It’s a phrase constantly thrown around.
“Stick to sports.”
“I don’t watch sports to talk about politics.”
“Keep politics out of sports.”
Athletes shouldn’t have to stick to sports. Sports encompass every walk of life. Players of every race, gender, and sexuality participate in them, so when it comes to issues affecting those who play sports, why should they have to be quiet about them?
If a player faces sexism, racism, or homophobia and wants to speak out, their status as an athlete shouldn’t nullify that. Sports should be a place of acceptance, a place to start these critical conversations, and not shut down because the sanctity of sport is “ruined” by conversations of equality.