Baltimore Ravens’ Brendon Ayanbadejo Joins Athlete Ally Ambassador Program

We're excited to kick off 2013 with a big announcement! In another display of commitment to LGBT rights, Brendon Ayanbadejo of the playoffs-bound Baltimore Ravens, has signed on as our newest Athlete Ally Ambassador. We're so pleased to welcome Brendon to our team, and can't say enough about him as a role model and inspiration. As an ambassador, he'll help engage athletes across the country to speak out and encourage athletes, coaches, and fans to challenge homophobia and transphobia in sports. 

Brendon is a leader on and off the field and has been a vocal supporter of the LGBT community since 2009. "Athlete Ally is about respect and ensuring people the opportunity to be themselves.  There’s nothing more fundamental than that when it comes to football,” he told us when joining our cause.

Brendon is the second professional athlete to join the Ambassador Program. Just last month, we welcomed the Minnesota Vikings' Chris Kluwe to the program. Chris is another NFL standout who heads to the playoffs with the Vikings, and we're really excited about the potential for what these stellar athletes will accomlish on behalf of LGBT inclusion in sports.  

On the Ambassador Program's drive to involve active professional athletes, former New York Ranger and Athlete Ally Board Member Sean Avery added: “When athletes like Brendon Ayanbadejo and Chris Kluwe align with Athlete Ally through the Ambassador Program, they aren’t just raising awareness, they are setting examples for every kid, parent, coach and fan in America.”

As more professional athletes become ambassadors, we're reminded that there are many elite athletes out there who openly welcome LGBT individuals to the sporting arena, be they fans or athletes themselves.