Welcome
Dear Summit Participant,
The University of Richmond Recreation and Wellness Department would like to welcome you to the LGBTQ College Sports Summit. As an administrator and educator at the University of Richmond, I have always strived for and worked from a place of high standards, high expectations, and excellence. We are excited and proud of this partnership with Campus Pride and our other on and off campus sponsors to highlight another example of our commitment to inclusion and excellence.
On behalf of the Department of Athletics, I welcome you to the University of Richmond and Campus Pride College Sports Summit. We are happy to collaborate with Campus Pride, the Office of Common Ground and the Department of Recreation to share knowledge and create a meaningful dialogue on this important topic.
Our department works collaboratively with the University’s Common Ground department to ensure our facilities, programs, and services are a place where students can recreate and socialize on a common ground. Recreation and Wellness at the University of Richmond is committed to ensuring an open and inclusive environment that welcomes and benefits from people of diverse backgrounds, encourages the exchange of ideas from diverse perspectives, promotes social and professional interaction among people from a broad range of backgrounds, promises full access to facilities and programs/services, and opposes intolerance while educating against exclusion, so as to prepare students to function effectively in a diverse community. We encourage you to take some time during your visit to explore our campus and the Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness. Our programs and services are intended to be meaningful and purposeful to promote physical fitness, relieve stress and help students with their emotional and psychological well-being. The majority of our Recreation and Wellness team has completed safe zone training and is dedicated to the same high standards of excellence and committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment. Sincerely,
Tom Roberts
Assistant VP Recreation and Wellness University of Richmond
The Department of Athletics supports the tenets of the Richmond Promise to be a diverse and inclusive community strengthened intellectually and socially by the range of knowledge, opinion, beliefs, political perspective and background of its members regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, age, religious, economic or geographic origin. We seek to model an inclusive campus community that values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. In addition, the Department of Athletics strives to mirror the diversity we see in our community and recruit talented staff and studentathletes who can contribute to the wide range of campus diversity. We hope that this summit will be a conduit to facilitate meaningful discussion on how each of us as individuals and as organizations can model an inclusive community that provides an environment where LGTBQ student-athletes feel welcomed and supported by coaches, staff and fans. Sincerely,
Keith Gill
Director of Athletics University of Richmond
9:30am-11:00am Out of the Shadows: Experiences of LGBTQ Student-Athletes with Dr. Sue Rankin (Alice Haynes Room, Tyler Haynes Commons)
Thursday, February 6th 7:00pm Big Man on Campus: Coming Out, Playing Sports, and Being Enough with Kye Allums (Alice Haynes Room, Tyler Haynes Commons) “There’s no place in sports for someone like me!” Kye has heard this one to many times, because sports should be a place for ALL athletes. During this presentation, we will discuss the challenges that come along with coming out in sports, combating dysphoria on and off the playing field, and what ‘being enough’ looks like for you. 9:00pm Exclusive Premier Film Showing of “The Rugby Player” (The Pier, Tyler Haynes Commons) “The Rugby Player” is an uplifting and stereotype-shattering documentary that tells the story of a mother, a son, and what it takes to be a hero. The film explores the lives of Mark Bingham, one of the passengers of United Flight 93 on 9/11, and his mother, Alice Hoagland, a former United Airlines flight attendant. “The Rugby Player” is an intimate portrait of how a son’s heroism can inspire a nation, and how a mother’s love can turn unfathomable loss into unshakable resolve.
Friday, February 7th
The settings of college campuses have improved for queer-spectrum and transspectrum students. Yet when research examines the experiences of LGBTQ students, one group routinely missing from studies are student-athletes. I was interested in the unique experiences of student-athletes who identified as LGBTQ and offer some insight into their experiences. This presentation will provide a review of the results of a 2010 study focusing on the experiences of the 401 self-identified LGBTQ student-athletes in the SACS project. We will explore how the climate (campus, departmental, team) influences LGBTQ student-athletes’ academic and athletic success. We will also provide current resources for higher education administrators, athletic coaches, faculty, and health staff to implement strategic initiatives that address the needs and concerns of their LGBTQ studentathletes.
11:00am – 12:30am Breakout Sessions Bullying on the Team with Beth Panilaitis & Charles Dyson, ROSMY (Tyler Haynes Commons 348) Bullying on sports teams can take a variety of forms; verbal, physical, social or even cyber. There are negative consequences for individuals as well as the team as a whole when bullying occurs. This workshop focuses on strategies to stop and prevent bullying where participants will learn how to create an atmosphere of respect, support and team unity. ROSMY’s mission is to ensure equal opportunities for success for Virginia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, ages 11-20, through access to support, education, and advocacy.
