AUSTIN — The athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS on Wednesday has inspired some local athletes, who say what she did could influence sports culture for the better.
When news broke Caitlyn Jenner would receive this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, it did not come without controversy. The high honor from the ESPYS is given to an athlete that shows bravery in the face of adversity and transcends sports.
At the South Austin Tennis Courts Wednesday night, a team is practicing to defeat their competition and stereotypes.
“We’re a good team, we’re competitive, we’re fun to be around,” said Austin Tennis Club board member Aubrey Wilkerson.
The Austin Tennis Club is a team for the LGBTQ community.
“I think it definitely, probably, promotes a life of staying in the closet a bit when you’re playing sports,” he said.
Growing up, Wilkerson said, it wasn’t so easy.
Local LGBT athletes hope Caitlyn Jenner coming out as transgender will bring change to homophobia and transphobia in the sports world.
“In a subtle way, things like ‘sissy’ and words that are, to someone that is struggling with their own sexuality, is hurtful and harmful and definitely discourages a person in that position to live their authentic life,” Wilkerson said.
“You potentially don’t want to be found out about who you are or who you love because the risk there is the usual locker room bullying,” said Meghan Stabler.
Stabler is a transgender woman who transitioned more than 10 years ago. Now an LGBT advocate who lives in Austin, she also sits on the board for Athlete Ally.
“Our purpose really is to make sure that we have a level playing field for any athlete,” she said.
The nonprofit works with athletes at all levels to stop homophobia and transphobia in sports. They have a community of ambassadors and straight allies around the country, including Andy Roddick.
“Part of it is education and another part of it is really trying to encourage sports teams just to accept players for who they are,” she said.
Stabler calls Jenner an icon in more ways than one.
“People remember the accomplishments that she had as Bruce but now recognize that she was dealing with the same inner turmoil that I was dealing with as a trans woman where you couldn’t be truthful about your identity,” she said.
She hopes Jenner will change sports culture.
“To encourage other people to come out, to drive mainstream awareness and acceptance and ultimately save lives because we do know that many people do take their own life because they can’t be accepted or they can’t come out as to who they are,” Stabler said.
As executive director of Out Youth, Wilkerson hopes athletes like Jenner will encourage and inspire young people to play sports as themselves.
“They are getting to see a representation of themselves at some of the highest honors,” he said. “I think there is nothing but positive.”
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