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Fautley left lasting impact on Queen's volleyball program continued from p.26 That summer, Fautley attended a national team tryout with three of his teammates. For the first time, he felt as though they could be friends. Carrying over his strong play from nationals he earned a spot on the national B team, but declined. Fautley came away with something more important. He rediscovered his passion for the game. He returned to the Queen's team for his fourth year. "It was a leap of faith," he said, but one he was confident in taking. Any fears he had were put to rest early. As the team was boarding a bus for an exhibition game in Laval, a rookie "pulled the classic, `Look at those fags,'" Fautley said. "He was trying to be cool but the entire team just shot him the dagger eyes. They said, `if we ever hear a word like that come out of your mouth again, you will not be a part of this team.'" Fautley said the team environment completely changed. Willis also noticed the change. "(Before) his teammates thought he was very aloof. Some made comments like `He's too good to hang out with us,'" Willis said. "After he came back, the biggest difference was how (Bryan) felt. He opened up; let the walls down. When he got on the bus he'd have a conversation or if they were playing cards, he'd jump in there." · · · · A year after he was ready to walk away from the game, Fautley was named an Ontario university all-star. In 2011, he returned for his final season. Once again, Queen's had a team capable of challenging for the medal at the national championships. While Fautley had found peace with his team, his body betrayed him. A fractured spine, the result of the pounding it took jumping, twisting and landing hundreds of times a day, kept him off the court for most of the season. Queen's finished fourth at the national championships, while Fautley watched from the sidelines and for the first time "enjoyed a semi-regular university experience." Toward the end of his final year, Fautley was approached by the Queen's University Journal for what he thought would be a typical profile of a graduating player. Instead, they hoped he would share his experience as a gay athlete. Despite some initial reservations, he thought the story would do more good than harm. Besides, he thought, being in the sports section, he didn't think many people would see it. When he was told it would be on the front page, he thought it might attract a little more attention. And when the story was picked up by national news outlets, he thought, "OK, I guess everybody knows now." Over the next week, Fautley received more than 400 emails and text messages -- students from other universities, people reconnecting with him, and others struggling with their sexuality. One person who contacted him lived not too far from his parents. He had been having a difficult time, much like Fautley did years earlier. They talked, remained in touch and he eventually summoned the courage to tell his parents. Collins coming out is one more necessary step toward the day when an athlete's sexuality isn't headline news. Fautley says more needs to happen, but it is a necessary and important starting point. He said an organization such as You Can Play -- which strives to ensure that gay athletes are given equal opportunities to play sports in a respectful and safe environment -- performs a key role in changing attitudes. You Can Play has partnered with the NHL and other leagues, schools and teams as well as dozens of athletes who have spoken on behalf of the organization. "It shows the idea of being gay and being an athlete are not mutually exclusive," Fautley said. "And when you have people who are respected athletes, saying `I'm OK with this,' it resonates much more than it would if it was a gay activist speaking to them." Willis says there is a new culture with the Queen's team as Fautley's former teammates carry on with the lessons learned about how hurtful ho· · · · mophobic language can be. "It's had a huge impact on the guys," Fautley didn't set out to be a gay athshe said. "And hopefully the new guys lete role model. He never intended to will learn and pass it on to the next tell his team and he didn't even want group." Bryan Fautley to tell his coach until it was dragged Fautley knows first-hand what it's Former Queen's University volleyball player out of him. like to not feel welcome in a team "When you Google my name, you environment. It almost cost him the get `gay varsity athlete.' That's OK," he said. "If my experi- sport he loves. ence can help an athlete with the coming out process, I'd "Words carry weight and you need to be accountable for do it 100 times over." that," he said. "It comes down to, if you think you might Having studied cultural trends, Fautley said the sporting be hurting a teammate, just don't do it. Even though you world is generally five to 10 years behind in terms of ac- might be positive to the ends of the world that everyone ceptance of society in general, pointing to the examples of around you is straight, why would you risk it?" Jackie Robinson breaking the colour barrier in baseball in 1947 and Title IX granting women equal opportunities in -- Herb Garbutt can be followed college sports in 1972. on Twitter @herbgarbutt 27 | Friday, May 17, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com When you have people who are respected athletes saying `I'm okay with this,' it resonates much more than it would if it was a gay activist speaking to them. Synchronized swimming recitals next week The Town of Oakville will hold its 45th annual synchronized swimming recitals Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23 at Centennial Pool. The shows, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will be titled `That Synching Feeling' and will feature 60 synchronized swimmers from the town's Synchro Canada Star Program performing 12 routines. Directed by head coach Hayley Chapman and her team of assistants, the event is designed for families and synchronized swimming enthusiasts. Chapman has been leading the team for nine years and is an alumnus of the program. Tickets are $10. Synchronized swimming is offered through the Town of Oakville from October to May. Several shorter, introductory programs are held through the summer and fall at Centennial Pool, the only recreational program of this type available in Oakville for girls and women. Centennial Pool will offer its first camp-style synchronized swimming program this summer, from July 22-26. For more information on the Town of Oakville's Synchro Canada Star Program, log onto www.oakville.ca. Pictured clockwise from left, Fiona Krantz, Marianne Ricard, Maddy Dwyer and Nicole Zetts rehearse for the Town of Oakville's annual synchronized swimming recitals, which will take place Wednesday and Thursday at Centennial Pool. | photo by Michael Ivanin -- special to the Beaver