8:30am-9:00am Registration & Check-In (Alice Haynes Room, Tyler Haynes Commons)
Coming Out on the Team with Ted Lewis, Associate Director for LGBTQ Campus Life, University of Richmond (Tyler Haynes Commons 346)
9:00am-9:30am Welcome Address (Alice Haynes Room) Keith Gill, Athletic Director, University of Richmond Dr. Steve Bisese, Vice President for Student Development, University of Richmond
Sport teams offer a sense of family, community, and even identity. The coming out process for LGBTQ student athletes is often complicated by the team dynamics. This workshop focuses on the coming out process with a specific lens to student athletes, and will offer tools for how to create a team environment where everyone feels welcomed.
Religion, Sports, & Sexuality with Rev. Craig Kocher, Chaplain, University of Richmond (Tyler Haynes Commons 321) Religious faith, sports, and sexuality are all powerful aspects of an athlete’s life. Navigating the intersection of these identities can be at times challenging and uncomfortable as well as affirming and life-giving. This workshop focuses on how athletes, coaches, and administrators can work together to create communities where differences in experience and belief contribute to personal flourishing and team success. Please note this session is only open to coaches, administrators, faculty and staff.
12:30pm-2:00pm Lunch with LGBTQ Athlete Alumni Panel Moderated by Kye Allums Allie Albright A native of Burlington, VT, Allie Albright is a 2013 graduate of the University of Richmond (B.A. International Studies-Africa, Minor Studio Art). She is the recipient of the 2013 Elizabeth Booker Award given by Westhampton College. During her junior year, she studied abroad at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. For her senior thesis, she explored the topic of female genitalia mutilation in a work entitled, “The Discourse between Global and the Local: Female Genital Mutilation – An examination of Western Ideology colliding with Tanzanian Cultural Tradition”. Athletically, Allie was a four year goal keeper on the University of Richmond Women’s Varsity Soccer Team (20092013). While in high school, she was a four year starter, first team all-state goal keeper and a member of the 2008 High School State Championship team at the Colleigate School (Richmond, VA). Allie continues to express concern for and wishes to positively impact the world and her community through education, art and sport.
Alex Rooke Alex Rooke graduated with a BA in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies from University of Richmond in 2012. As a student, Rooke, was a leader in a WILL (a gender/ sexuality studies student organization), and played rugby briefly as a senior. Since graduation, Rooke enjoys volunteering at the Fan Free Clinic and ROSMY, in addition to some work at Higher Achievement Richmond and the YMCA. Rooke is currently navigating the intersection of a personal and professional life as a queer individual. Kevin Grayson Born in Frankfurt Germany, Kevin Grayson is a 2010 graduate of the University of Richmond (B.A. Sociology, Minor History). During his tenure at Richmond, he was a member of the Richmond College Student Government Association, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, as well as founder and president of the UR MEN 4 Change, and one of the founding fathers of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he served as the High Delta (recruiting coordinator). A wide receiver for the Richmond Spider’s Football Program (2006-2010), Kevin was instrumental in leading the Spiders to two conference championships (2007, 2009) as well as the school’s first National Championship in football (2008). In addition, he was named the 2007 CAA Rookie of the Year, as well as to the CAA All-Conference team three times (2007, 2008, 2009). He is 4th in all time reception yardage and total receptions. Upon graduation, Kevin played football professionally in the Italian Football League for the Parma Panthers. In 2012, he helped lead the team to the league’s equivalent of a Super Bowl Championship where he was awarded Super Bowl MVP honors. After a WTVR CBS 6 News interview in the summer of 2013, out.com named Kevin’s acknowledgements as the 20th most powerful coming out of 2013. Kevin’s story has been featured in multiple publications and websites.
Sean Letsinger A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Sean Letsinger serves as the current head diving coach at the University of Richmond. He is a 2011 graduate of University of Tennessee (B.S. Sports Management, Minor Business) and is in the process of completing his M.S. in Sports and Recreation Studies through South Dakota State University. Prior to joining the Spiders’ coaching staff, Sean was the head men’s and women’s diving coach at South Dakota State University, an student assistant diving coach at the University of Tennessee, the assistant diving coach for Tennessee Diving and head diving coach for Knoxville Catholic High School. During his nine year coaching career, his divers have competed, won and received multiple honors on the junior, high school, collegiate, national and international level. Athletically, Sean was a letterman diver (2007-2010) at the University of Tennessee where he was awarded the first Inspiration Award at the 2010 Volscars, University of Tennessee’s athletic annual awards ceremony. As a junior competitor, he qualified and competed in 14 USA Junior Olympic Nationals, one USA Diving Junior Olympic World Trails (2002), two USA vs. Canada Junior Challenges (2002, 2003), one Junior Olympic Pan-American Games (2003), as well as on multiple USA Diving International teams. Sean is the current record holder for the Knoxville Area High School City Championships and was named Tennessee State High School Diver of the Year three times (2004-2007) and Texas Roadhouse High School Athlete of the Week (2003). In addition to his duties as head diving coach at the University of Richmond, Sean is the current owner, director and head diving coach for Richmond Area Diving, LLC.
