Columns

Where Are All the Gay Gymnasts?

By Mindy Tanner
Special to Outsports.com

``Now is the time for thinking women to think.''-Maya Angelou

The World Gymnastics Championships concluded this past weekend in Ghent, Belgum, and it got me to thinking about lesbian gymnasts, and why many of them have not come out. I have spoken to several friends of mine who make their life's work from gymnastics, and they have told me this: 

That they know of no lesbian gymnasts personally, that any lesbian or gay man that was in their care would be treated just the same as any other gymnast, and that they know of no homophobia, either from other coaches or from the federations that run gymnastics, both in the U.S. and in other countries. 

Also, they say, girls in gymnastics are really not allowed to think about sex. Since they have delayed periods (or most of them, anyway) they really don't worry about the subject that much. 

Now, I know these people, and they are truly good and honest and have no reason to lie. 

But if there really is no homophobia in the sport, then why aren't gymnasts, both male and female, coming out? 

Why has the International Gay and Lesbian Gymnastics Union, an organization trying to get the sport of Artistic Gymnastics into the Gay Games, had such a hard time recruiting members? 

And if young female gymnasts don't think about sex, then why do many of them get married to men after their careers are over, especially in Russia and Romania? Something is up here. Something nobody wants to talk about. 

I have no doubt that there are gay men and lesbians in the sport. If we really are 10% of the population, it stands to reason that we do exist in gymnastics. That is just reality. I run a message board on the Internet devoted to gymnastics, and I hear this every time the subject is brought up: there is no way a female gymnast can be gay; they are just too feminine, or they don't have the time to think about sex . 

Bullshit. These are mostly prepubescent or teenage females, they have to think about sex, whether they have their periods or not. I know too many lesbians who put on their makeup and dresses just like heterosexuals, to know that a statement like the first one is false. I also remember being a pre-teen and a teenager; I was thinking about romance and sex a lot, even before "that time of the month" came about. 

Yet, the same people who tell me this also tell me that since Gymnastics is the "squeaky-clean" sport, the federations guard that image fiercely. Now, if they guard the "wholesome" image fiercely, who is to say that said federations do not tell gay gymnasts in their programs to stay in the closet? I bet you they do. 

I know of at least one well-known gymnast who has been rumored to be gay and have a "marriage of convenience" to shield him from probing questions about his sexuality. Who did that? Who told him to get a beard? I don't think it was Santa Claus. 

Sick of Excuses

Also, people like myself and Texx, the head of IGLGU, who are proudly and publicly out and wish to help gay and lesbian gymnasts get platitudes and sympathy, but no real help. We hear, "Oh, I'm not homophobic, but …''

I'm sorry, but I'm sick and tired of hearing that. Texx has told me that recruiting gay gymnasts for his organization is like pulling teeth. About the only gymnasts willing to consider joining IGLGU belong to the NCAA, not USA Gymnastics. Why is that? 

I have a feeling that the "squeaky clean" image that USAG presents--and guards fiercely--is killing a lot of young gay men and lesbians who need real help, not platitudes and sympathy. 
These kids need adults who care about them--straight and gay---and who will accept them for who they are. They need counseling, to stay away from the traps of substance abuse and sexual addiction that a lot of us have gotten stuck in. And most of all, they need to know that they are not sick or evil, they are normal human beings who just happen to fall in love with a person of the same gender, and that their sexuality is a healthy part of their life. 

What is needed is to educate coaches and gymnasts about the truth of lesbians and gay men versus the stereotypes. What is needed is to prod the federations, especially the FIG (Federation Internationale De Gymnastique) into offering counseling for those gay youth in gymnastics, and to let everyone know that homophobia--from coaches, gymnasts and member federations-- will not be tolerated. The FIG could start by confronting Romania about Article 200, their notoriously anti-gay penal law. 

There are far too many people in the sport of gymnastics that are willing to keep secret the reality of gays and lesbians in the sport for the sake of "discretion," far too many gay and lesbian gymnasts that are not willing to come out in fear of losing their careers, far too many gay youth in gymnastics suffering in silence. 

There are people involved in gymnastics who are not homophobic, and they are very open about that. Not every coach in gymnastics is a homophobe. But there are quite a lot of coaches out there that are. That explains the deafening silence about the subject, especially at the federation level. 

If there are no other voices willing to speak for these gymnasts, well, here I am. I have already gotten flack from people in the gymnastics community for my stand against homophobia; I don't fear any more of it either. Having grown up in Orange County, California, I'm used to bullshit from homophobic idiots. I continue to be out, and I will continue to speak out for those who can't. 

Like Maya said, it's time for thinking people to think, but it's also time for speaking people to speak. 

Nov. 8, 2001

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Mindy Tanner, 36, is a Web designer and lives in Long Beach, Calif. Born into a sports-crazy family, she's a big fan of gymnastics, the NBA, and women's tennis. She runs a mailing list for lesbian fans of gymnastics.