With sports against homophobia

From Vision to Action - Making Rights a Reality Europride Human Rights Conference 2014 Oslo City Hall, Norway, June 26-27th 2014

Håvard B. ØvregårdAdviser, The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports 1

Vision for Norwegian Sport:

Joy of Sport– for All

Zero tolerance

• For discrimination / harassment / abuse– Bullying– Homophobia– Sexual harassment

• Why?

Joy of Sport – for All

The Olympic Charter

“Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

The 6th Fundamental Principle of Olympismhttp://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf (page 12)

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With Sport Against Homophobia

- a project for increased diversity and equality (2007-2010)

Aim:Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) feel at home as athletes, coaches, referees and fans.Arena:Organised sport. Why:Joy of Sport - for All

Norges idrettsforbund og olympiske og paralympiske komité

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Sport Policy Document 2007 – 20111.6 Tolerance and equalityAim:Foster tolerance, understanding and recognition for equality in order to

avoid discrimination and harassment.Strategy:• There shall be zero-tolerance for discrimination and harassment

regardless gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.

• Lesbian, gay and bisexual are – differing from many other minorities – an invisible group. It is therefore an extra challenge to contribute to dissemination of knowledge and information in order for this group to be fully accepted within Sports.

Responsibility:All organisational entities.

http://www.idrett.no/t2.aspx?p=66791

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Sport Policy Document 2007 – 20111.6 Tolerance and equalityAim:Foster tolerance, understanding and recognition for equality in order to

avoid discrimination and harassment.Strategy:• There shall be zero-tolerance for discrimination and harassment

regardless gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.

• Lesbian, gay and bisexual are – differing from many other minorities – an invisible group. It is therefore an extra challenge to contribute to dissemination of knowledge and information in order for this group to be fully accepted within Sports.

Responsibility:All organisational entities.

http://www.idrett.no/t2.aspx?p=66791

Sport Policy Document 2011 – 2015

2.4. Inclusion Goal: To increase the participation of underrepresented groups, so that their participation in sport mirrors the diversity in society, by•making everyone feel welcome and accepted as members of the sport clubs•removing conditions that inhibit the participation of certain groups•enforcing the principle of zero tolerance of discrimination and harassment regardless of gender, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and disability

Sport Policy Document 2011 – 2015

2.4. Inclusion Goal: To increase the participation of underrepresented groups, so that their participation in sport mirrors the diversity in society, by•making everyone feel welcome and accepted as members of the sport clubs•removing conditions that inhibit the participation of certain groups•enforcing the principle of zero tolerance of discrimination and harassment regardless of gender, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and disability

2011: Revision of the “aim”-paragraph in the law

§ 1-2 Aim (NIFs law)1)NIF shall work for the opportunity for all people to practise sport according to one’s own wish and need, and without being discriminated on the basis of religion, sexual orientation or ethnic origin. […]

http://www.lovdata.no/nif/nifloven.html#1-2

How to change attitudes?• “Haldningsskapande” (Creating attitude)– Can you create good attitudes?

• “Haldningsutfordrande” (Challenging attitude)–We can challenge, in order for each one to

reconsider one’s own attitudes• Challenge through– Knowledge– Perspective– Responsibility

Knowledge

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Challenges for younggay/lesbian?

• Most gay and lesbian live a good life• But many face challenges:– Suicide– Violence– Bullying– Slur / terms of abuse

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”Homo” (gay) as slur / term of abuse

• ”Homo” (gay) is the most frequent term of abuse amongst youth (boys) in Norway(Røhnebek m.fl. 2005: Hore eller homo? En rapport om seksualisert trakassering blant ungdom)

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• Why is this used as term of abuse?• What does “homo” communicate?• Are there any connections?

• Suicide – violence – bullying – term of abuse

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”I meant nothing, it’s just a phrase”

Perspective

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IanRoberts

• Australian Rugby• Professional 90-98

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Matthew Mitcham

• Australian diver• Olympic Gold

Medallist 2008

Sexual orientationVS

gender role

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Sexual orientationVS

gender role

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Sexual orientation vs gender?

