Chronicle Article "An Open Letter to Diane Carney"

[Thoroughbred1201]

Wow. I been holding back on SafeSport, but more and more, I’m for it. Are there issues? Absolutely. But it if takes one more child abuser out of our sport, I’m for it. Trying to read Diane Carney’s rambling, disjointed, talking points laden interview was incredibly painful, and I could only get half way through it. It was a huge smoke screen trying hard to keep the old guard in place, and working the business as usual. Kim’s letter in response was suscinet, and her points were laid out systematically and clearly.

I was a kid in the 1970s, and remember it well, and yes, it was a different time. But even in that time, sex with a minor was immoral and illegal. No matter what the kid said. Period. An adult has the power and the control, and the ability to say no! I’m sorry for those of Ms. Carney’s generation who ignored those restrictions, use the excuse that ‘everybody was doing it’, and whine about having to pay the price now. If everybody was jumping off of a bridge, would you have done it as well?!?

None of the above is new, and all of it has been said before. But it wasn’t until I went to the Go Fund Me page that my opinion solidified. The sheer number of recognizable, important names in the sport supporting the Athletes for Equity on the Go Fund Me page was absolutely appalling. I would certainly use this as the litness test to determine who to recommend as a trainer! I’ve been out of the H/J shows for a while, but if I hadn’t been, I would be leaving now. If the top names in the sport are so against SS, and so against justice for the victims in order to protect the old guard and old way of doing things, we have a far bigger problem that I ever believed. Time for some new blood in the business. Bravo, SS, for having the balls to take on the big names, and prevail.

[todaysspecial]

@CPL713

#ByeDiane

This.
#ByeDiane

[Ghazzu]

@ladyj79

I feel like Diane should be a test case of USEF resolve. As someone openly opposed to safe sport, I think usef has to take a stand and not allow this person to officiate usef shows, host or give usef advertised clinics, be published in any usef publications.

Because otherwise they are giving a platform and even financially supporting someone who is openly opposed to enforcing training in and implementation of a program meant to stop sexual exploitation of primarily minors.

Gotta go, Diane.

Show management hires the judges. Perhaps h/j peeps should vote with their wallets.

[TheMoo]

If anyone sees something that doesn’t sit right please speak up. It’s all well and good to speak out on these threads but really a lot should be reported. I know I have. Speak up.

tThis isn’t “fun” as one poster alluded to. This is potentially someone’s life. If something doesn’t sit right speak up! You do t have to be a USEF member

[rah]

@Ghazzu

Show management hires the judges. Perhaps h/j peeps should vote with their wallets.

This is another problem. Remember after the permanent ban was announced, TIEC was going to wait until after the appeal was decided before they would take down the George Morris Arena sign. And, I emailed with a big horse clothing company that sponsors a lot and was told they were standing with TIEC and were waiting until after the appeal to take a stand. Protecting the “old guard”, as thoroughbred1201 put it so well, runs deep!

[alternate_universe]

@Thoroughbred1201

The sheer number of recognizable, important names in the sport supporting the Athletes for Equity on the Go Fund Me page was absolutely appalling.

BERNIE TRAURIG, Y’ALL. smh.

[Jenerationx]

If I were competing, I would boycott any show she was judging.

[KellyEq94]

I have a question. First off, I am team #ByeDiane. Make no mistake! I’m just curious about the motivation behind SOME professionals who are anti-SafeSport.

From what I understand in my own little world here is that some trainers are concerned about the process of SafeSport for their own livelihoods. Theoretical scenario: Vindictive ex girlfriend makes a false claim about a male trainer and that male trainer’s name gets dragged through the mud, he loses business, etc.

Is this a common fear among professionals in the sport?

Team #IStandWithGeorge is disgraceful to me personally. And I think protecting children is paramount. But simply out of curiosity, I do wonder about the trainers who are concerned for their own livelihood and if that is a factor in this Athletes Equity nonsense … ?

