Jenelle DeVits, a spring graduate of the University of New Hampshire is an out lesbian who played basketball for the university. She discusses her experiences with It Takes A Team! Director Pat Griffin.
PG: What athletic accomplishments are you most proud of?
JD: I walked on as a freshman and received a scholarship my junior year, and received the Wildcat Award because my coaches felt that I embodied what it meant to be a student-athlete at the University of New Hampshire.
PG: How did you come out to your teammates? Your coaches?
JD: I was never in the closet to them. My freshman year I had to come out, but it wasn’t noticeable. I just made sure me having a girlfriend was just as “normal” as everyone having boyfriends.
PG: How does your experience competing as an openly lesbian athlete compare to competing while closeted?
JD: When you are open to your teammates about the things that truly matter to you off the court, it adds a whole new dimension to team cohesiveness; and when your teammates rally around issues that you are passionate about and support you, it allows the team to truly mature as friends and teammates. Individually, it takes a weight off your shoulders that you don’t need to pretend, and when you pretend, you often lose focus on the game… and that should never happen.
PG: What do your teammates/coaches do to support and include you as an openly gay teammate?
JD: I received an award from the university last year called the Kidder Fund, for my work on campus with diversity and inclusiveness, and my coaching staff showed up to support me. It was a complete surprise. Also, my teammates have refrained from using the words gay, fag, etc., because they are starting to understand the importance of violent words perpetuating oppression. They are very aware of discrimination towards LGBT people, and they try as best they can to support me in my passions for equality. They also listen while I rant about significant others… ha!
PG: Have you had any negative experiences in athletics since coming out?
JD: No. But I do find that sport is very homophobic. This occurs for multiple reasons: stereotypes, gender roles, etc. Part of what I want to see happen is that my gay friends within athletics not feel closeted because of the risk of coming out. There is something wrong with athletics when we assume and believe only people with certain genders and sexualities belong in athletics.
PG: What advice do you have for other LGBT athletes who are thinking about coming out to their coaches or teammates?
JD: My advice is simple. If you don’t come out and make your voice heard and join others around you who are out, then things won’t change. If LGBTQ people stay silent, then things will be perpetuated. Stand up for yourself. You are who you are and you are beautiful. People around you may disagree, but there are always support systems in place. Like “Our Group”. It is a nonprofit, nationwide organization five other student-athletes and I initiated to create a community for student-athletes who identify as LGBTQ to share experiences, meet others and find resources/support. There are people out there who understand and want to help. Be who you are.
PG: How can teammates and coaches best support LGBT team members?
JD: Definitely start with language. Be inclusive. Use partner or significant other instead of boyfriend/girlfriend. Do not assume you know how everyone on your team identifies and try to be welcoming to every identity. Go to trainings and educational facilitations. If someone is out on your team, then be a teammate and a friend by not excluding them or treating them differently. Support them in their lifestyle by confirming that it is OK to be LGBT and that you are there to talk if they need someone. Always try to remember that those who identify “not with the norm” have a much different view point on certain things and be sensitive to those.
PG: What recommendations do you have for athletic departments or coaches about making athletics respectful and inclusive for LGBT people?
JD: I would definitely make sure that it is known prior to season that your team will be inclusive and diversity is welcomed and celebrated. Go to trainings and educational things as a team and as a department. Learn about lifestyles you don’t live. Become as welcoming as you can to every identity and do not allow sexuality to be a white elephant in the middle of the room. If you can’t talk about the issues, then they grow. Make sure you address homophobia if it is there, and do not allow violent language such as gay, fag, playing like a girl, etc., to take place any where inside the facility, i.e., locker rooms, playing fields, etc.
PG: What initiatives has your school taken to make athletics a safe and respectful place for LGBT athletes and coaches?
JD: We have safe zones and we have had the wonderful Pat Griffin come in to speak. I have brought the attention of sexuality to the forefront for "Life Skills" for this upcoming year, so hopefully there will be work with that too.
PG: Jenelle, thanks for the plug and for doing this interview. You are a great role model for other athletes who want to come out.
Jenelle's mother, Paula, also spoke with ITAT!
*Interview originally published at http://womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Articles/Issues/Homophobia/D/Jenelle-DeVits-interview.aspx
Comments