This month, many countries around the world are celebrating Pride Month. In recognition, we’re highlighting members of our network who are supporting the LGBTQ+ community through sport. Read our interview with Ashland Johnson, Esq. (she/her), President & Founder of The Inclusion Playbook. Working with teams, leagues and organizations across the United States - and at times internationally - the non-profit “envisions a world where sports empower and strengthen all of our communities.”

The Inclusion Playbook is made up of a collective of former athletes and sports professionals who are uniting policy and social justice to drive change within athletic organizations and society at large. Ashland spoke to us about sports and social justice, the impact of trans athlete bans on youth mental health, ways the sports community can support inclusion and more.

"LGBTQ+ athletes just want to participate and play the sport that they love, just like everyone else. There are many ways for allies to show up, from publicly denouncing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and discrimination to normalizing gender diversity. Protest anti-trans bills, sign petitions, change your organization’s policies, run a fundraiser, put support into action."  Read More

The Inclusion Playbook is a program partner on the Rexona (also known as Sure, Degree or Shield) Breaking Limits Program run in partnership with Beyond Sport. As part of the Program’s digital training series, designed to support coaches and young leaders, the Inclusion Playbook created a Training Module focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Click here to sign up to access the training series.