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GAY LLEGE ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SOUTH DAKOTA FOUND REFUGE ON BASKETBALL URT
“If you would’ve told my 19-year-old closeted self that I wouldn’t only be able to live a fulfilled and happy life as an out gay woman, but also receive an award wh that beg the fg creria, I don’t thk I would’ve ever believed , ” she said. "Unfortunately, the overwhelmg majory of LGBTQ+ stunts, particularly those who intify as transgenr and nonbary, face discrimatn, harassment or other barriers when they seek to participate athletics at school, " Melanie Willgham-Jaggers, terim executive director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lbian and Straight Edutn Network, said a wrten statement.
Brendan Farrar, a sophomore on the men’s swimmg and divg team and member of the LGBTQ work group TUAIDE, said he realized the athletic partment's policy shortgs when received an x sre of 55 om Athlete Ally. Edor’s note: Common Ground is an iative to build bridg through nversatn between the lbian, gay, bisexual, trans an queer muny and people of fah llege athletics. We were the typil workg class fay, except for one ltle hch — I was gay.
When I wasn't travelg, I was at the school shootg hoops, imagg playg for Coach K or gettg glared at by Pat Summt, all while tryg to supprs the negative thoughts of beg gay. The basketball urt was the only place I uld go and lm the fears of what would happen to me if my fay and iends knew I was gay.