Sport, masculinities, and homosexualities: why inclusive masculinity theory can be considered dangerous for queer sportspeople

In the past decade, there has been a growing interest in studying diverse sexualities in the context of sports. However, the research findings in the sociology of sport literature are fragmented, with some suggesting a significant decrease in homo-negativism, while others highlight the persistent problem of homophobic attitudes. This divergence of findings can be attributed to the adoption of different social theories. Studies grounded in inclusive masculinity theory (IMT) tend to report decreasing or minimal levels of homophobia in sports, whereas research utilising other theoretical frameworks consistently reveal ongoing homophobic attitudes. This chapter aims to explore the reasons behind these fractured findings and argues for a critical examination of the widespread acceptance of IMT, particularly for those concerned with LGBTIQ+ social justice issues.