Indiana University ( IU ) is taking yet another groundbreaking step forward with its athletic department's strong pro-LGBT stance.
The Hoosiers play host to Northwestern University on Saturday, Oct. 30, and the football game will be LGBT Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium on the Bloomington campus.
Jon Kitto's dream is coming to life—and this isn't some Halloween hoax.
Jump back to the summer of 2009. Kitto, 52, an associate director at IU, began talking with several Indiana officials in hopes of having an annual event at a football game designed to attract high school-aged LGBT individuals and their parents. Kitto spoke with Scott Dolson, executive director of the IU Varsity Club; Fred Glass, athletic director; Pat Kraft, senior assistant athletic director; and Rachael McAfee, director of alumni programs.
"The idea was to use football as a symbol that would send a message to all people: 'Indiana University Welcomes You!'" Kitto said. "I felt it would send a powerful message of acceptance to have an area that has historically been associated with homophobia, sponsor a festive event for gay, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people. My feeling was that it would take at least a year to plan an event the size that I envisioned.
"But Pat Kraft told his director of development, Andrew Rosner, to put together a special package for the LGBT community. With that, the athletic department and alumni association jumped in and really put this thing together. A special ticket price includes food, a T-shirt and an invitation to The Hoosier Village, a large pre-game tailgate party on the stadium grounds."
And, yes, "we do hope to make this an annual event of some type," Kitto added.
IU's athletic department jumped on the pro-LGBT campaign with both feet earlier this year, setting up June 12 at Pride Fest in Indianapolis.
"Indiana has always been on the forefront of acceptance and inclusion," Kitto said. "Reaching out wasn't on their radar, but neither was not reaching out. The short answer is that they were asked, and said 'yes.'"
Kitto said IU's pro-gay stance has been received very well, even with a sense of excitement within the athletic department. "The four straight members of the department who volunteered to work the department's booth at Pride were so excited that they proposed an athletic department float at the next Pride," Kitto said.
IU's campus in Bloomington is a four-hour drive from Chicago, and about 45 minutes by car from Indianapolis.
"Indiana University has long had a sizeable LGBT population," Kitto said. "Under the 70-year tutelage of Herman B Wells, Indiana promoted research and understanding in the area of sex and sexual orientation. Wells was very active in hiring diverse faculty and staff, so the University community has been accommodating for many years. Estimates are that there are approximately 10,000 LGBT people in the Bloomington community."
During the 2010 Indianapolis Pride, four IU athletes went to the athletic department's booth and identified themselves as gay to the personnel. "They said that the presence of the department sent such a strong message of acceptance that they came out to the department for the first time," Kitto said.
IU football coach Bill Lynch has volunteered to serve on a diversity panel and he was a judge in the "Mr. Out at Kelley" contest for the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Kitto said.
"Imagine that—a football coach judging a gay beauty contest," Kitto noted.
Doug Bauder, coordinator of the IU GLBT Student Services Office, confirmed that there has been an ongoing and escalating involvement with the athletic department for a number of years. Bauder points to a sign of the department's efforts as the results of a complaint involving homophobic comments being made by members of one team.
"We got a call immediately from the coaches," Bauder said. "They had us set up an anti-harassment workshop. A few days later, the GLBTSS office received a letter from the members of the team that had made the comments thanking them for the presentation and apologizing for the comments."
In addition, several teams have participated in training and Bauder serves on the board of a group that mentors athletes.
Kitto said IU's athletic department's presence in Indianapolis this past June, "caused quite a stir, in a very positive way." He said that thousands of people stopped by the booth, many to simply say, 'Thank you for being here.'
Alex Perry, a former IU linebacker who is now working on his master's in sports administration ( and who happens to be heterosexual ) , e-mailed Kitto after Pride Fest and said, "Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in the Pride event. I learned so much about people and myself. It was one of the best days of my life."
Kitto e-mailed IU Athletic Director Fred Glass to thank him for the department's support of Pride Fest, and Glass replied, "It's the right thing to do."
Kitto said the same sentiment runs throughout IU's athletic department.
"I think that everyone hopes that this type of interaction becomes so normal that it is not newsworthy," Kitto said. "But, for now, there are a number of things being discussed, in addition to the float at next year's Pride, [ such as ] a cooperative dinner and some social interaction between the groups."
IU also is extending the welcome mat to Northwestern's LGBT fans.
"This is bigger than just one school," said IU Alumni Association Executive Director JT Forbes. "This is about inclusion; we want to make a statement. Come to the party, root for your team, enjoy the experience."
Kitto said organizers are not expecting any protesters at the game—"absolutely none."
Just support—from everyone, even the players.
IU quarterback Ben Chappell e-mailed Kitto, "Thank you for all you are doing for Indiana University."
