"One team member doesn't make a Pride parade": An international study of people's experiences of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer in motorsport

Hayfield, Nikki; Sansbury, Rebecca

Abstract

In this paper we report our qualitative survey research that explored lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) people’s experiences of motorsport. Fifty-nine participants were recruited with support from Motorsport UK and Racing Pride, who posted invitations to participate on their social media channels. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in two themes. In the first theme, “The first rule of the race team is no chicks or fags”: A lack of inclusivity for those of diverse genders and sexualities, we discuss how motorsport was sometimes reported to be a somewhat unwelcome space for LGBTQ+ people. In the second theme, “I don’t necessarily publicise or promote it”: Safely navigating sexuality in motorsport, we show how participants navigated a set of complex contexts and were strategically selective in being out and open about their sexuality. Our research indicates that heterosexism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in motorsport can result in a hostile environment for people of diverse genders and sexualities that has to be carefully negotiated by LGBTQ+ people. However, our participants were passionate about motorsport and reported pockets of inclusion as well as optimism about a more fully inclusive future.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 24, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jan 27, 2025
• Print ISSN: 1941-9899
• Electronic ISSN: 1941-9902
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13649307