Key points
LGBTQ+ athletes still face discrimination and exclusion across all levels of sport.
Inclusive environments improve both athlete well-being and team performance.
Teams that embrace diversity achieve greater collective success.
When I left institutional work, I promised myself that I would make more time for the things that I am passionate about. The grind of college athletics had drained much of that joy, even though working with athletes has always been where I find purpose.
Not long after, I heard that the Nashville Peacocks , an inclusive adult basketball team, were looking for a coach. They had been competing in the National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) for a couple of years, coming close to a title but never quite sealing the deal. From the energy and commitmen