MEDFORD, MA (April 19, 2023) -- In the past few months, many in the Tufts University athletics community have come together to found a chapter of Athlete Ally, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the advocacy for LGBTQIA+ student-athletes.
The group is a space for both LGBTQIA+ and straight-ally student-athletes. Monthly events are dedicated to expanding support for queer athletes competing for Tufts, broadening perspectives, and fostering a community for an often unrecognized demographic of students.
Athlete Ally at Tufts, which was founded with the help of faculty sponsors athletic administrator Jon Bird and head women's lacrosse coach Courtney Shute, has already filled an important need for student-athletes on campus.
"I find it exciting that a chapter of Athlete Ally at Tufts can function as the nexus between Tufts Athletics and the Tufts LGBT Center," said Tufts Athlete Ally chapter president Ryan Kane (He/Him). "The presence of the nonprofit acts as a facilitator for creating community among LGBTQIA+ athletes, something vital to improving the athletic experience for this demographic of students."
The group started in September, and has transformed into one of the largest Athlete Ally chapters in the country. As of February, Tufts Athlete Ally has created a community of over 80 student-athletes, representing 22/28 varsity teams, as well as multiple club sports teams.
Recently, the group held an event with multiple sports psychologists from Boston University on how to overcome performance anxiety, specifically at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ identity.
"In high school, I was always scared of coming out to my team out of fear of being excluded," said Sophie Novitsky (She/Her), Athlete Ally social media coordinator and women's rowing standout. When I came to Tufts, I always felt welcome and accepted by my team for my identity and I wanted to help create a space where people on all teams could feel that kind of community within athletics."
The group have also aligned themselves with other Boston Athlete Ally chapters and queer organizations to hold events where LGBTQIA+ athletes and straight-allies can come together to further foster community not just at Tufts, but all over Boston.
Furthermore, Athlete Ally has partnered with the Tufts Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to host Pride Games on Saturday, April 22. Contests on campus will include softball, track & field, men's and women's tennis and men's lacrosse. Fans are encouraged to wear rainbow in support of pride initiatives, while the groups wil be handing out rainbow Jumbo stickers and providing wristbands to athletes to wear at home games.
The club continues to grow and has started a new legacy here at Tufts.
For more information on Athlete Ally, visit the Tufts chapter page
HERE or head over the the National Athlete Ally website
HERE.
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