COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming has released the organization’s first-ever Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Cultural Inclusion Resource Guide to be launched during the United States Aquatic Sports (USAS) Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. This resource guide will help coaches, parents and clubs provide a safe and inclusive environment for all athletes. The guide was created to provide resources and tools so that members may enjoy a safe and inclusive environment.
This is one of many projects the organization’s Diversity & Inclusion team uses to create a culture of inclusion and opportunity for people of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, age, income, ethnicity, religion, gender expression and sexual orientation. By providing educational tools at all levels for staff, LSCs, coaches and athletes, USA Swimming is creating deeper relationships with and providing meaningful resources to underrepresented communities.
“We want to help break down barriers by making a commitment to the LGBTQ community and this LGBTQ guide is a huge step forward,” said Mariejo “MJ” Truex, USA Swimming Director of Programs and Services. “This guide highlights various aspects of USA Swimming policies and procedures and provides research, statistics, educational resources and best practices for those in our industry that are addressing the needs of our LQBTQ athletes.”
During the United States Aquatic Sports (USAS) Convention, the USA Swimming Diversity & Inclusion team will be on-site providing multiple resources to attendees including scenario-based training, committee meetings, LSC Diversity Camp opportunities and a D&I programming award. USA Swimming is also sponsoring a LGBTQ Alliance Breakfast with keynote speaker, Schuyler Bailar, member of the Harvard varsity men’s swim team and the first openly transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. Bailar is also featured in the guide along with athletes Tom Luchsinger, Bruce Hayes, G Ryan, Abi Liu, Chip Peterson and Jeff Commings.
The LGBTQ Resource Guide can be found here.
With the creation of the Cultural Inclusion Resource Guides, the Diversity and Inclusion Team is providing tools that will foster an inclusive environment and improve representation at all levels of the sport. The LGBTQ guide is the third in a series of ‘Cultural Inclusion’ guides – an African-American and Hispanic/Latino guide in both English and Spanish were released earlier this year; a guide for Asian-American and Native American communities will be released in coming months.