FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 22, 2009

Groundbreaking Think Tank to Address Equal Opportunity for Transgender Student-Athletes

(San Francisco, California, September 22, 2009) — A groundbreaking think tank sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation Initiative: It Takes a Team! Education Campaign for LGBT Issues in Sport will gather national sports leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to address equal opportunity for transgender student-athletes. As increasing numbers of young people identify as transgender in high school or college, the convening will provide an opportunity to identify best practices and develop model policies for high school and collegiate athletic leaders to ensure the full inclusion of transgender student-athletes.

“NCLR is pleased to join the Women’s Sports Foundation in our second national think tank addressing the equitable treatment of LGBT student-athletes,” said NCLR Sports Project Director Helen Carroll. “By bringing together leaders in athletics and the legal field, we can develop effective strategies to ensure transgender athletes are treated fairly. Our goal is for individuals to be judged on their skills and abilities on the playing field, not on irrelevant factors such as gender identity and sexual orientation.”

The think tank will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 25-26, 2009. Participants include top sports leaders from across the country, athletic directors, researchers, medical and legal experts on transgender issues, student-athletes, and NCAA officials. This group of key leaders will explore solutions and develop action steps in developing fair and equal policy for all student athletes.

“The question of how best to include transgender athletes on high school and collegiate athletic teams in fair and equitable ways needs to be asked and answered based on sound information, research and input from a multitude of experts and constituencies,” said Karen Durkin, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation. “This ground-breaking event, which the Women’s Sports Foundation is pleased to support, will result in the development of effective policy recommendations for schools that provide for greater equity and respectful treatment of student-athletes of all genders.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.nclrights.org.

The Women’s Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through physical activity through education, programming and public policy advocacy.
WomensSportsFoundation.org

It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Sport is an education and advocacy initiative of the Women's Sports Foundation dedicated to the elimination of barriers to safe and respectful sports participation for all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
ItTakesaTeam.org

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