• Masculine / feminine sports?• ”The Lesbian Label”• Gendered slur– ”you throw like a girl”

Trans* / Intersex• Sports fear of gender identity/expression– Example: Caster Semenya

• Gender testing in Olympic Games 68-961996: 8 of 3387 – ca 1/400 – ”failed”1999: Testing stopped

Responsibility

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What can the coach do?

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The «coming-out»

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”Østlendingen”(Norwegian local

newspaper)

19.Sept. 2008www.ostlendingen.no/article/20080919/SPORT04/27546030/1102/

”Coming-out”

”Wednesday he told all his team-mates about his sexual orientation.

– I have never been so nervous in all my life, says the 20-year old. ”

• Fear for the ”worst-case-scenario”• How can we reduce this fear?• Clear message in advance

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• Clear message at first session with a team/group.

• Example:– ”in this club/team we have zero-tolerance for

discrimination and harassment. Black or white, gay or straight, everybody shall feel at home.”

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Zero-tolerance of homophobic language

• When you hear a word like ”gay”, ”faggot”, ”lesbian”, ”dyke”, etc. – React immediately– Ask: ”What did you mean by that?”– State that homophobic language is not accepted

in the sport club or in sport club related activities

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You can not be neutral

The Olympic Charter

“Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

The 6th Fundamental Principle of Olympismhttp://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf

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• Anita DeFrantz, Chair of IOC Women Commission, adressing the UN Commissjon on the Status of Women, March 2013:

“the practice of sport is a human right that cannot be denied on the basis of gender, race or sexual orientation”http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympism_in_action/Women_and_sport/Anita_DeFrantz_speech_UN_Women_March%202013.pdf

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IOC: July 31st 2013

“The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation. The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes. We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle.”

http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-statement-on-recent-russian-legislation/206969

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IOC President Thomas Bach, 12/6-146th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport, Helsinki

“Our central belief written into our Charter is that sport should be available to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or any other form of discrimination, including sexual orientation. […] As a sports organisation we cannot force countries to change their legislation but what we can do is give an example to the world that a society based on these core beliefs is possible and does even work better. ”http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-president-calls-for-sport-free-from-discrimination-at-6th-iwg-world-conference-on-women-and-sport/233480http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympism_in_action/Women_and_sport/Thomas_Bach_IWG_Opening_Ceremony_speech_12_June.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STutjRWD1u8

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IOC and homophobia

• 2007: Policy on homophobia (Part of “Consensus statement on sexual harassment and abuse in sport”)

• “Homophobia is a form of prejudice and discrimination ranging from passive resentment to active victimisation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.”

– http://www.olympic.org/content/news/media-resources/manual-news/1999-2009/2007/02/08/ioc-adopts-consensus-statement-on-sexual-harassment-and-abuse-in-sport/

• IOC webpage on homophobia– http://www.olympic.org/sha?tab=homophobia

• Interactive web-tool: http://sha.olympic.org

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http://sha.olympic.org«Personal stories»: 2 gay / 1 trans

(French/English/German/Russian)

What has Sport in Norway done?

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Tackling homophobia systematically

• Presentations– “obligatory”– Multisport arenas– National federations

• Leadership• National team coaches

– Local clubs– Schools

• Advising federations• Media

Checklist:•Laws•Regulations•Handle complaints•Coach education•Webpage•Address the topic – Leadership– Staff

Magazine sent to all 12.000 sport clubs in Norway

Resources• Magazine (paper and pdf) – ”Med idretten mot homohets”

(“With Sports Against Homophobia”)• Will be made available in english

http://www.idrett.no/tema/mothomohets/Sider/BladetMedidrettenmothomohets.aspx

• A short summary of the project (english):• http://www.idrett.no/english/Sider/WithSportsagainsthomopbia.aspx• http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympism_in_action/Sport%20for%20all/previous-editions/2010/13th%20World

%20Sport%20for%20All%20Conference%20Abstracts%20Parallel%20Sessions.pdf (page 44-45)

Video(english)

at our webpage

http://www.idrett.no/english/Sider/WithSportsagainsthomopbia.aspx

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Håvard B. ØvregårdAdviser, work against discrimination and harassment

m: +47 91 77 31 57

havard.ovregard@idrettsforbundet.no

www.idrett.no

The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports