Athlete Ally and GLAAD Respond to NCAA Site Selection in States with Trans Athlete Bans
May 17, 2021 (New York, NY) — Athlete Ally and GLAAD responded today to news that NCAA Division 1 Softball championship sites for 2021 include schools in states with transgender athlete bans. This coincides with news that Division 1 Baseball regionals and super regionals potential sites also include states which have passed transgender athlete bans.
“We are disappointed by the NCAA’s decision to host Division 1 Softball championship games and to propose Division I Baseball championships in states with legislation banning transgender student-athletes from participation,” said Athlete Ally and GLAAD in a joint statement. “On Friday, the NCAA told us in a letter that it works to ‘ensure hosts for…all championships are able to foster an environment free from discrimination,’ and NCAA policy states that NCAA events in all divisions must provide environments that are safe, healthy, and free of discrimination. Selecting states with discriminatory policies as sites for championship games goes directly against this policy by effectively banning transgender student athletes simply for being who they are. We call on the NCAA to reverse this decision and support the right of all student-athletes — including transgender student-athletes — to be safe, healthy and free of discrimination while participating in NCAA events.”
About Athlete Ally: Athlete Ally believes sport will change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people. As a leading national nonprofit working at the intersection of sport and LGBTQI+ equality, Athlete Ally works to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes and endangers LGBTQI+ people in sport. We educate individuals and institutions to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQI+ people and how they can build an inclusive culture within their athletic communities. We work to ensure sport governing bodies, teams and leagues adopt policies that reflect the diversity of their constituents. We incubate athlete activism to advance LGBTQI+ equality in and through sport. For more information, visit https://www.athleteally.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.