Pride 2021 spotlight: Athlete Ally
Equal access to sports is not guaranteed for LGBTQ+ people in some U.S. states. Athlete Ally is working to change that.
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Throughout the month of June, we’re highlighting organizations and initiatives that advocate for greater outdoor access among the LGBTQ+ community. Today’s feature is Athlete Ally, a group working to increase the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in sports.
For many in the LGBTQ+ community, access to sports isn’t guaranteed. Thirty-two states have passed or introduced legislation that bans participation. Elsewhere, hostile coaches and locker room environments turn away LGBTQ+ athletes, denying them the opportunity to enjoy the sports they love and benefit from the fitness, community, and other benefits inherent in an active lifestyle.
Read more: OutsidePR’s Massimo Alpian on the state of LGBTQIA+ diversity in the outdoor industry
Athlete Ally is the leading voice for LGBTQ+ folx in sports. Its initiatives include organizing training for coaches and teams on how to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ athletes; commissioning studies to understand the unique barriers LGBTQ+ people in sports face; and rallying the sports community to fight back against discriminatory bills that would restrict access and limit participation.
Join the Athlete Ally community by signing its Equality Pledge: “To lead your athletic community to respect and welcome all persons, regardless of their perceived or actual sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
