Betty Baxter

Last updated
Betty Baxter
Born1952 (age 7172)
Alma mater University of Alberta
Occupation(s)athlete, activist and politician
Known forCIAU coach of the year; Canadian national volleyball team coach

Betty Baxter (born 1952) [1] is a Canadian athlete, activist and politician. Baxter was once a school trustee for the Sunshine Coast District 46 in British Columbia.[ citation needed ]

Baxter was a member of the women's national volleyball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics, [1] and was later named the team's head coach in 1979. [2] Prior to being named coach of the national team, Baxter was a women's volleyball coach at the University of Ottawa, [2] and was named the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union's coach of the year.

However, she was fired from that role in 1982 for a variety of reasons, one of which was speculation about her sexuality after the media began to report rumours that she was lesbian. [3] [4] Baxter was not actually out as lesbian at the time, but subsequently came out and served as a board member of the 1990 Gay Games in Vancouver. [5] She also cofounded the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and the National Coaching School for Women. Baxter subsequently worked as a professional volleyball coach.

Baxter ran as a New Democratic Party candidate in Vancouver Centre in the 1993 federal election, [6] in a high-profile race against Prime Minister Kim Campbell, but was not elected. Baxter later was elected as a school trustee in 2011.

Electoral record

1993 Canadian federal election : Vancouver Centre
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Hedy Fry 19,31031.19+8.38
Progressive Conservative Kim Campbell 15,51025.05−12.19
Reform Ian Isbister10,80817.46+16.08
New Democratic Betty Baxter 9,39715.18−21.63
National Thorsten Ewald4,9497.99
Natural Law John Cowhig6431.04
Green Imtiaz Popat5860.95+0.14
Christian Heritage Darren Lowe2420.39
Libertarian Tunya Audain2200.36+0.11
Independent Brian Godzilla Gnu Salmi1140.18
Independent Scott Adams830.13−0.07
Commonwealth of Canada Lucille Boikoff250.04
Independent Peter C. Nuthall240.04
Total valid votes61,911100.0  
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +10.28

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References

  1. 1 2 "A matter of pride; Firing for being gay, Betty Baxter turned political; now she's out to win B.C. riding for federal NDP". Montreal Gazette , August 17, 1992.
  2. 1 2 "Sports roundup: Volleyball". The Globe and Mail , November 27, 1979.
  3. "Gay sports figures discuss homophobia ; 'What I do in my bedroom is my business'". Toronto Star , June 22, 1999.
  4. Zeigler, Cyd (2011-08-30). "Moment #34: Canadian volleyball coach Betty Baxter fired amidst rumors she is a lesbian". Outsports. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  5. "Vancouver hosts the third and largest Gay Games". The Globe and Mail , August 6, 1990.
  6. "Lesbian candidate for the NDP [Betty Baxter acclaimed in June as federal NDP candidate for Vancouver Centre". Perceptions. July 29, 1992.