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LGBTQ Inclusion and Religion: Seeking Common Ground in Sports Thursday, January 16, 2014. Pat Griffin Professor Emerita University of Massachusetts Amherst. Nevin Caple Co-Founder and Executive Director Br{ache the Silence Campaign @ BTSCampaign. My Story: Finding God’s Love.
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LGBTQ Inclusion and Religion: Seeking Common Ground in Sports Thursday, January 16, 2014
Pat Griffin Professor Emerita University of Massachusetts Amherst
Nevin Caple Co-Founder and Executive Director Br{ache the Silence Campaign @BTSCampaign
What are some of the challenges/solutions in finding common ground? • Lack of diverse voices represented; intersectionality (religion, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression) • Be proactive and seek out role models for student-athletes • Unsupportive parents, families or religious communities • Partner with campus multicultural/LGBT centers to identify LGBT-affirming religious resources and communities • Claims of “religious-based” department/team values by athletic administrators or coaches • Facilitate inclusion programming focused on changing behaviors, not values • Use inclusive words and descriptions which uplift vs. isolate and marginalize members of the team or department
Lisa Howe Executive Director Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce @HoweAbout
Josh Sanders Higher Education Committee Member GO! Athletes @joshbsanders
My Story • Involved in sports ministry for 6 years: • Summer’s Best Two Weeks, InterVarsity, FCA • Athlete, coach, counselor, and athletic director • “Came out” January 2012 • “Reparative Therapy” • Backlash from the Christian Community • GO! Athletes • Outsports
The Catalyst for Change “ Sports have the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people…” ~ Nelson Mandela
Inclusion & Religion • The most challenging, difficult, and painful conversation regarding LGBTQ equality. • The Church • Why? • 8x more likely to attempt suicide • 6x more likely to experience high levels of depression • 3x more likely to use illegal drugs • 3x as likely to be at risk for HIV/AIDS • Retrieved from http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy
Common Ground • Effective dialogue involves education • Learning each other’s language: • Sexual Orientation • “Homosexual” VS “Gay” or “LGBTQ” • “Lifestyle” • Shared interest • Common ground must drive inclusive policy
Lynn Thompson Director of Athletics Bethune-Cookman University @bccad95