ATP men's tennis tour hoping to increase LGBTQ inclusion

LONDON (AP) — The ATP is teaming up with You Can Play, a group working to increase LGBTQ inclusion in sports, after 75% of players who participated in a survey by the men's tennis tour said they had heard other players use homophobic slurs.

The tour announced Friday that it is launching a multiyear education partnership with You Can Play, which has worked with the NHL, MLS, and NASCAR.

The ATP's anonymous online survey was distributed to hundreds of players last year; 65 responded. Some also agreed to be interviewed.

The ATP said its findings "indicated a strong fear of rejection, isolation from others on tour, and loneliness as being likely barriers to LGBTQ+ players publicly disclosing their sexuality to others."

There are no openly gay athletes in men's tennis currently.

The tour said a majority of participants "were supportive of ATP taking action to combat homophobia."

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