ABSTRACT
Portland was publicly hinged to an anti-lesbian policy, in both recruiting and management, and was widely known for a throng of "training rules" that included no drinking, no drugs, and no lesbians. Portland had been a pillar of women's basketball for nearly four decades. Jennifer Harris's lawsuit against her former basketball coach and university drew an unprecedented amount of media coverage and public concern about sexual orientation discrimination in intercollegiate athletics – the case became a lens through which to view the issue of homophobia and related discrimination in women's sports. Women of color face significant and additional challenges in overcoming the cultural stereotypes that participation in sports offers. Jennifer Harris alleged that Portland outlined her anti-lesbian policy well before her arrival, demonstrating an entrenched culture that oppressed and suppressed the identity development of women basketball players at Penn State.
