Same-sex attracted athletes are all but invisible in Australia and suffer from feelings of isolation and exclusion, Sport Minister Andrew Barr said on Thursday.
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Speaking during debate in the ACT Legislative Assembly, Mr Barr said little effort had been made to end harassment of gay, lesbian and transgender athletes despite significant advancements to end discrimination on the grounds of gender, race and disability.
Mr Barr said an unwritten ''don't ask, don't tell'' mentality existed in sporting clubs around Australia, causing same-sex-attracted young people to hide their sexuality and suffer from feelings of guilt and shame.
''Sadly many choose not to participate in sport at all, even though the research shows they have a very strong desire to do so,'' Mr Barr said. ''Others have developed a range of strategies for safe participation in their sport, which include trying to pass themselves off as straight in the sporting environment, which is not a particularly healthy way forward … Others refuse to stay silent and are open and visible in regards to their sexuality or gender and confront the stereotypes that exist.''
He said offensive and homophobic language was too common in sport and one recent study had linked the behaviour with self-harm, drug use and suicide attempts.
''The government is very keen to work with LGTBI communities to ask how we can navigate through the sports environment and avoid individuals experiencing discrimination, harassment and bullying,'' he said.
He praised Brumbies player David Pocock and Australian basketballer Lauren Jackson for their advocacy of same-sex-attracted young people involved in sport.
A forthcoming survey of same-sex-attracted people who take part in sport found football and soccer were the most popular codes, followed by group fitness.
A total of 37.1 per cent of respondents said they were not open about their sexuality or being transgender, while more than 40 per cent said they felt unsafe in the sporting environment.
About a third said they had experienced verbal bullying based on their sexuality or gender, while 4.5 per cent said they had experienced physical assault.
Mr Barr said the issues faced by transgender athletes had been inappropriately ''swept up with homophobia''.
Labor MLA Chris Bourke brought the matter of public importance to the Assembly.
Dr Bourke linked vilification of same-sex-attracted people with racial abuse of indigenous athletes in Australia.
In what has been described as a world first, the leaders of Australia's major codes this week signed commitments to end homophobia in sport.
''Sport … is a platform for change,'' Dr Bourke said.
''There is little doubt that Australian sport in 2014 is markedly different from that of 15 or 20 years ago.''
He called on clubs and codes to do more to encourage athletes to express their true selves in sporting environments.
''We are working to ensure that LGBTI people are welcome and supported in sport the same way as any other person seeking to participate and reap the virtues of playing sport,'' Dr Bourke said.
