Introduction - Sport, Identity and Inclusion in Europe

Abstract

There has been a growing spectrum of international studies from North America, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia providing evidence that LGBTQ people regularly experience discrimination in physical education and sport. However, there is a dearth of studies on the situation of LGBTQ people in sport in Europe. The introduction outlines the intentions of the book to explore their specific situation in Europe and to critically assess sports inclusion policies with regard to LGBTQ people in various European countries. Against this background, it drafts the content which is structured into three parts. Part I situates the book as a contribution to the field of sport-related LGBTQ research in Europe with a focus on theory and methodology, empirical evidence, and advocacy work. Part II focuses on country-specific issues, examining the experiences of LGBTQ people in sport and inclusion policies in seven European countries, that is, Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and UK. Part III covers a variety of topics with regard to specific subgroups of LGBTQ people (gay men, lesbian women, and transgender people) and the (policy) contexts of sports in which they are involved (leisure sports and competitive sports).