Seattle Seahawks and Fellow Seattle Professional Sports activities Groups Come Collectively to Assist Gender-Inclusive Youth Sports activities and Native LGBTQ+-Owned Small Companies

RENTON, Washington – The Seattle Seahawks today, in partnership with OL Reign, Seattle Kraken, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Storm, gave public support for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and its newly published Gender inclusive toolkit for executives interacting with youth athletes across the state. The teams also cooperate Intentionalist in a month-long driving program Support for local LGBTQ + owned small businesses.

Designed by experts from WIAA and Gender diversity, a national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the wide range of gender diversity, the free digital toolkit is available to all youth trainers, K-12 teachers and administrators, and parents in Washington state. As the presence of students of different sexes on sports teams and in classes and other activities increases, continued efforts towards inclusive practices and education are critical to creating a level playing field. The toolkit was created to address national dialogue on transgender and non-binary students, share best practices and provide resources to help develop supportive and non-discriminatory environments for young people.

All of Seattle’s professional sports teams – OL Reign, Seattle Kraken, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, and Seattle Storm – have come together to support the toolkit and collectively encourage fans to share it with youth sports teams, leagues, and coaches , Parents and administrators to make Washington State the most inclusive place to participate in youth sports in the country. The Seahawks and their teammates stand behind the toolkit’s purpose to promote inclusion and build the confidence of trainers, administrators, parents and youth to have gender diversity conversations.

The current toolkit can be accessed and downloaded at wiaa.com/dei. WIAA and Gender Diversity will continue to build on the toolkit during implementation and encourage organizations to provide feedback that can be shared at feedback@wiaa.com.

“By providing an integrative toolkit, trainers and administrators can take confident and informed steps to create the safest and most welcoming environment for all youngsters interested in a sport at any level,” said the WIAA executive director Mick Hoffmann. “The support and expansion of this resource by the Seattle professional sports community is critical to its impact and ensures that Washington State as a whole continues to be an inclusive place for all.”

“We believe in respect, inclusivity and justice for all,” said Chuck Arnold, President, Seattle Seahawks and First & Goal Inc. “As leaders and role models for the youth in our community, we pride ourselves on joining with our local professional sports teams to support Pride Month and assist the WIAA in its mission to Washington to make state athletics a place where all youngsters feel welcome. “

In cooperation with Aidan Key, Director of Gender Diversity, the WIAA was the first state activity association to issue guidelines on transgender sport and participation in activities. Successful guidelines and practices to support the participation of all students, regardless of identity, were developed by the WIAA office in 2007 and incorporated into the manual for the 2007-2008 school year. WIAA evaluated and improved its Gender Identity Participation philosophy and conditions of participation in 2019 and continues to be one of 16 state sports associations with fully integrative guidelines that help ensure the full participation of trans, non-binary and gender nonconforming students in high level athletics in the school.

As part of supporting the toolkit, the teams have created a public notice that will be shared on club platforms and used by WIAA nationwide. The PSA can be downloaded for media use here and includes the following representatives: Cristian Roldan (midfielder Seattle Sounders FC), Quinn (midfielder OL Reign), Dave Hunter (Seattle Kraken Pro Scout), Mitch Haniger (right fielder Seattle Mariners), Scott Servais (Seattle Mariners Manager), Karen Wilkins-Mickey (Seattle Seahawks, VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm Guard), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm Guard) and Mick Hoffman (WIAA Executive Director).

See below for additional quotes from teams.

SPENDING PROUDLY: SUPPORTING LGBTQ + OWNERS

For additional support on LGBTQ + issues, Seattle’s have professional sports teams – in collaboration with Intentionalist – also work from June to. together together, promote and encourage the community to visit and shop with local LGBTQ + owned small businesses across the region in a program called “Spend with pride. “

“LGBTQ-owned companies have long provided an important space where the community can feel safe, seen and connected,” said Laura Clise, founder and CEO of Intentionalist. “We are excited to be working with Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Storm, Seattle Seahawks, OL Reign, Seattle Mariners, and Seattle Kraken to encourage the community to join Pride and LGBTQ businesses during Pride Month and year round support. “

The Seahawks, in partnership with the Spend with Pride campaign, will support three local restaurants: Belltowns Taqueria Cantina, Madronas Shikorina Pastries, and Capitol Hills Two Doors Down. To show their support during the campaign, the Seahawks will visit each of the restaurants with the personalities of the mascot Blitz and Seahawks for a Seahawks Instagram takeover with the restaurant owners. In addition, the Seahawks will host a chat with Seattle sports teams, Intentionalist, and other LGBTQ + -owned small businesses to encourage fans to “Spend with Pride” in June and beyond.

