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SOT Eric Lueshen, Former University of Nebraska Lincoln, Football Player, Founder LGBT Sports Safe , one of my claims to fame is I'm one of the first openly gay Division one college football players. For former Huskers player Eric Lueshen, speaking out on diversity and inclusion in sport wasn't always the plan. But he was inspired by the response to a radio interview he gave after Michael Sam became the first publically gay player in the NFL inspired Lueshen to to form the LGBT Sports Safe Inclusion program with Nevin Cable. SOT Lueshen we realized that if you can create these inclusive policies, programming and public awareness initiatives, then you're going to create that groundwork for that infrastructure of inclusion that you can then build on um year in and year out. For Lueshen- creating an environment that allows athletes to come out is a priority. That drive for acceptance must stem from all parts of a sporting organisation- athletes, coaches, managment and fans. SOT Lueshen I always like to say, you know, if if you can see it, then you can believe it and then you can become it.And Young LGBT at Young LGBTQ athletes will be inspired by these courageous out athletes that they're seeing in professional sports A 2021 Gallup poll showed that 5.6% of American adults identify as LGBTQ+. Statistically, we should see more out athletes, but Lueshen says sports are not always welcoming places for those in the LGBTQ+ community and stigma and stereotyping still exists. Lueshen 13.04 They don't want their sexual orientation or gender identity to take focus away from how hard they work in the pool, on the court, on the field and in the weight room. Sports has long been an arena for society to have difficult conversations. The latest- controversy over New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard becoming first-ever transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, participating the women's weightlifting events. It's a decision that has sparked controversy, critics saying Hubbard has an unfair advantage, whilst others argue for more inclusion. Laurel Hubbard, "Look, no matter what people think about me, or my situation. I just hope people treat me with respect. Because, what more can you ask for?'' While this debate won't go away anytime soon, most athletes want to let their skill and not their sexuality do the talking.
