Horizon League Announces #OneHL Athlete Ally Chapter
Rachel White
INDIANAPOLIS (November 10, 2023) – The Horizon League’s #OneHL group has started a chapter with Athlete Ally, establishing the organization’s first conference chapter.
Why it Matters:
Athlete Ally believes sport will change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people. As a leading national nonprofit working at the intersection of sport and LGBTQI+ equality, Athlete Ally works to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes and endangers LGBTQI+ people in sport.
The Athlete Ally Campus Chapter program is a grassroots initiative that engages student-athletes across the globe to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sports and encourage other athletes, coaches, and fans to do the same.
Initiatives of the #OneHL Athlete Ally Chapter will include educational programming, pride nights and rainbow apparel.
The chapter is comprised of the League’s #OneHL members, led by two chapter champions, Cleveland State’s Ella Franz and RMU’s Zoee Gologram.
Major Voices:
Ella Franz, Cleveland State Tennis, Chapter Champion
“I’m super excited to be a part of the Horizon League’s first Athlete Ally Chapter. I can’t wait to work alongside my fellow student-athletes to provide more support and equity for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Zoee Gologram, RMU Track & Field, Chapter Champion
“I am so excited to be a Champion of the Chapter! I can’t wait to be a part of the improvement and change that Athlete Ally will bring to the Horizon League.”
Maddie McConnell, Horizon League Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Relations and Impact
“This partnership is a major move for the #OneHL group and the League as a whole as we continue to be advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion. We are so excited for our student-athletes to partner with Athlete Ally to educate and support our 3,000+ student-athletes on such a prominent matter.”
Sydney Taylor, Athlete Ally Policy & Programs Associate
"Athlete Ally takes great pride in the Horizon League's #OneHL Athlete Ally Chapter. Through this initiative, athletic departments across the League are unified in the mission to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion on their respective campuses. Athlete Ally firmly believes that the establishment of this chapter will serve as a catalyst for athlete activism, fostering inclusivity, and eliminating homophobia and transphobia in sports."
Dig Deeper:
- #OneHL is a subset of the Horizon League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and seeks to bring about meaningful change and action to social issues across the League.
- 2023-24 #OneHL Group
- Chase Robinson, Cleveland State Men’s Basketball
- Ella Franz, Cleveland State Women’s Tennis
- Noah Martin, Detroit Mercy Men’s Lacrosse
- Ally Don Jean-Francois, Detroit Mercy Men’s Lacrosse
- Brigita Sumskas, Detroit Mercy Track & Field
- Jaylin Brown, Detroit Mercy Fencing
- Betsey Walkowiak, Green Bay Swimming
- Lauren Thompson, IUPUI Swimming & Diving
- Angelo Stuart, Milwaukee Men’s Basketball
- Brandon Ponomarew, Northern Kentucky Men’s Tennis
- Skyy Smith, Northern Kentucky Volleyball
- John Lauinger, Oakland Baseball
- Kennedie Montue, Oakland Women’s Basketball
- Sophia Buck, Purdue Fort Wayne, Track & Field
- Jaidan Hockman , RMU Volleyball
- Zoee Gologram, RMU Track & Field
- Erin Baker, Wright State Women’s Soccer
- Rachel Loobie, Wright State Women’s Basketball
- Soloman Callaghan, Wright State Men’s Basketball
- Michael Voitus, Youngstown State Football
- To find more information about the #OneHL initiative, visit HorizonLeague.com/OneHL or search #OneHL on social media.
- Visit AthleteAlly.org for additional information on the organization.