Fair Play: How LGBT Athletes Are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sports

by Cyd Zeigler

"This important and accessible book about the evolving treatment of LGBTQ athletes in organized sports should be required reading for anyone involved in the playing, coaching, and administration of organized sports. Zeigler, an expert in LGBTQ athletics and cofounder of the online magazine Outsports, revisits key moments that have shaped sports participation for openly LGBTQ athletes...The author debunks the myth that having a nonstraight athlete on a team's roster is a 'distraction' and shares positive stories of younger athletes at high school and college levels who have come out to coaches, teammates, and family members. Zeigler argues that the dominant emotion holding back LGBTQ athletes is fear, reminding them and everyone else that courage is contagious."--Publishers Weekly

"Outsports.com founder Zeigler gives an account of the great strides LGBTQ athletes have made in the sports world over the last 15 years...Lively and provocative, the book not only offers a much-needed perspective on what until recently has been one of the last bastions of heterosexism. It is also significant for its conscious consideration of how current developments will impact LGBTQ athletes of tomorrow. An informative, necessary work."--Kirkus Reviews

"Zeigler is the cofounder of the online magazine Outsports, and he is a vocal and respected advocate for the LGBT sports community. Here he pens a series of essays about athletes who have come out, noting the misguided homophobia in the locker-room culture of sports, and the important role that straight athletes can play in the gay movement...Well researched, timely, and provocative, Zeigler's book provides readers with candid personal accounts of the struggles and triumphs of LGBT athletes across a wide spectrum of the sports world."--Booklist

"Zeigler candidly examines the issues involved in gay athletes' coming-out processes, and the support (or, often, lack thereof) they receive from teammates, coaches, and their sports. front offices...Zeigler gives due credit where it's deserved, while sharply analyzing the deep undercurrents of squeamishness and hesitation that still stymie team sports' full acceptance of their LGBT participants...Cyd Zeigler is here to remind us that there's still much work to be done."--ALA's Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Round Table

"Fair Play, published in conjunction with Akashic Books, tells the story of how sports are transforming for LGBTQ athletes, and specifically focuses on the time period following the turn of the 21st century. Zeigler's book covers treatment of LGBTQ athletes, touching on bullying and hazing that has surrounded, and continues to surround, LGBTQ athletes, specifically in high school and college, while weaving in stories of LGBT athletes and allies such as Michael Irvin, Fallon Fox, and Michael Sam, among others."--GLAAD

The latest from Akashic's Edge of Sports imprint.

When Cyd Zeigler started writing about LGBT sports issues in 1999, no one wanted to talk about them. Today, this is a central conversation in American society that reverberates throughout the sports world and beyond.

In Fair Play, Zeigler tells the story of how sports have transformed for LGBT athletes, diving into key moments and issues that have shaped sports for LGBT people today.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, History

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

CYD ZEIGLER is the cofounder and coeditor of Outsports.com, the world’s most renowned publication dealing with LGBTQ issues in sports. One of the world’s leading experts on the intersection of sexuality and sports, Zeigler has been tapped to discuss the issue by CNN, ESPN, the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and many others. He has worked with countless athletes to tell their coming-out stories, including professional athletes Michael Sam, John Amaechi, and Ryan O’Callaghan. He is also the author of Fair Play: How LGBT Athletes Are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sports. A graduate of Stanford University, Zeigler now lives in Los Angeles with his husband and two cats. My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me, and Ended Up Saving My Life is his latest work.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought this was a really interesting book and it provided a lot of good insight into locker room culture / the power of sports in society.

