Major clothing brands pay athletes and sports billions of dollars because they know that professional athletes have a powerful influence on young people.
Researchers have also found teenage American football players who believe an older male they respect endorses homophobic bullying are the most likely to engage in this behaviour.
Other research has found LGBTQ youth who are exposed to discrimination in religious settings are the most likely to self-harm.
This research summary from Monash University provides an overview of the key research which explains why homophobic comments by sports stars are harmful.
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