Columbia University wrestling coach
Hudson Taylor recently took his anti-homophobia campaign to Bates
College.
The 24-year-old Taylor, who founded the
website AthleteAlly.com,
is touring college campuses encouraging the athletic community to
shun the use of anti-gay slurs and treat all athletes with respect.
In
a column published at gay sports website Outsports.com, Taylor
talked about his May 12 Bates College visit.
“The event included my kick-off
address, a panel discussion entitled Respect for All Individuals
and a barbeque on the school quad,” Taylor wrote. “Like the
students, coaches and administrators at Marist and Amherst Colleges
and the other schools that I’ve recently addressed, the Bates
community was thrilled to cultivate and empower its allies. Hundreds
of student-athletes signed the Athlete Ally Pledge, adding to the
hundreds of Bates students who had already signed our Pledge. I was
also very inspired by the program’s panel presenters. I enjoyed
feeling part of the campus and witnessing the community unify for
this cause. I was able to wear a Bates t-shirt to better join in the
camaraderie – also a great souvenir.”
Taylor is among the handful of openly
straight sports celebrities speaking out on the issue.