Athlete Ally Announces 2018 Partnership With Major League Quidditch
Athlete Ally Announces Formal Partnership with Major League Quidditch
New York (March 21, 2018) — Athlete Ally will partner with Major League Quidditch (MLQ) for the 2018 season.
MLQ will host a Pride SuperSeries in New York on July 21 featuring the New York Titans, Ottawa Black Bears and Washington Admirals. The league will also collaborate with Athlete Ally to provide educational material to MLQ managers, coaches and players.
Athlete Ally is a non-profit organization that works to end homophobia and transphobia in sports and educate athletes to champion LGBTQ equality. Athlete Ally works with the NBA, MLB and NCAA and 180 ambassadors from more than 25 Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports.
“The quidditch community continues to show it’s a champion for LGBTQ respect and inclusion in athletics,” said Anne Lieberman, director of policy at Athlete Ally. “We’re extremely excited to formalize a partnership with Major League Quidditch—an organization dedicated to lifting up the voices and experiences of LGBTQ people, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the sport they love.”
MLQ will also work with Athlete Ally to create at least one pride-themed piece of merchandise this season. The co-branded merchandise will be available for sale in the MLQ online store and at the 2018 MLQ Championship in Madison, Wis. Athlete Ally will receive 10 percent of all profits.
“I couldn’t be more excited to see MLQ and Athlete Ally formalizing their partnership,” said Kedzie Teller, an Athlete Ally ambassador and former MLQ player. “Now, more than ever, it’s important for people and organizations to do their part in creating safe and inclusive communities.”
Quidditch is a mixed-gender, full-contact sport played by over 500 teams in 26 countries. The rules were adapted from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
MLQ is the highest level of quidditch in North America. The league runs from early June to mid-August and includes 16 teams from across the United States and Canada.