Colorado College supports You Can Play Project

Colorado College supports You Can Play Project

(Story from the Colorado College website)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Joining in with an international initiative that is gaining steam at a remarkably rapid pace, student-athletes representing three of Colorado College's varsity athletics programs have created public-service announcements in support of the You Can Play Project.

Thirteen members of the CC women's soccer team, as well as 10 players from the men's basketball and ice hockey squads, were involved in producing separate PSAs that officially are being made public today.

You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation. The initiative works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport or their team's success. You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete's skills, work ethic and competitive spirit.

"You Can Play is excited to welcome the Colorado College Tigers to our team," said Patrick Burke, one of the organization's co-founders. "We are incredibly grateful to the athletes, coaches, and administrators at CC who helped make these videos possible, and who will continue to push for LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) equality off campus. LGBT athletes now know they have another home at Colorado College."

Before losing his life in 2010 automobile accident, Burke's brother, Brendan, acknowledged he was gay while serving as the student manager of the Miami University hockey team. Their father, former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, marched in the city's gay-pride parade with Brendan both before and after his son's death. Professional athletes from the NHL, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer, as well as a number of colleges and universities, have helped honor Brendan Burke's memory by becoming involved with You Can Play.

To see the videos, visit youcanplayproject.org.

Here are the direct links to Colorado College's PSAs:

Women's Soccer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpfxPrbrmHQ

Men's Basketball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-qKpwDXQ80&feature=youtu.be

Hockey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOBhCNIC6v4&feature=youtu.be

Happy Holidays from the SCAC!
December 25, 2012 Happy Holidays from the SCAC!