2:00pm-3:00pm Breakout Sessions Transgender Athletes with Sue Rankin & Kye Allums (Tyler Haynes Commons 346) This session will review the legislation by sports organizations (state, local, national, and international) regarding competition guidelines for transgender student-athletes. The policies will be reviewed followed by a discussion with participants. Peeling the Onion: The Layers of Queer Student-Athlete Identity with LaRee Sugg, Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator, University of Richmond & Dr. Joe Boehman, Dean of Richmond College, University of Richmond (Tyler Haynes Commons 348) College students go through their own journey of personal development towards their authentic self. Added layers of gender, being a student-athlete and being LBGTQ could complicate the journey. This session will provide a theoretical background for discussion and explore these intersections of identity. Religion, Sports, & Sexuality with Rev. Craig Kocher, Chaplain, University of Richmond (Tyler Haynes Commons 321) Religious faith, sports, and sexuality are all powerful aspects of an athlete’s life. Navigating the intersection of these identities can be at times challenging and uncomfortable as well as affirming and life-giving. This workshop focuses on how athletes, coaches, and administrators can work together to create communities where differences in experience and belief contribute to personal flourishing and team success. Please note this session is only open to students and student-athletes.
3:30pm-4:15pm Hidden in Plain Sports with Wade Davis (Alice Haynes Room, Tyler Haynes Commons) with Introduction from Tom Roberts, Assistant Vice President for Recreation & Wellness, University of Richmond Understanding and accepting your sexual orientation are very different experiences, and it’s even more complex when you add sports and race to the equation. Through humorous and detailed story telling learn about how living inside one’s head can be the most dangerous place to exist. And how finding community is a beautiful path towards self-love.
4:15pm-5:00pm Roundtable Discussions The summit will provide this space for groups to meet up around different topics they wish to discuss. There will be time for individuals at the conference to name areas for further discussion and each table will be assigned a facilitator.
Kye Allums Kye Allums made history when he became the first “out” transgender person to play NCAA Division I athletics. In May 2012, he shared his story of playing on the George Washington University women’s basketball team with Sports Illustrated and became a media sensation. Since then, he has been featured in the “In The Life” documentary series and appeared on Anderson Cooper 360, in addition to being named to The Advocate’s 2011 “Forty Under 40,” TheGrio’s 100 History Makers in the Making for Black History Month, and OUT Magazine’s OUT 100 for 2011. Kye’s experiences led him to create the Transition Tour to educate faculty, students, and student-athletes about transgender identities and issues, including his own story, in order to create a safer and more positive environment for everyone. He explains, “The Transition Tour was established to spread Transgender awareness around the world. It is vital for individuals to understand that transgender people are just like everyone else. We are all humans and everyone deserves the right to a health and happy life.”
Dr. Susan Rankin
Wade Davis
Dr. Susan Rankin is a Research Associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education and Associate Professor of Education in the College Student Affairs Program at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Rankin earned her B.S. from Montclair State University in 1978, a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from The Pennsylvania State University in 1981, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration in 1994, also from Penn State. Before moving into her current position, Dr. Ranking served for 17 years as the Head Coach for Women’s Softball and Lecturer in Kinesiology at Penn State. She has presented and published widely on the impact of sexism, racism and heterosexism in the academy and in intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Rankin’s current research focuses on the assessment of institutional climate and providing program planners and policy makers with recommended strategies to improve the campus climate for under-served communities.
Wade Davis is a nationally recognized speaker, activist, writer and educator. Davis is a former NFL football player who played for the Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, and Seattle Seahawks, as well as two different teams within the NFL Europe league. Wade is the newly named Executive Director of the You Can Play Project, an organization dedicated to ending discrimination and homophobia in sports. He’s the co-founder of the You Belong Initiative, a Youth Sports and Leadership camp targeting LGBTQ and straight allied youth. He’s the former assistant director of academic enrichment and work readiness for the Hetrick Martin Institute, where he taught at-promise LGBT youth how to define success for themselves. Wade was also an LGBT Surrogate for President Obama during the 2012 election and is currently a visiting professor at Rutgers University.
Dr. Rankin has collaborated with over 70 institutions/ organizations in implementing assessments and developing strategic plans regarding social justice issues. In her advocacy work, Dr. Rankin is a founding member of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, a network of professionals doing advocacy work for LGBT people on college campuses and the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, a network of individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth committed to securing and defending full civil rights for LGBT individuals. Dr. Rankin is the recipient of the American College Personnel Association’s 2008 Voice of Inclusion Medallion. The award recognizes individuals who embody the student affairs values of social justice.