Athlete Ally Response: James Blake
Yesterday the New York City Police Department (NYPD) took outrageous actions toward ATP tennis player and Athlete Ally Ambassador James Blake.
Blake is a strong supporter of Athlete Ally and joined the organization as a Professional Ambassador to help promote its work educating and activating athletic communities to champion LGBT equality.
Statement from Hudson Taylor, Founder and Executive Director, Athlete Ally
“All of us at Athlete Ally are shocked and saddened by the reports of the outrageous actions the NYPD took toward our ally James Blake. James has been a long time Athlete Ally Ambassador and a stalwart supporter of the LGBT community. We stand in solidarity with James in his call for an apology and an investigation to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.”
Athlete Ally’s mission is to educate and activate athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports and to exercise their leadership to champion LGBT equality. Founded in 2012, Athlete Ally has worked with the NBA, WNBA, and MLB on matters of respect and inclusion; led the Principle 6 campaign that convinced the International Olympic Committee to include sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause of the Olympic Charter; and counts more than 130 college, professional, and Olympic athletes among its dedicated and active Ambassadors. www.athleteally.org