Eric Anderson

I'm an American sociologist and Professor of Sport Studies at the University of Winchester, England. I'm known for my research on sport, masculinities, sexualities and homophobia.

When I came out of the closet as America's first openly gay high school coach in 1993, my loyal distance runners experienced overt and institutionalized homophobia. When one of my athletes was brutally beaten by a football player, the media sought me as a voice on issues of homophobia and sport.

Researching the experiences of openly gay athletes, I have identified ways homophobia polices the lives of both gay and straight men. My academic work also shows an increasingly positive relationship between gay male athletes and sport, as well as a growing movement of young heterosexual men’s masculinity becoming softer and more inclusive. This work has been published in dozens of academic journals and is regularly featured in the popular press. I also research matters related to men’s monogamy/cheating, men's improving recognition of bisexuality, and the increased acceptance of young heterosexual men kissing.

I have written eight books and have taught at UC-Irvine, CSU Long Beach, SUNY Stony Brook, and the University of Bath.