COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 16. AS part of its House of Delegates meeting last weekend in Anaheim, California, USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct was voted to include protections against discrimination for gay/lesbian/transgender members.
The new policy reads as follows:
Discrimination in violation of the Amateur Sports Act which requires that USA Swimming must provide an equal opportunity to athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in the sport of swimming. Athletes must be allowed to participate and compete to the fullest extent allowed by the Rules and Regulations. Discrimination against any member or participant on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, genetics, mental or physical disability, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable, is prohibited.
USA Swimming’s new anti-discrimination provision falls in line with that from its parent organization, the U.S. Olympic Committee, which has long offered protections against all the above groups. Though the discrimination policy specifically addresses particular groups, the strong anti-bullying policy does not attempt to separate out various groups, stressing that bullying applies to people from all backgrounds.