With Pride Month in full swing, we are reminded to reflect upon and celebrate the differences within our community that make us who we are, while also understanding how far we have come, and how much more work there is to be done. As former athletes ourselves, and continuing to work within athletics, we have come to understand the power of sport as a tool for social development. Sport has the power to transform us and empower us, but it can also estrange us and make us feel inferior. 

As athletes, we learn how to push ourselves to new limits and strive for our full potential. Our full potential is often limited, though, when we feel as though we can't fully accept or understand who we are. There are plenty of challenges and barriers within sport that make it difficult, and oftentimes unsafe, to fully accept or understand our identities; many laws are being enacted throughout the country to limit the participation of queer or transgender athletes. Be it sexual identity or gender identity, sport has not always been the most welcoming of places to explore those ideas. 

In fact, LGBTQ+ people are: less likely to participate in sports that heterosexual and cisgender peers; more likely to drop out of sports; experience social isolation; and wished they had more role models when they were young. According to a 2019 research brief conducted by The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40 percent less likely to report a suicide attempt.

Now, more than ever, we are seeing queer representation in the media and in sports, which makes us look inward and understand the importance of representation for our Northeastern Husky athletes. Growing up without a role model or someone that understands you is difficult, especially as an athlete.

In Student Athlete Support Services (SASS), we understand the importance of feeling seen, heard, and understood. Queer representation in our office allows our Northeastern Huskies to feel as though they might have someone to confide in, look up to, or even share their experiences with, especially if they have not had that connection before. We strive to be supports in more ways than one, and being open about our identities can allow those who have not come out of the closet or learned to accept themselves feel safe and welcome. It is our hopes that we can be a beacon or support for those who have not come out, and help shift the culture of homophobia and transphobia that runs so rampant in sports. It can be hard to accept yourself when you feel like there are certain gender or sexuality norms, especially within sport. Coming out, though, has made living more authentic and enjoyable. You discover that people love you for who you are, not just how you identify. It is freeing to embrace yourself, especially in a community where you have those that support you, and we strive to make SASS feel like that kind of community. 

There is always resistance, homophobia and transphobia, and barriers along the way, but the world will continue to become a better place the more athletes are able to fully embrace who they are. We are here for all athletes, even those who are still exploring or coming to terms with their identities, and hope they see us as that support system. Representation matters, and being visible and openly queer within our athletics community is something we are proud of. 

-Gina Bouchard and Ariana DiPreta-