{"id":5263,"date":"2011-03-18T10:21:18","date_gmt":"2011-03-18T10:21:18","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-03-18T10:21:18","modified_gmt":"2011-03-18T10:21:18","slug":"sports-project-to-address-glbt-issues-in-k-12-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/proudparenting.com\/2011\/03\/sports-project-to-address-glbt-issues-in-k-12-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports project to address GLBT issues in K-12 sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an effort to make K-12 sports and P.E. safer and more inclusive regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity\/expression, a group of concerned people have banded together to create Changing the Game<\/strong><\/a>. Among the advisory group: Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova; current NFL player Scott Fujita and former NFL player Wade Davis; Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke; three-time All-American wrestler Hudson Taylor; Outsports.com co-founder Cyd Zeigler; Rugby player Ben Cohen; former MLB player Billy Bean; and former NBA player John Amaechi; Olympic softball medalists Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lappin; WNBA player Candice Wiggins and WNBA Coach Lin Dunn.<\/p>\n

When asked if there were particular spaces at school students avoided because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable, 35.7% of LGBT student said locker rooms, the highest percentage of any place at school. Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth (84.6%) said they\u2019d experienced harassment in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation and nearly two-thirds (63.7%) because of their gender expression, according to GLSEN\u2019s 2009 National School Climate Survey. Additionally, 61.1% said they felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

\u201cGLSEN is committed to the principle that all students should have equal access to the services, supports and opportunities of a K-12 education,\u201d GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. \u201cChanging the Game is designed to help schools, coaches, athletes and families create a healthy atmosphere of respect in PE classes and competitive athletics. Sports and PE were a central part of my life growing up, and are critical for student health and well-being. Every child today should have the opportunity to participate fully and safely in every aspect of school life.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s website features a collection of \u201cGame Plan\u201d resources for athletes, athletic administrators, coaches and parents<\/a>; a Game Changer video project (see below) to raise awareness about people making a difference in the sports world every day; the Team Respect Challenge pledge for teams to commit to treat all teammates with respect. Additional Changing the Game programs will be introduced in the coming months.<\/p>\n

Article adapted by ProudParenting.com from original press release<\/cite><\/p>\n

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