I did have a few issues with the book (but I'm a straight non-athlete, so take them with a grain of salt). I didn't think Zeigler really had a clear thesis running throughout the book, and I think it would have been more compelling if the common thread running from chapter to chapter was a bit stronger. I also think it would have been interesting if he had given a little bit more insight into why gay rumors follow certain players, instead of just focusing on the fact that they shouldn't be bothered by them. He's right, but I think it is also important to highlight the fact that these rumors tend to follow players who don't fit the masculine athlete stereotype, like proudly virginal Tim Tebow. Challenging the stereotypes behind the rumors is just as important as challenging the idea that being gay is something to be ashamed of. Similarly, I wish Zeigler had given a little bit more thought to the idea that Michael Sam's career was hurt by his need (or the need of the people he surrounded himself with) for publicity / celebrity. I don't think that Sam's sexuality is a distraction to teammates, but Ziegler seemed too quick to dismiss the idea that Sam was a distraction to himself, separate from his sexuality. Finally, despite the fact that Tony Dungy has some pretty terrible homophobic opinions and has supported anti-gay initiatives while supporting players that have been found guilty of actual terrible crimes, bringing his son's suicide into things seemed pretty low to me.

Overall though I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fellow sports fans.


Received from Edelweiss.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to give this book a higher rating, but it wasn't as enjoyable as I hoped. I generally enjoy books like this, but the way it was written annoyed me. The book was a bit jumpy and was mostly full of facts which is fine, but it didn't stay focused on one matter for long. There were some things I would've liked to know more about and the book failed to deliver. I'm happy that a book like this is written though. I want people to be educated about the LGBT community more. I want them to understand without judging and that's Cyd's goal in this book which I really appreciate him doing. I just wish the book could've held my attention more.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was well written with tons of facts and anecdotes from people across a wide spectrum of sports. Yes, the author gives his opinion freely, but it’s a well organized book and I felt as if I learned a lot about gay people in sports as well as the history. I appreciated this read from the bottom of my heart and I think it’s going to help me be a better person, mentor and that it will help many more people be more comfortable with who they are. Cyd is awesome. Thank you for this book!

[Caleb Hoyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed that this book wasn't more straight (pardon the pun) reporting on LGBT athletes, rather than largely the writer's opinion on several issues surrounding LGBT representation in sports. But the writer's opinions were well-written and articulated, and there was a healthy dose of actual information supporting all of his opinions. It was a really interesting glimpse into a world and a challenge that I identify with but don't actually know much about.

[Gwynfor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author overplays the self-promotion/braggadocio at times, and likes to state his firm convictions as fact, but he HAS plenty of facts to back up MOST of them, and presents them in a highly readable style. The resulting book is an engaging clarion call for genuine progress that is definitely overdue.

[JL Salty]

Previewed for possible school library purchase. *F bomb in introduction.
10/22

[Liz McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative as hell

[Kalib Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good football book about the players and coaches talking and playing football. This made me fell like I was a good Kid for not doing anything wrong or making fun of people for being how they want to be.

[Zach Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years, LGBT issues were never discussed in the context of sports. Either athletes kept silent on the matter out of fear, or they weren’t included in the first place. Fortunately, progress has been made on that front in recent years/decades, and author Cyd Zeigler discusses such topics (as well as what needs to continue to happen) in “Fair Play”.

The basic structure of this book is that Zeigler uses a series of topics/anecdotes to key the key areas of LGBT sports rights/participations/challenges. Zeigler is one of the most experienced, well-respected writers in this regard, and as such is more than capable of pulling no punches when it comes to his topics. He attacks the issues, for sure, but also manages to not be too “militant” or aggressive, either. One gets the sense while reading that he really understands the topics of which he speaks and knows exactly the right steps to take to promote more progress in LGBT athletics.

The hallmark of “Fair Play” is probably the bluntness with which it looks at those LGBT issues. The language is direct and to the point, while no topic is danced around or skirted. Essentially, Zeigler isn’t afraid in the least to make the reader feel slightly uncomfortable (through the blunt talk), and
then pull back and help the same reader understand why they might be feeling that way and how to potential change those negative emotions.

Even as a big fan of sporting pastimes, this LGBT topic is one I hadn’t spent much time thinking about (liking a combination of my own willful ignorance as well as general lack of material regarding the topic). So, “Fair Play” was quite eye-opening in the education it gave me about the past, present, future of the sports LGBT community.

