We love connecting with our Ambassadors!
This week, we're highlighting David Smith, a sports psychologist!
What is your sport?
Swimming, Power Lifting/Olympic Lifting, Cheerleading, Soccer, Teaching!
What made you want to become a You Can Play Inclusion Ambassador?
I've been actively involved with the LGBTQ+ sport community for 16 years now and my experiences as an athlete in grassroots inclusive sport have shaped my entire career trajectory and sense of purpose to become a sports professional. My mission is to break down barriers, develop a positive relationship with sport/exercise by building accessibility for everybody to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of physical activity on health and wellbeing. Furthermore, I see sport/exercise as a platform to empower confidence and authenticity within ourselves and eachother to express the best of who we are and discover what we're capable of.
You Can Play's mission aligns with my own in this regard, so becoming an Inclusion Ambassador offers an excellent opportunity to pursue this mission on a platform that will have a bigger outreach and impact. Within this role, I hope to better channel my knowledge and experience in building resources, education, and awareness that are utilized to really dive deep into the issues that make sport so inaccessible. Allowing us to understand why these barriers are in place so we can work effectively to dismantle them, making sport/exercise truly inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all.
Do you have any icons you look up to in your field?
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” - Nelson Mandela
I live by this quote everyday because I truly believe in the power of sport to bring people together through commonality. There are numerous examples of athletes who've fought discrimination through the sheer act of participating in sport. Jackie Robinson, Katherine Switzer, Billie Jean King, Renee Richards, Jesse Owens, Babe Didrikson, Matthew Mitcham, Greg Louganis, Richard Simmons, and countless others. I am inspired by these athletes because they are achieving so much in making a statement and taking a stand simply by "playing a game." These athletes have broken down so many barriers by showing the world who they are and what they are capable of through sport; making a statement of representation to inspire generations of people discovering that sport is for them too.
What advice would you give to people who want to become more involved in LGBTQ+ activism in sports?
Start learning! The best activism comes from a place of knowledge and experience. - Start studying the history of LGBTQ+ sports, read about famous LGBTQ+ athletes and LGBTQ+ sports history. There are no shortage of books, websites, and other resources.
Get involved with the LGBTQ+ sport community Find your favorite sport and join up with a local LGBTQ+ sports club, even if you're a novice, the clubs are very friendly and welcoming, they can help show you the ropes. Even if you don't play sports, you can volunteer in other roles and organizations (like You Can Play). Just get involved.
Attend LGBTQ+ sports events like Gay Games, Eurogames, Sin City Classic, and others. There are LGBTQ+ sports events big and small happening all over the world with sports, conferences, cultural events and so much more. Hundreds to thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes attend these events, you will meet a huge diversity of people and learn from them.
Learn about the prominent LGBTQ+ athletes and leaders in sports, from big names like Megan Rapinoe to controversial like Caitlyn Jenner to grassroots activists like Schuyler Bailer, Mack Beggs, and everybody in between. What are they saying? Where do they stand? What issues are they discussing?
Learn about the major issues affecting LGBTQ+ people in sports. Learn all the arguments on all side of the discussion and use that as a guide to educate yourself on the underlying topics of the argument. A lot of prejudicial and discriminatory arguments can be easily refuted through a basic sociological and scientific knowledge of the underlying question and people affected.
You can learn more about David @StonewallPerformance
Want to become an ambassador? Go to www.youcanplay.org/ambassadors to learn more!
Want to be featured as an ambassador? Fill out our Ambassador Highlight Form!
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