"Training Rules" Illuminates Homophobia in Women's Sports

by Christina Carr

Published April 10, 2009 @ 03:24PM PT

In 2005, Sophomore student-athlete Jennifer Harris was dismissed from the Penn State women's basketball team, allegedly for breaking one of Coach Rene Portland's infamous training rules: No Lesbians. After the dismissal, Harris and her family approached the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), which filed charges against Portland, athletic director Tim Curley, and Penn State University, alleging discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation, racism and gender stereotyping.

This weekend, nearly two years after Portland resigned from her coaching position, the documentary Training Rules debuted in Philadelphia.  The film chronicles Harris' story, as well as those of other student-athletes whose lives were affected by Portland's dismissals.

This case is representative of the continued climate of homophobia in women's sports, which largely goes unrecognized. While Harris and other promising young athletes were being persecuted for their sexuality, Portland was twice voted "Coach of the Year" by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Granted, nobody has challenged Portland's coaching ability, and the team's winning record is a testimony to her talent. But it's a dangerous situation when those who are aware of such discrimination refuse to speak out- essentially selling the self-esteem and personal well-being of young athletes in exchange for a talented coach who can bring revenue to the athletic program.

It's crazy to think that this could have occurred as recently as four years ago, and I wonder, how many other schools still face similar situations?  How many lesbian student-athletes are forced to hide their sexuality in order to retain an athletic scholarship, or playing time on a school athletic team? And what can be done to stop the widespread homophobia in the world of women's sports?

Training Rules will be screened at various film festivals throughout the spring and summer, and hopefully the film will begin a dialogue about an issue that seems to get so little recognition. Perhaps the NCAA could even use the film as an educational tool about the problem and costs of sexual orientation discrimination in collegiate sports.

After the Portland issue fully came to light, a group called Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia (PATH) was formed at Penn State University in an attempt to provide resources for LGBT student-athletes.  If Training Rules can do for other schools what it did for Penn State in bringing attention to this issue and inspiring action to be taken, then I think the film will be a huge success.