Are endorsements keeping gay sports stars in their closet?

When Dutee Chand, India's fastest woman, came out earlier this week, it came as a surprise to many in the sporting community. Chand became the first mainstream Indian athlete to openly declare her sexual orientation, something others before her have shied from doing in the past. While social stigma and acceptance have been key deterrents, there is one more elephant in the room: Endorsements.

Viren Rasquinha, former hockey captain, says it would cost Rs 1 crore annually to train an athlete like Chand.

Yuvraj Walmiki, who has represented the country at the Hockey World Cup, pegged the figure at Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per day, including diet, kit and training. Rasquinha adds that to this will be money needed for international visits as well. And the only way an athlete can manage to finance all this is through sponsorship.

But given the homophobia in Indian society, many fear brands may not want to be associated with a gay athlete. "Many still believe gays aren't macho enough. There is a need to make people aware that being gay or lesbian doesn't impact a person's athletic ability. They are exactly like any other person," explains Shridhar Rangayan, filmmaker and organiser of the LGBTQ film festival 'Kashish'.

Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar says it's the local brands who may have a regressive mindset, not the international ones. "Many wouldn't have agreed with the way Chand's parents behaved, but if their own family member was involved, they too might have reacted similarly," he explains.

The silver lining is that attitudes are changing. Noted journalist and film historian Rafique Baghdadi says the film industry wouldn't even talk about these issues earlier, but is now doing so. "Though there are some in the society who wouldn't talk about the issue in the open, things have certainly changed. It's now as normal as anything else for most people today," he said.

WORRIED CHAND

• Sprinter Dutee Chand has said she disclosed her same-sex relationship out of fear, after her sister blackmailed her. “She used to mentally pressure me. She would threaten me, that if I don’t stop or pay her, she will reveal it to the media. She had me in fear,” Dutee said.