Name: Tilda Sutter
Social Justice Group: Sports and Equality
Date of Fieldwork: November 17, 2017
Name of Organization: Athlete Ally
Person (people) with whom I met and their job titles: Allison Grover, board member and treasurer
Type of Fieldwork: Interview
What I did:
We met Allison Grover at school and interviewed her about what it’s like to work for Athlete Ally. We discussed what she considers the biggest issues facing LGBTQ rights in sports and what we can do to help. We also talked about title nine and the current administration.
What I learned:
I learned so much from Allison Grover, especially about what actions people are making in the world today to support LGBTQ rights in sports. She has had a lot of experience with this issue, and she originally worked for Goldman Sacks on creating a safe space for people who identify as LGBTQ. She says one of the best things people can do is prove that they are allies, especially if they don’t identify as LGBTQ. We also learned about how something so simple as having a gay pride flag at your desk can make everyone feel safer in your community. She also talked about the founder of Athlete Ally, Hudson Taylor, and how he goes to schools and talk about creating a safe space. Taylor doesn’t identify as LGBTQ, but he still makes a change to help others. She also told us about a diver from Indiana that spoke out against a law that prohibits transgender people from using the bathroom in which they choose, and he actually made a really big difference.
What I learned about Social Justice “work” and/or Civil and Human rights “work” from this fieldwork:
I learned that on this issue everything isn’t black or white, there are many different opinions, especially on the topic of transgender rights in sports. I also learned that sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a safe environment for everyone. Allison Grover said that when she worked at Morgan Stanley she had a lot of the people in the office but a gay pride flag on their desk and a sticker that said: “I am an ally”. It may not seem like much, but she said if you’re new to the office and identify as LGBTQ and you see your colleagues and even boss supporting you, it can make all the difference. Sometimes all you need to make a change is a sticker on your desk.
