Cliff S. Davidson '02, a co-founder of the gay and lesbian student group BOND, came up with the idea for Sunday's panel--which will take place this at 3 p.m. in Harvard Hall 104--last year.

Intrigued by the issue of homosexuality in athletics and particularly Harvard athletics, Davidson did some research on the subject and decided to assemble a panel to discuss the topic.

He applied to the Undergraduate Council for funding and was awarded $200.

Davidson also looked for any student-athletes willing to participate in the forum. What he discovered was that there were only two openly gay athletes out of the hundreds who don Crimson uniform and compete in one of Harvard's 41 varsity sports.

"I know of a number of closeted athletes who fear that they can't pursue a personal life for fear that their teammates will find out," says Davidson.

One of the first people Davidson asked to join the panel was Jenny L. Allard, the head coach of the softball team. Allard, the only openly gay head coach at Harvard, says she agreed to join the panel because she, too, wondered why there were fewer athletes who were out of the closet than among Harvard students in general.

As a coach, Allard also realizes the significance of starting a dialogue in order to create an atmosphere of acceptance.

"Fostering an environment of tolerance is very important, because there are those athletes who are living in fear of what others may think," Allard said. "I think shattering those myths in athletics is important."