PORTLAND, Ore. ( June 13 ) — The LGBT Sports Summit kicked off yesterday in Portland, Ore. The event is the third annual meeting of the LGBT Sports Coalition, which aims to end anti-LGBT bias in sports.
Hosted by Nike under its #BETRUE banner, the Summit brings together leaders in the LGBT sports movement for three days, June 12-14, to discuss strategy aimed at making sports inclusive to all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The work focuses on athletics at all levels: K-12, college, professional and recreational sports.
Attendees consist of high school, college, amateur and professional athletes and coaches, sports administrators, activists, academics and other sports participants.
"Last year the summit changed my life," said Saunders High School boys basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo, who came out publicly after the 2013 Summit. "It allowed me to be myself and meet people like me. There's some really amazing work being done by attendees."
About the LGBT Sports Coalition
The coalition is an association of organizations and individuals committed to ending anti-LGBT bias in sports by 2016. It was formalized at the LGBT Sports Summit in Portland, Ore., in June 2013. Coalition member organizations include GO! Athletes, Women Sports Foundation, NIRSA Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, SHAPE America, Federation of Gay Games, Campus Pride, Br{ache The Silence, NCAA Office of Inclusion, International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, GLAAD, National Center for Lesbian Rights, It Gets Better, National Soccer Coaches Association of America LGBT Committee, Equality Coaching Alliance, You Can Play, GLSEN and Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. Individual members include Kirk Walker, Christina Kahrl, Sue Rankin, Jim Buzinski, Sherri Murrell, Nora Cothren, Caitlin Cahow, Angela Hucles, Diana Cutaia, Chris Mosier, Stephanie Wheeler, Laurie Priest, Jeff Sheng, Erin Buzuvis & Pat Griffin, Anthony Nicodemo, Cyd Zeigler and Jeff Sheng.