Cyd Zeigler is no mere journalist. In the years since he and Jim Buzinski started Outsports, he has become an expert, a strategist, a confidant to many LGBT athletes and their straight counterparts alike.
Cyd Zeigler with Christina Kahrl at Blogs With Balls 6 in Chicago.
While LGBT individuals are increasingly finding mainstream acceptance, professional sports, specifically men’s sports, boast few openly gay athletes. In his new book Fair Play: How LGBT Athletes Are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sports (Akashic Books), Zeigler outlines many of the reasons and hurdles that these closeted athletes face, not the least of which internal and many stemming from fear (of the unknown, among other things).
While the country’s attitudes towards LGBT individuals is changing, the sports landscape has not (or a least is doing so at a much slower pace). Yet, there is much positivity outlined in the book and regularly on Outsports. To a person, pro athletes shrug off questions from Zeigler when asked how they’d feel about a gay teammate in the locker room. When athletes do come out, they are met with overwhelming support. In many ways, athletic performance can be a great equalizer. Yet, it’s not always that simple.
“Fair Play” looks at the complexities of the issue, not just with high-profile instances like Michael Sam, Jason Collins and Caitlyn Jenner, but more importantly with young athletes in their emotional and impressionable high school and college years.
I caught up with Cyd to talk about his role and his book.
The OG: As optimistic as your book is, what does the tragedy in Orlando tell us about where we really are as a society?
Cyd Zeigler: The terrorist attack on a gay bar in Orlando told us a ton about where the LGBT community is in society. We saw the truth play out from start to finish. There are extreme members of every religion who want to kill gay people, and some of them will go to extremes to do just that. At the same time, the vast majority of Americans embrace the community, particularly in time of need. Good luck to a state legislator or U.S. Senator who wants to pass an anti-LGBT bill going forward. We also saw very clearly where the sports world continues to struggle with our community. While they don’t mind us on their teams or in their stadiums, they just don’t want to talk specifically about us or our issues. They’re fine with us being “victims,” “fans,” or “members of the community,” but they really don’t want to talk about us being “LGBT victims” or “gay fans.” I think the straight-washing of the Orlando tragedy by many in the straight sports world woke people up to their unintentional marginalizing of our community.
The OG: How did the book come about and what main messages were you looking to covey with it?
CZ: The book came about because Dave Zirin asked me if I had an interest in writing a book. He’s the editor of the book and has an entire line of books with Akashic Books about social-justice issues in sports. For me there are two main messages. First, LGBT people are the ones who hold the keys to kicking down the final door in sports for our community. Straight people are great, but they just don’t have the power to open hearts and minds like LGBT people do. I talk about that a lot. The second message is that the sports world is so much further along than people give it credit. Naysayers focus on Michael Sam’s struggles to get into the NFL, but look at the hundreds and thousands of LGBT athletes in high school, college and the pros who are embraced by their teams and succeeding – and even Sam was totally welcomed by his teammates with Missouri and the Rams. Look at Robbie Rogers: The LA Galaxy traded the MLS leading scorer at the time for Rogers, and he went on to help the Galaxy win the MLS Cup the following season. Rogers’ experience is much more reflective of the state of LGBT athletes than Sam’s.
The OG: The general sporting public is probably much more familiar with Sam’s plight given the profile of the NFL. Since his coming out, you’ve been vocal about his struggle to land a roster spot. What’s your current view on his status?
CZ: If Michael were straight, he would have made an NFL active roster. Period. The tell-tale sign was after he was cut by the Rams. Not a single team called looking for a tryout or with any questions or interest. Not one. Finally, the Cowboys called out of the blue, and I talk about that in the book. After the Cowboys cut him, again, nothing. Not even a workout. Not even a futures contract, which costs a team zero. Not a phone call, nothing. If he were straight, he would have gotten at least a phone call. You can argue about the Oprah Show or his 40 time, but not a single phone call? Right around the 2016 NFL Draft, Amy Trask was opining on the nonsensical focus some people put on Combine numbers. “It’s about the tape, stupid.” Michael showed he was worth a phone call on the tape. But none came. Speaks volumes.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – AUGUST 28: Defensive end Michael Sam
The OG: How has your role changed over the years at Outsports from journalist to confidante?
CZ: I don’t think it has changed. I’ve always viewed my role at Outsports as a journalist and advocate. I believe the Constitutional role of any journalist is to be an advocate for the people. The First Amendment isn’t there so TMZ can ask Justin Bieber what his favorite sandwich is; it’s there so we in the media can work on behalf of the people. One of the very first people I ever met through Outsports, 15 years ago, was Kirk Walker, who was then the head coach of the Oregon State softball team. He was very closeted, but I became one of his confidantes – there when he needed me, advising him when he needed help. It was another five years before Kirk came out publicly on Outsports. I met Wade Davis in 2006, and it took him five years, too. I feel blessed that despite having a big mouth, these athletes and coaches are able to trust me with their secrets. I wish I could share all the stories I know of, but I know at the right time I will be able to.
The OG: You are adamant about not outing people but equally adamant that high profile athletes can not only inspire, but quite likely save, young ,closeted teens. You advocate a collective responsibility in advancement, but respect people coming out on their own terms. Given your position, is that a difficult line to walk?
CZ: It’s so difficult to not out some people, yes. I talk about ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez in my book, and how I really considered outing him. I didn’t and I wouldn’t, but he did something in a “skit” for a radio show that really pissed me off, before he came out publicly. One of the reasons we don’t out people is exactly what happened with Izzy. If I had outed him, it would have been an absolutely mess with a ton of negative energy. Instead he came out in his own time in his own way with his own words, and it was nothing but positivity. Outing somebody presents a highway of possible pitfalls. For me, the risk is just too great to go that route.
The OG: Elaborate a little on what you see the real roles and responsibilities of allies [straight advocates].
CZ: I spend an entire chapter in the book talking about the proper role of allies in any movement. Michael Irvin, Scott Fujita, and yes, Don Povia, are great examples. These are people who use their platforms to invite LGBT voices to speak for themselves. They open opportunities and let LGBT people walk through them. They aren’t the faces of the movement, they are the enablers, the people making things happen behind the scenes. They aren’t afraid to lend their voices to the movement when it’s needed, but they also hold the hands of LGBT people and bring the along with them. Some straight people feel the need to use the LGBT movement to line their own pockets and make a name for themselves. To me, that is destructive, counter-productive and shameful. A straight guy like Hudson Taylor simply cannot have the impact that LGBT athletes can have. Unfortunately he and his organization, Athlete Ally, try to suck up a bunch of air in the room that could be going to nourish LGBT voices. Sadly, despite that organization’s budget, the results they get from their hashtag “initiatives” and email-writing campaigns don’t do a dame thing to help.