Betty Baxter

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

For the American author, see Betty Baxter Anderson.
Betty Baxter
Born1952 (age 68–69)
Brooks, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
Occupationathlete, activist and politician
Known forCIAU coach of the year; Canadian national volleyball team coach

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 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
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalHedy Fry19,31031.19%
Progressive ConservativeKim Campbell15,51025.05%
ReformIan Isbister10,80817.46%
New DemocraticBetty Baxter9,39715.18%
NationalThorsten Ewald4,9497.99%
Natural LawJohn Cowhig6431.04%
GreenImtiaz Popat5860.95%
Christian HeritageDarren Lowe2420.39%
LibertarianTunya Audain2200.36%
IndependentBrian Godzilla Gnu Salmi1140.18%
IndependentScott Adams830.13%
Commonwealth of CanadaLucille Boikoff250.04%
IndependentPeter C. Nuthall240.04%

References
  1. "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. "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.
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