CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The
America East Conference and the You Can Play Project (link) announced a partnership
today that will be dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all
athletes, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The conference office along
with student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all America East
institutions will combine with You Can Play to help to educate and change the
culture regarding the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
athletes in the locker room and on the playing field.
"The America East and its
members are delighted to partner with the You Can Play Project," said America
East commissioner Amy Huchthausen. "We want to create an environment of
inclusion in the locker room and on the playing field and we're committed to
implementing the mission of You Can Play across the conference. The America
East strongly supports Patrick and the work he has done, and we look forward to
engaging our student-athletes, coaches, fans and administrators in this
partnership as we move forward."
The America East is the first
Division I athletic conference to partner with the You Can Play Project.
"We are thrilled to be
partnering with the America East Conference and its member teams to create safe
arenas for LGBT players, coaches, and fans," said Patrick Burke, Co-Founder of
the You Can Play Project. "For LGBT athletes currently attending these schools,
or who may be considering which school to attend in the future, today is truly
a game-changer. We will work hard to help America East create inclusive locker
rooms through education, policy creation, and programs which will help shape
the culture of athletics at each school. With the help of the great schools, we
look forward to showing that inclusive locker rooms lead to championship
teams."
Patrick is the older brother of
Brendan Burke, who made headlines for being an openly gay equipment manager for
the Miami University Redhawks in 2009. Brendan died tragically when his car
lost control in a snow storm on an Indiana highway in February 2010. Patrick
carries on his younger brother's legacy and vision with the You Can Play
Project. For more information about the You Can Play Project, visit youcanplayproject.org.
By joining the You Can Play
team, the America East and its member institutions promise respect and safe
locker rooms for all student-athletes regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity. You Can Play seeks to
challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on
an athlete's skills, work ethic and competitive spirit. The America East
will support You Can Play in its mission to guarantee that athletes are given a
fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by
what they contribute to the sport or their team's success.
"This project and partnership
provides a great opportunity for America East to make our programs a more safe
and respectful place for all student-athletes," stated Bob Corran, Associate
Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Vermont.
"By focusing on athletes' skills, commitment, work ethic, and competitive
spirit, we can help eliminate homophobic behavior and attitudes, and challenge
the locker-room culture."
As part of the initiative, You
Can Play will work closely with the America East Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC) and current SAAC President Curtis Schickner.
"The America East Conference
SAAC is proud to support the You Can Play partnership through each of our
SAAC's and institutions," said Schickner. "We believe this initiative helps
foster a positive athletic experience for all student-athletes, regardless of
sexual orientation, and hope to create a more-inclusive environment on all of
our teams and campuses."
To support the cause, the
conference and its member institutions will partner for various promotional and
programming initiatives that will help to better educate student-athletes,
coaches, administrators and fans, to bring about a change in culture that will
make it acceptable to speak out in favor of LGBT athletes on campus.
About the America
East
Now in its fourth decade of operation, the America East
Conference has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I
conferences in the country with a commitment to broad-based, competitive
athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the
member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400
student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports.
America East also conducts the nation's most comprehensive academic recognition
program for student-athletes and collaborates on several community service
initiatives throughout its geographic footprint each year. With members spanning
from the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East
strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine
member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston
University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of
New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.
About You Can Play
You Can Play is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization
dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without
regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. You Can Play works to
guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by
other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport
or their team's success. You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of
locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete's skills, work
ethic and competitive spirit.