Why Compete Has an Ally as Its COO

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW some of the history of gay sports leagues, they were formed for members of the Gay community to play the sports they loved in a safe space where they could be their authentic selves. Due to their past fears that they would no longer be safe, there was strong initial resistance to allowing others from the cisgender community to join their ranks.

Once they allowed change to happen, their teams grew and become stronger. They finally realized that their organizations benefited when they worked as a team that included individuals different from the original members. As the former commissioner of NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance), the international organization for gay softball, I realized the benefit of having a well-rounded, diverse, and inclusive team where in addition to their passion for playing, each person also brings the added value of their personal abilities and experiences.

The question of why Compete has an ally as its COO really stems from this much older question of why any LGBTQ+ team or organization should want to have allies as part of their mix, especially in a position of power. But Compete has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to sports diversity.

I believe we are lucky to have ally Connor Shane, SDLT as our COO. He not only brings his organizational skills to the mix; he also brings his passionate advocacy for DEI, especially in support of transgender athletes, as well as his experiences working in the field of Olympic sports.

Long before I joined Compete as a team member, I always believed in the work it was doing and supported its continued growth. Compete realizes the value and worth of each individual who works here and what they bring to this organization. I’m proud to say that Compete practices what it preaches!

JOHN DEFFEE, SDLT VP of Partnerships | DEI Advocate