ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how everyday understandings of the ways in which sex assignment at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are embodied by athletes, scripted across binary gender norms, and inspected by others through surveillance. It addresses the following questions: What are sexual orientation and gender? What is heteronormativity and binary gender expression? And why should sport and exercise psychology professionals wrestle with these constructs? The chapter focuses on theory related to gender identity and expression based on a brief theoretical review. It explicates why lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues are important to consider in general and why they matter in physical activity contexts. The chapter offers a narrative to illustrate some of the identity issues that may be associated with being a gay male, an athlete, a dancer, and a researcher. It analyzes the heteronormative narrative that falsely collapses gender expression into sexual orientation.