Fans of all teams are encouraged to visit Intentionalist.com/Spend-With-Pride for a list of local businesses participating in the promotion. Throughout the month, fans can upload receipts from these companies for the chance to win jerseys or team prize packages from each team. Each time a receipt is uploaded, fans can choose the team prize package they want to participate in.

The teams will be promoting this activity throughout the month with the ultimate goal of reaching $ 25,000 in spending in these local LGBTQ + businesses. When the goal is achieved, all six teams will make a joint donation to support local non-profit gender diversity.

ADDITIONAL PRIDE MONTH ACTIVITIES

Throughout June, the Seahawks will support a variety of additional Pride Month causes, including more than $ 10,000 in donations to support LGBTQ + organizations, including:

– Seattle Pride Parade: the Seahawks are proud supporters of the Seattle Pride Parade and will encourage fans to take part in this year’s virtual parade.

– The Ryan O’Callaghan Foundation: The team will receive former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan to speak internally with staff about his journey to football. The team will also make a donation to its Ryan O’Callaghan Foundation, which will provide scholarship funding for talented LGBTQ + youth.

– Athlete Ally: The team donated Athlete Ally in support of his mission to advocate for LGBTQ + equality in sport and the belief that everyone should have equal access, opportunities, and experience in sport.

Every night from June 21st to June 27th, both Lumen field and T-Mobile Park will also be illuminate their distinctive roof arches in rainbow colors to celebrate pride.

Seahawks fans will also notice Pride avatars on Seahawks social media channels in June.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES FROM TEAM REPRESENTATIVES

Orienteering rule: “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with professional teams in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate and support the LGBTQ + community, including LGBTQ + owned businesses,” said OL Reign CEO Bill Predmore. “While much progress has been made, Pride Month is a reminder that there is still much to be done, including combating attacks on the rights of trans youth. We are proud to support the WIAA in their efforts to help Washington State to make one more. ” just and inclusive community. “

Seattle Kraken: “At Seattle Kraken, diversity, equity and inclusion are core tenets of our foundation and we believe that sport should be a place where everyone is welcome to join us,” said Death of Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken. “We are very proud to support our LGBTQ + community and fully support WIAA in their efforts to make Washington the most inclusive place for youth sports. We look forward to working with our friends from Seattle’s professional sports community to continue this important work and make a real positive impact on our communities. ”

Seattle Sailors: “The Seattle Mariners are deeply committed to increasing the participation of young people in physical activity by breaking down barriers and building a culture of inclusion. We believe in equal opportunities for trans and non-binary students to participate in sports and to excel “We applaud the WIAA for providing resources and education to help make Washington fairer for all,” said John Stanton, Chairman and Managing Partner of Seattle Mariners.

Seattle Sounder: “Sport has a huge impact on society and brings us together in a way that few other things can. Given this responsibility, we need to recognize the unique and strong platform that we have as a professional sports organization, ”said Sounders FC Owner and President of Business Operations Peter Tomozawa. “The Sounders strive to work with our social justice framework, which is two of its core tenets of LGBTQ + equality and the defense of the right to gamble. We are proud to support WIAA’s new gender equitable toolkit, which does both enables. ” starting with the youth, where creating welcoming environments and modeling inclusivity are crucial. We are excited to share this toolkit with our partners, and we are honored to be working with our colleagues across the Seattle sports spectrum to support this important work that will ultimately create a more inclusive community. “

Seattle storm: “The Storm is proud to partner with the collective professional sports community in Seattle to promote gender inclusion in youth sports and empower local LGBTQ + businesses,” said Alisha Valavanis, President and CEO of Seattle Storm. “The Storm has a long history of lobbying centered on Pride and efforts to support diversity and inclusion, not just in sport but in our community as a whole. We strive to share and believe the WIAA’s gender toolkit that this is the case. ” a vital contribution to building a welcoming, safe, and inclusive sports space across Washington state. “