ALMOST HALF OF MALE RUGBY PLAYERS ADMITTED TO RECENTLY USING HOMOPHOBIC SLURS WHILE OVER TWO-THIRDS HAD HEARD TEAM-MATES USE SIMILAR LANGUAGE<\/p>\n
In what is believed to be the first study of its kind in the United Kingdom, researchers have examined the reasons behind the use of homophobic language in sport.<\/p>\n
Gallagher Premiership rugby club Harlequins and The Harlequins Foundation have partnered with experts from Australia\u2019s Monash University to conduct the study. The findings will be used to develop effective, evidence-based programmes to stop the use of slurs and derogatory jokes about gay and bisexual people in all sports.<\/p>\n
The findings have been released as Harlequins prepare to hold the world\u2019s first ever rugby union LGBTQ+ Pride themed fixture on Saturday 15 February 2020, hosting London Irish at the Twickenham Stoop (kick off 15:00).<\/p>\n
Key Findings<\/strong><\/p>\n – 69% of male rugby players heard their teammates using slurs such as fag or dyke in \u2018the last two weeks<\/p>\n – 42% of these players admitted to using this language themselves in the same time period<\/p>\n – 67% have at least \u2018one\u2019 close gay friend and 69% want the language to stop<\/p>\n – Player reported language is motivated by peer pressure, and typically used to get a laugh out of others, or \u2018fit in\u2019 on their team<\/p>\n The study analysed data collected from randomly selected rugby clubs in the South of England in January and February of 2020. It found that the majority of male rugby players (69%) had heard their teammates using slurs such as fag or dyke in the last two weeks, while 42% of players admitted to using this language themselves in the same time period.<\/p>\n The study also found this language does not appear to be motivated by \u2018homophobia\u2019 or any malice or prejudice toward gay people, with many of the rugby players who used the \u2018slurs\u2019 also expressing positive attitudes toward gay people, and most (67%) male rugby players reported they have \u2018close\u2019 gay friends.<\/p>\n Speaking following the competition of Monash\u2019s study, Head of The Harlequins Foundation Marc Leckie,<\/strong> said, \u201cIt is really important for all of us at The Harlequins Foundation to support and highlight the significance of this incredibly important research, and moving forward we hope to make a positive difference through role modelling and education that challenges the barriers that member of the LGBTQ+ community face in participating in sport.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt is surprising to see a near total disconnect between the homophobic language being used by rugby players, and their attitudes to gay people,\u201d said Erik Denison, one of the researchers leading international studies on this issue. He is with the Faculty of Education at Australia\u2019s Monash University.<\/p>\n \u201cMost rugby players say they use the homophobic language to get a laugh out of others, or fit in on their team, and it seems they don\u2019t realise how harmful this language is to gay people, or to the team culture generally. It was very interesting to see most want the language to stop being used, but don\u2019t realise everyone else on their team feels the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n Laurie Dalrymple, Chief Executive at Harlequins<\/strong>, said \u201cHarlequins is delighted to support this important research programme. The Club is proud to lead efforts to make sport inclusive and develop evidence based programs to ensure every young person can play and enjoy sport. Harlequins is truly a Club for all and we believe that sport should be too.”<\/p>\n Harlequins is the first professional rugby team to host an LGBTQ+ Pride-themed match. The fixture is designed to be a celebration of diversity within a sport known for acceptance and progress. The Club is working to educate about the impact of language, which is often thoughtless and making it a focus of this weekend\u2019s fixture featuring through a variety of activations with partners at the Twickenham Stoop. Harlequins will also continue to work with Monash University to develop programmes that can be delivered in the 2020\/21 season.<\/p>\n About the Study Impact of Language ALMOST HALF OF MALE RUGBY PLAYERS ADMITTED TO RECENTLY USING HOMOPHOBIC SLURS WHILE OVER TWO-THIRDS HAD HEARD TEAM-MATES USE SIMILAR LANGUAGE In what is believed to be the first study of its kind in the … <\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Harlequin FC partnered with researchers from Monash, Australia\u2019s largest university, which is leading studies in multiple countries focused on understanding homophobic and sexist language in sport, and developing evidence-based programs to stop this behaviour. This is the first time a study like this has been conducted in the United Kingdom. 275 male and female rugby players, ages 16 – 42, from eight randomly selected rugby clubs in the South of England completed surveys prior to normal training in January and February. Random selection, and participation by all rugby players at training at the time of the survey, means the results are a good representation of rugby culture in the South of England, a relatively progressive area of the country. Focus groups will also be held next month. The preliminary results from these surveys are being released prior to the Harlequins LGBTQ+ themed Pride Game.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Homophobic language is harmful to everyone because it creates negative team environments that turns kids off sport. A recent UK Parliament Inquiry<\/a>\u00a0into Homophobia in Sport had \u201cserious concerns\u201d about the mental and physical health harms from this language to LGBT youth, including low sport participation rates among gay and bisexual boys,\u00a0who play team sports at half the rate of other boys<\/a>. Research by\u00a0Sport England<\/a>\u00a0found girls avoid \u2018traditionally male\u2019 sports like rugby because of stigma (reinforced by jokes about gay people) that only \u2018lesbians\u2019 play the sport.\u00a0Research has found<\/a>\u00a0LGBT kids exposed to homophobic language are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and twice as likely to self-harm as those not exposed to this language.\u00a0LGBT youth are 4-5 times<\/a> more likely to report attempting suicide in the past year than heterosexual youth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"