Out In Athletics x Northwest Conference

Dr. Kayleigh McCauley, Founder of Out In Athletics, spent Sunday working with the student-athletes of the Northwest Conference SAAC. The Northwest Conference SAAC Executive Committee made the decision to bring McCauley to their Spring SAAC meeting to facilitate an educational session addressing LGBTQA+ inclusion in athletics. This is the first Conference SAAC educational event for McCauley and Out In Athletics.

The Northwest Conference is comprised of 9 NCAA Division III institutions from across the Pacific Northwest. Out In Athletics calls Portland, Oregon home.

Northwest Conference SAAC Representatives & Out In Athletics Founder, Dr. Kayleigh McCauley

New Resources: Developed in Partnership by Athlete Ally & Out In Athletics

Out in Athletics recently partnered with Athlete Ally to create two timely resources for athletic administrators: 1) FAQ: LGBTQA+ / Transgender & Gender Expansive Policies, and 2) Model Policies: Transgender and Nonbinary Athlete Inclusion. These resources have been made available as open access resources by both Out in Athletics and Athlete Ally.

FAQ Document:

This document was put together based on a series of frequently asked questions by athletic administrators. We hope you will find this resource useful in developing LGBTQA+ policies at your institution or within your athletic department.

Model Policy:

This model policy was adapted from Lewis & Clark College Athletics and was created in partnership between Athlete Ally and Out in Athletics. Many policies allowing the participation of transgender athletes in sport follow the 2015 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism. This consensus statement -- an update from the 2011 statement -- no longer requires transgender athletes to get gender affirming surgery, but still contains problematic and arbitrary restrictions on hormone levels.

It is important to note that policies on transgender and nonbinary participation in sport are constantly changing. U Sports -- the national sport governing body of university sports in Canada -- released a groundbreaking policy in 2018 that allows transgender athletes to compete on teams that correspond with their gender identity, no hormone treatment needed. What U Sports leadership found was that there was a serious lack of scientific evidence that hormones significantly impact athletic performance.

The policy that the NCAA endorses is based on the 2015 Consensus statement. We have written the below policy based on NCAA guidelines. We hope that you will use this policy as a resource for your athletic department to ensure the full inclusion of transgender and nonbinary athletes.

Missouri State University Athletics Department Receives Inaugural Out In Athletics Grant

In June of 2018 Out In Athletics launched a fundraiser to fully fund LGBTQA+ programming for a limited resource athletics department or conference office.  Donations provided would allow an athletics department to bring Out In Athletics to their campus to facilitate LGBTQA+ programming or policy consultation, creating more LGBTQA+ inclusive spaces for student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans.

Later in July of 2018, Out In Athletics released a grant application, which was open to all limited and low resource institutions and conference offices.  The response rate for the inaugural grant was overwhelming.  After reviewing so many deserving and enthusiastic applicants, Out In Athletics is proud to announce that Missouri State University is the recipient of the Inaugural Out In Athletics Grant. 

Dr. Kayleigh McCauley, Founder of Out In Athletics, will visit Missouri State University in November 2018.  "I am impressed by the dedication of the Missouri State athletics staff.  Their desire and dedication to educate their community around the topic of LGBTQA+ inclusion in athletics is overwhelmingly positive."  Congratulations to the Missouri State University athletics staff, in particularly A'dja Jones, Director of Student-Athlete Development and Community Engagement, who was the primary author of the grant.

For inquiries regarding Out In Athletics visiting your campus or conference office, please email outinathletics@gmail.com

“I am impressed by the dedication of the Missouri State athletics staff. Their desire and dedication to educate their community around the topic of LGBTQA+ inclusion in athletics is overwhelmingly positive.”

— Dr. Kayleigh McCauley, Founder Out In Athletics

Lewis & Clark College Athletics Staff LGBTQA+ Training

Out In Athletics Founder, Dr. Kayleigh McCauley visited with the Lewis & Clark College athletics staff on Tuesday, August 14th.  The L&C coaches and athletic administrators participated in a training on LGBTQA+ Issues in Athletics, gaining a deeper understanding of inclusive language, recruiting practices, and coaching strategies.  The staff also spent time having dialogue with one another about how to create a move inclusive department, working together to create safe spaces for LGBTQA+ student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans.  The day ended with every staff member working on an Action Plan, to which they committed to making one change for the academic year, focused on LGBTQA+ inclusion. 

McCauley Featured on the #LiveMaas Podcast

Dr. Kayleigh McCauley, Founder of Out In Athletics, spoke with Wes Maas recently, as a guest on his #LiveMaas Podcast.  Episode 11 of the #LiveMaas Podcast can be listened through via Anchor, a podcast app.  Join Wes and Kayleigh as they discuss Out In Athletics and how athletic departments can support LGBTQA+ student-athletes, coaches, and administrators through programming, education, and policy. 

To listen to the episode click here: Episode 11 - #LiveMaas Podcast - Out In Athletics

McCauley Serves as a Panelist During 2018 CoSIDA Convention

Dr. Kayleigh McCauley, Founder of Out In Athletics, participates in the CoSIDA panel: Contemporary LGBTQ Issues in College Athletics.  This panel, facilitated by Mark LeFrance, was a new addition to the CoSIDA convention lineup, sponsored by the CoSIDA Diversity Committee and Inclusion Committee.  Panelists, McCauley, Drew Martin, Jimmy Gehrels, and Jerrell Price discussed how to make athletic departments more LGBTQ+ inclusive, and shared ways to tell and pitch the Dynamic stories of LGBTQ+ student-athletes, coaches, and staff.  #CoSIDA18

Out In Athletics Supports Caster Semenya’s Challenge to IAAF Ruling

On June 18th, 2018, Out In Athletics joined Athlete Ally, the Women's Sports Foundation, and other Human Rights Organizations in support of Caster Semenya's Challenge to the IAAF Ruling.  To view the joint statement published by Athlete Ally click here:  Leading Human Rights Organizations Support Caster Semenya’s Challenge to IAAF Ruling.