Athlete Ally Founder Co-Authors Groundbreaking NCAA Resource Guide on LGBT Issues in Sports

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Athlete Ally, a leading organization working to raise awareness about and end homophobia and transphobia in sports, announced today that its founder and Executive Director Hudson Taylor has co-authored the NCAA's first-ever comprehensive resource guide for college athletes, coaches and administrators on policies pertaining to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. Taylor co-authored the guide alongside Dr. Pat Griffin, Professor Emeritus in the Social Justice Education Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  The 82-page book, entitled “Champions of Respect,” will be mailed to various NCAA constituents this week. It also will be available online here. 

The resource guide offers NCAA member institutions, athletic conference leaders, athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes with information, policy and best practice recommendations and resources to assure that all members of the athletic department, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression can participate in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.

"My work at Athlete Ally, whether speaking to professional athletes or college students, is to answer the tough questions. We need to delve deep to make sure that every sports participant can engage as a valued member of his or her team”, says Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally. "This resource guide is yet another groundbreaking step by the NCAA and Athlete Ally to move the needle forward and I’m honored, on behalf of my organization, to be a part of it".

Co-author and leading scholar in this field, Dr. Pat Griffin, adds, "I think the new NCAA resource will provide administrators, coaches and student-athletes with lots specific guidance to make college sports respectful and inclusive for participants of all sexual orientations and gender identities."

The guide offers a comprehensive overview with recommendations, instructions and guidelines around best practices and policies for creating LGBTQ inclusive athletic cultures.  The document covers everything from intra-team dating guidelines to how a coach should respond when an athlete comes out. In addition to providing best practices recommendations, the guide offers an assortment of sample policies, LGBTQ definitions and terminology, and other helpful resources.

Athlete Ally's involvement with this NCAA policy guide is another success among the organization’s on-going presence and impact on colleges and universities across the country.  Athlete Ally has engaged thousands of college athletes through its key initiatives, including the Athlete Ally Pledge and on-campus ally trainings.  The organization’s Ambassador Program, for example, mobilizes scores of athletes on the collegiate level against homophobia and transphobia in sports.  It also engages professional athletes like Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brendon Ayanbadejo (Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens), Chris Kluwe (Minnesota Vikings), Scott Fujita (Cleveland Browns), Connor Barwin (Houston Texans), professional basketball player Dan Grunfeld, Australian rugby star David Pocock, Australian Rules Football player Brock McLean, and world champion cricketer Alex Blackwell.