NEW YORK, NEW YORK ( April 3, 2015 ) — In the spotlight of the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship, athletes and Indiana community leaders will gather tomorrow to publicly comment on the events of the past week in Indiana and emphasize a call to action for sports to play a continued role in the advancement of LGBT civil rights.
This #Final4Fairness Press conference will feature Jason Collins, the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of four major North American pro sports leagues, Derrick Gordon, the first men's basketball player in the NCAA to come out as gay and play in a game, as well as community leaders like Indianapolis City Councillor Zach Adamson who sponsored the city's Anti-RFRA Resolution. Kyle Palazzolo, Staff Attorney, Midwest Regional Office of Lambda Legal, and Ashland Johnson, Director of Public Policy, Athlete Ally, will also be in attendance.
As a core part of Indiana's fabric, sports proved uniquely powerful in driving positive change for LGBT Hoosiers this week. Athletes, coaches, athletic institutions, and sports sponsors took a historic stand on the right side of history in a moment of great need; and, their actions had impact.
Now, sports communities must continue to rally together in support of equal rights. While the modification to Indiana's new religious refusal law, enacted yesterday, is an important step to reduce the harm to LGBT people living or visiting Indiana, the amendment fails to meaningfully protect them from discrimination. In addition, lawmakers in many more states, including North Carolina and Texas, are seeking to advance religious refusal bills.
About Athlete Ally
Athlete Ally is a non-profit organization that educates and empowers the athletic community to take a stand against homophobia and transphobia in sports. Athlete Ally works with MLB, the NBA, and NBPA on player development and LGBT inclusion. It also co-wrote the NCAA's LGBT policies and resource guides and partners with over a hundred professional athletes and college campuses to promote LGBT equality and respect.
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About Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Anyone who experiences discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, explained as due to others' religious beliefs, is encouraged to contact Lambda Legal's Help Desk.