The mixed results of a survey on American attitudes toward gay and lesbian athletes appear in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, which hit newsstands April 13. Of the 979 people interviewed, 86 percent agreed it is OK for openly gay men to play sports, but some seemed to back off when asked if that could hurt their team.
The views of athletes also seem to be mixed when they are asked about the issue, according to AP. When Esera Tuaolo came out after his NFL playing career ended, Sterling Sharpe said his former teammate was smart to hide his sexuality. 'Had he come out on a Monday, with Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday practices, he'd have never gotten to the other team,' Sharpe commented.
In another mixed result from the poll, 79 percent of respondents agreed Americans are more accepting of gays in sports today than they were 20 years ago. However, 62 percent agreed the reason there is so little coverage of gays in sports is that America is not ready to accept gay athletes.
Other results included the following:
— 40 percent agreed that it is OK for gays and lesbians to participate in sports as long as they are not open about their sexuality.
— 21 percent said that they would enjoy a sport less if they knew a player was gay.
— 66 percent thought that gay athletes suffer unfair treatment in their private and professional lives.
— 65 percent agreed that society is more accepting of gay athletes in non-contact sports like golf or tennis.
— Only 10 percent concurred that lesbians are better athletes than straight women.
— 41 percent thought that Americans would be less proud of an Olympics gold-winning athlete is he/she were openly gay.
— 22 percent of respondent feel uncomfortable around gays and lesbians.