ABSTRACT
By centering lesbians’ sport experiences and examining relevant scholarship, we challenge contemporary anecdotal accounts that suggest sport is becoming accepting of lesbians. Instead, we argue that, while the athletic context may be improving for some, others continue to be marginalized (e.g., lesbians of color, those in leadership). We employ a queer feminist framework to analyze heteronormative trends in women’s sport and discuss how heteronormativity and homonegativity influence inclusion efforts and lesbians’ coming out processes. We contend that hegemonic gender norms bolster heteronormative practices in sport; and, that challenging these norms could improve the sport climate for all lesbian performers.
