the lack of there being some sort of inclusion policy is not malicious in nature. I feel like it’s just that, if it hasn’t been made an issue of yet at your specific institution, it’s possible that nobody thought to make one. I think by informing administrators and coaches of the importance of having these types of policies in place, more often than not they’d be very open to drafting one. Or at least I hope they’d be.

Do you think it's important?

For sure! Even if you’re someone who’s in a great situation, with no sort of anti-LGBT backlash, just knowing that your school or team ‘officially’ has your back has to be such a relief. And if you’re not in that great of a situation and do feel some negative vibes because of who you are, these kind of protective policies become doubly important.

Tom Luchsinger, USA Swimming, ArenaUSA

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion to me means the ability to participate in the sport I love, despite the fact that I’m a proud gay man!

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career?

I have fallen in love with the sport of swimming all over again since coming out. Even though the workouts are extremely challenging, I’m always soar and I’m always tired, I feel like the 10 year old kid who just loved to be in the water. It is no longer a coping mechanism that I have to do—it is something that I want to do, and enjoy doing. It also just so happens to be my job, which is pretty great! My practices are more consistent, I’m able to recover faster from a challenging workout or lift, and I’m improving in my events. A huge difference from a year ago when I wasn’t sleeping, loosing weight and always stressed out about being found out.

Is their any LGBT inclusion policies or non-discrimination statement of support from your athletic department or club you’re associated with?

One certainly existed while I was at UNC, swimming and getting my undergraduate degree. Unfortunately I was deeply closeted college athlete and didn’t reach out for support when I probably should have. The way my teammates, coaches and staff members at NBAC reacted was certainly indicative of a policy existing. However, I’m not aware that one does exist. Once I went public, everyone simply gave me a hug, said they were proud of me, and that they loved me. I think that shows how supportive they are of the community. They are an amazing group of people!

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I do! Education and awareness are two extremely powerful tools. We are fortunate enough to live in a time where people are much more willing listen and learn than to pass preconceived notions.

Jack Thorne, Loveland Swim Club, Northwestern ‘19

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

To me, Inclusion is when the team environment is not only accepting, but positive and the coach as well as the team, treat you as if you were not “different” because you are not different. 

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career? 

Being accepted has made a huge impact. Before I was out, I was so preoccupied with how my team would treat me once I was out, how recruiting would go, how my coach would interact with me that I think it began to negatively impact my swimming. After I came out to my team I no longer had to worry about any of those things and I could focus my time and energy on becoming the best swimmer that I could possibly be. 

Is their any LGBT inclusion policies or non-discrimination statement of support from your athletic department or club you're associated with? 

At this point I do not think there are any LGBT inclusion policies in place on my club team  that I can find. I checked around on the northwestern university athletics website and I could not find a specific policy but they are partnered with It gets better. The article was written in 2011. There are several members of the athletic department who take part in the video.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I think it could. I think that many athletic departments could utilize some education and training in order to figure out how to best create policies that are inclusive and appropriate. I know that many clubs and some athletic departments don’t think that LGBT students and athletes are not an issue, so they haven’t thought about drafting these policies. With education and awareness these issues could be fixed. 

Do you think it's important?

I think that it is incredibly important to have policies in place to make the LGBT athletes feel like part of the team, and to discourage hate among those athletes who may not be as comfortable with the sexuality of the other athletes. I know even though I could not find any policies in place at first look, knowing that my future school is supportive of it’s LGBT population. 

Lauren Neidigh, GO! Athletes, University of Arizona ‘15

What does inclusion mean to you as an athlete?

Inclusion means equal treatment of athletes regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. To me, it meant unconditional love and acceptance from the people around me.

How has being accepted and included influenced your swimming career? 

I came to a point in my life where I realized that I couldn't swim because of the environment I was in. I felt threatened by some language that was used and the treatment of other lgbt athletes even though I was closeted. People probably didn't mean to hurt me, but they did. When I found a more inclusive environment, I found my love for the sport again and was able to finish my career on a good note.

Is their any LGBT inclusion policies or non-discrimination statement of support from your athletic department or club you're associated with? 

 Our athletic department has held meeting to discuss the importance of inclusion and inclusive actions. We have a Step Up program to teach athletes about standing up to inappropriate or offensive actions and to create more inclusive environments. We have also had diversity and inclusion meetings in which coaches, athletes, and administrators shared their thoughts on inclusion.

Do you think education and awareness could help organizations draft inclusion policies?

I think education and awareness are extremely helpful. It would help organizations identify possible issues and solutions to the problems.his is very important because it keeps people active and engaged in incorporation of inclusion policies.