Overall, “Fair Play” is the book to read if you really have an open mind and want to learn the basic tenants of the LGBT sports history/struggles. The topics are blunt and the author doesn’t pull any punches, but (especially considering the care/compassion that is evident) that is the way it needs to be in order to truly begin to understand LGBT issues. Highly recommended for all sports fans, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about LGBT topics in the athletic realm.

[willowdog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the stories behind the athletes who have come out in sports—from high school to professional—and the value to the person who comes out. The “distraction” of having a gay athlete is debunked. Very personal stories from someone who has been there. It takes a look at the antigay coaches and their influence on the team—making some go back in the closet. Easy read. Different from other works in that it is not a study.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did you know Cyd Zeigler writes for Outsports? Because he reminds you every few pages in this book.
While I really liked the concept it seemed Zeigler decided to use previous conversations and interviews plus discussions with closeted athletes to fill the pages. There are plenty of times I agreed with what he wrote like locker room talk and the decision to say an out athlete will be a distraction. Other times I questioned his journalistic integrity. Writing stories that are headlined 'Is (athlete name) gay?' is lazy, gossipy clickbait. He calls it speculation.
I believe that young LGBT athletes should have role models, I think they should be able to see someone like themselves an realize that there are people out there like them. I think it is weird that guys will smack each other's balls but have a problem with a gay teammate. And I feel that the younger generations are getting to be more comfortable with out athletes.
Like I said, I really like what Zeigler was trying to put out there but I think his presentation was lacking.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, though the only unifying theme I can really pull from it is that more LGBT athletes should come out publicly. The stories told are interesting and well told, but don't seem to follow any sort of thought-out progression. I'd recommend this to people who are already avid sports fans, who wish to look more in depth at the stories of LGBT athletes.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, but it seems geared towards adult sports fans, with little explanation for those without a sports background, no pictures/photographs, and with the author inserting himself into the story repeatedly. He argues more athletes need to come out, but is solidly biased because he writes articles for an online forum where athletes frequently come out.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true tale of triumph and overcoming what so many believed were impossible dreams. Won courtesy of Goodreads giveaways.

[Hannah]

This was a frustrating read. I feel that the title was pretty misleading, as the vast majority of the book is about gay men in mainstream American team sports, with very little attention paid to lesbian, bisexual, or trans athletes and few mentions of athletes who participate in any sports that aren't football, basketball, or baseball. The main argument of the book is that the world of sports needs more gay men to come out in order to make the sports environment more inclusive and open. This is a fine argument, but it felt like 11 of the 12 chapters were spent rehashing this argument and presenting the coming-out stories of the same 5 or 6 athletes with slightly different lenses each time.

The last chapter, which may have been the most interesting, was the only one to focus on trans athletes, but I felt there was a lot left unexplored. Almost every sport is so gendered and binary that it feels like much more of an uphill battle for trans athletes to find acceptance in sports than for cis gay, lesbian, and bisexual athletes. In fact, the challenges faced by trans athletes are so different that it feels like a subject for a different book entirely.

I felt there was a huge missed opportunity to talk about sports where men are often assumed to be gay, such as figure skating or gymnastics, and how the athleticism and discipline required to excel is often minimized or dismissed because of homophobia. The focus on team sports also mostly ignored famous trailblazers like Greg Louganis or Emile Griffith or Billie Jean King, and I don't recall it even mentioning the existence of the Gay Games.

Lesbians in sports were glossed over as well, with the author basically saying that being a lesbian in sports is pretty easy, at least compared to being a gay man. Women's sports might be more welcoming within the leagues, but I wish the author had explored how homophobia might contribute to the lesser popularity of women's sports as a whole.

At any rate, I still do respect Cyd Zeigler's work with Outsports, I just think maybe his strengths as a journalist are in short-form pieces and not book-length works.