Athletics Measures Support for LGTBQ+ Athletes

Through a larger project of NCAA Division III, Dickinson College Athletics is currently reviewing the amount of support for the LGBTQ+ community in the department.

In October, the department sent out an email asking student athletes to respond to a survey, which stated that it sought to gain information about “the current landscape and climate surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) issues on Division III campuses and conferences.”

Despite the fact that the NCAA was behind the initiative for the survey, Senior Woman Administrator and Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Kim Masimore said that the department is also committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. “We, as a department, felt strongly about disseminating that [the survey] to our student-athletes because we want their feedback about that topic,” she said.

Masimore said that personally, she “think[s] department-wide we can do a better job of making sure our student-athletes are developing off the field, off the court. I think we have an obligation as coaches to make sure that happens.”

Director of Athletics Joe Giunta agreed with this sentiment. “I do not feel we can be doing enough, so when Kim approached me with the survey from the NCAA, I thought it was imperative to send out to our student-athletes.”

Andi Rosenblatt ’20, a student-athlete, also critiqued the department’s efforts thus far, saying, “I haven’t heard much about what Dickinson does to support any student-athlete mentally and I have heard even less support for the LGBTQ community.”

Another student-athlete, Ryan Murphy ’20, said that the department could offer more visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. “I would appreciate knowing if there were other coaches who were identified as LGBTQ. I think that would only benefit athletes,” he said. Murphy also expressed that he still feels general support from Dickinson Athletics, saying he “never felt discriminated or left out because of my identity, I always got good feelings from my coaches and my teammates.”

Adam Gamber ’20 echoed Murphy’s statement of general acceptance for LGBTQ+ athletes, saying that he has “no evidence to the contrary.”

“It was encouraging to see that the athletic department was giving an effort to even reach out to the LGBTQ community rather than just assuming that everything is fine,” continued Gamber. “It was nice to see that sincere attempt was made and if we find that concerns are raised, then I hope the Athletic Department addresses those concerns in a timely and effective manner.”

Giunta explained that although the report from the survey will not come solely from the results at Dickinson, the department will look at Dickinson-specific changes. “I want Dickinson to be inclusive for all members of our community and will continue to work toward that goal,” he said.

For Murphy, a sweeping policy reform in the department would not be necessary. “I honestly would probably feel more different if there was a program that said, ‘We’re going to talk about LGBTQ in athletics,’….Because it’s like ‘Oh, we’re going to separate people based on their identity,’” he said.

Dickinson Athletics has already taken several steps to promote the message of inclusivity. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) recently produced a video as part of the “You Can Play” campaign, dedicated to “ensuring equality, respect, and safety for all.”

Masimore also said that she is working as a member of the Queer Trans Advocacy Committee and that a subcommittee has been devoted towards “dealing exclusively with athletes.”

While the department waits for the survey results to return from the NCAA, Giunta said that the main goal of Dickinson Athletics will be to remain “as inclusive and welcoming as we can be to all people whether they are student-athletes, coaches, fans, parents, alumni and/or community members.”