ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the shifting landscape for gay men in sport over the last several decades. While sport once was a hostile space for gay men, there have been some dramatic improvements in the larger culture and sport, suggesting sport has become a more welcoming environment. However, the shift remains uneven for gay athletes. I review the historical literature on gay men in sport through the lens of hegemonic masculinity. Early literature shows how emphasis on hegemonic masculinity made gay males invisible in sport, whereas more recent research reveals how and where we see hegemonic masculinity being challenged and transgressed, along with concomitant increased acceptance of diverse sexualities.
