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Guest Blog | Athlete Ally Gathered in Portland for Annual Athlete Activism Summit

My name is Jordyn, and I am the Director of Development for Athlete Ally - the national nonprofit at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ rights & sports. From June 12th - June 15th we hosted our 5th annual Athlete Activism Summit in Portland and at Skamania Lodge. The Summit had over 200 attendees consisting of LGBTQIA+ college athletes, their ally teammates, and administrators. It is the largest gathering of its kind.
The Summit is needed: it is a place for LGBTQIA+ student athletes develop leadership skills, build community, and get back to play. At a time when being a young queer person in the United States, and specifically one playing sports, can be met with hostility the Summit is a homecoming and a becoming.
We knew that we wanted to kick off the Summit with our partners and friends at The Sports Bra. Athlete Ally and The Sports Bra are aligned in our drive to foster sporting spaces/environments where every person is not only welcome but loved for who they are.
On Thursday June 12th we co-hosted a Kickoff Event for sponsors, partners, and local women’s sports legends like Becky Sauerbrunn and Karina LeBlanc. We were so thrilled to start the Summit at the Bra; it was the perfect way to lead into our next few days.

 

For the next three days we had programming at Skamania Lodge, a beautiful setting an hour outside of Portland. The theme of this year’s summit was Spirit. Being in nature helped us connect with the elements, each other, and ourselves for much needed feelings of peace and alignment. 

 

Over the course of the next three days we heard from incredible speakers like USWNT legend Becky Sauerbrunn, TikTok sensation Coach Jackie Jay, the first trans non-binary WNBA player Lay Clarendon, Athlete Ally leaders Hudson Taylor, a.t. furuya, Dr. Anna Baeth, the first out NFL gay male coach Kevin Maxen, current trans NCAA rower Cillian Mullen, adidas Social Impact staff, and more. In addition to the inspiring onstage experiences, students spent time in breakout sessions learning communications strategies, political organizing tactics, and the foundation for how to build Athlete Ally chapters on their campuses. There are currently 32 Athlete Ally Chapters. 

 

Play is a central ingredient of the Summit design experience. Part of the what the Summit asks us to do is to think creatively about the future of sport and play helps us do that. 

 

The Summit takes place in a different location each year. So getting to explore the city and the sporting culture of the city is a part of our design. This year, we attended a Rose City Rollers derby match and the Thorns Pride Game where members of our group participated in pregame on-field activities. 

 

It is hard to put into words what the Summit is - but it’s power can be felt in the hugs below. The Summit is where we invest in the next generation of leaders to work towards the future where all people are seen and loved in sport. Much like The Bra, it’s a manifestation that not only is a different version of sports culture possible, it is wanted. 

Remember, always bet on the underdog. And in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, double that bet. When a team has more to win than a trophy and more to lose than a game, that’s the team to put your money on. Losing just isn’t an option - there is too much at stake. 

Go Team, 

Athlete Ally 

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