Citing recent anti-transgender legislation in Arkansas and other states, USA Cycling is holding a first-ever inclusion conference “to bring the cycling industry together to address the issue of inclusion in cycling.” The event will take place in Colorado Springs in September 2021, though they did not list an exact date or a specific itinerary yet.
USAC is working with The Inclusion Playbook, a sports consulting firm led by a former Division 1 athlete and civil rights advocate “with the goal of empowering social change agents to transform communities in and through sports.” They list their primary areas of focus as racial justice, gender equity, and LGBTQ+ inclusion, and add that “Right now, we consider transgender athletes’ inclusion and equity to be an urgent and top priority nationwide.”
USAC says that the conference will focus on four key underrepresented communities in cycling: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled athletes, and women, and representatives from those communities will be invited to shape the conference’s agenda and lead conversations, presentations, and workshops, while cycling industry members can attend as audience members.
Other goals of the conference include:
- Provide voice, visibility and industry-wide accountability for underrepresented communities in cycling.
- Educate the broader cycling industry on the importance of creating and fostering inclusive and safe spaces for ALL.
- Provide and disseminate examples of inclusion “Best Practices” for specific audience groups (e.g., brands, teams, event organizers).
- Establish cycling industry inclusion commitment.
- Shape and launch the Inclusion Coalition.
Last week, USAC announced that they will change the venue for the 2021 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship after the organization learned of an anti-transgender bill being considered in the host state’s legislature. The legislation would have barred transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, according to USAC, although they did not say which state the championship was slated to host. They have denied that the state is Arkansas. The legislation in the unnamed state was passed into law.
Subsequently, USAC is currently reviewing new venue options, which they have deemed as “feasible.” This might not always be the case though.
“While USA Cycling is, in this instance, able to relocate this particular event, it will not always be the case that we can move events in states that have passed similar legislation, either due to previous contractual and legal commitments or the inability to find a suitable replacement venue given the length of time before the event is due to take place.”
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