[LexInVA]

The unacknowledged factor with SafeSport, is that their standard for personal conduct is one that many trainers and officials would be disqualified under, if their names were run through NCIC. Obviously, there’s the sexual abuse and exploitation angle, but there’s more to SafeSport than just that. A name here in Virginia got busted after a hit and run, with a minor in the vehicle, and got nailed for drunk driving, so she has been temp-ban sanctioned by SafeSport until she gets her days in court. That being said, I can guarantee you that if you ran the ISWG and other Anti-SafeSport names through NCIC that you’d likely get some hits that could result in SafeSport bans and arbitration.

As for your theoretical scenario, it is unlikely to go anywhere as a false claim, unless multiple people came forward to corroborate the claim or additional claims happened that did turn up actual evidence. Without actionable evidence to be gathered from investigation, SS isn’t going to do anything beyond take notes and keep tabs for future complaints.

[ladyj79]

@alternate_universe

BERNIE TRAURIG, Y’ALL. smh.

Yeah, but we already knew he was an ass. “Imma give up ma membership!”

Bugger off, Bernie.

[kenyarider]

As a defense attorney, I can only wish that my juries are like Diane Carney, however, unlike her, they are not. They actually believe victims of abuse. Yes, people have been falsely accused and convicted but in George Morris’ case, that does not appear to be the case. Is it going to be harder for some trainers to comply with the rules, yes, but lots of things are hard and people manage to adjust. USEF/USHJA will adjust to the new rules and hopefully children will be a bit safer. This issue has been beaten to death and like the current political situation, probably is no longer worth trying to change any hearts and minds. The writer, Kim, wrote a very eloquent, brave response to AFSS or whatever they call themselves. Just like Lambda and other groups that support evil, AFSS will remain, hopefully, on the fringes and sink into obscurity, where it belongs.

[BigMama1]

@TheMoo

Now deleted but someone admitted to training with Tom Navarro despite his conviction because “she asked him about it.” Oh and her minor daughter rides with him too.
@specifiedcupcake was able to get screen shots before she deleted.

Among the many disheartening and disturbing comments, hers were by far the most disgusting. Shame she can delete them and won’t have to answer to friends, family members, employers, coworkers etc about why she chooses to support a predator

[BigMama1]

@Virginia Horse Mom

AMEN.

@limptoad - thanks for stating openly what everyone knows. Diane Carney knew that the GM investigation was ongoing. She let other people know she knew about it.

Kristin name name name Hardin publicly posted that her family members were threatened during the investigation by friends and supporters of GM, and that she was pressured not to offer any witness testimony to Safe Sport investigators.

So did Diane’s open acknowledgement of the ongoing GM investigation impact her decisions as a judge? Did the fact that she’s a well known judge, and close close friend of GM, and obviously was giving folks the impression that she had inside knowledge about the ongoing investigation impact anyone’s decision regarding whether or not they would cooperate with Safe Sport investigators and provide honest witness testimony?

This is a real issue, and unfortunately a big one. It’s not ok to have USEF officials openly spreading misinformation about Safe Sport. If they are willing to do that… what else has gone on with respect to their officiating decisions?

Are there any rules / consequences around publicly divulging ongoing investigations which are supposed to confidential?

[BigMama1]

@KellyEq94

I have a question. First off, I am team #ByeDiane. Make no mistake! I’m just curious about the motivation behind SOME professionals who are anti-SafeSport.

From what I understand in my own little world here is that some trainers are concerned about the process of SafeSport for their own livelihoods. Theoretical scenario: Vindictive ex girlfriend makes a false claim about a male trainer and that male trainer’s name gets dragged through the mud, he loses business, etc.

Is this a common fear among professionals in the sport?

Team #IStandWithGeorge is disgraceful to me personally. And I think protecting children is paramount. But simply out of curiosity, I do wonder about the trainers who are concerned for their own livelihood and if that is a factor in this Athletes Equity nonsense … ?

Re your scenario it generally would go like this: vindictive ex girlfriend files a false claim with SafeSport. SS makes preliminary inquiries and finds insufficient supporting evidence and no credible corroborating witnesses. SS declines to open an investigation and the case is closed. Vindictive ex may or may or may not face sanctions for false reporting. There is no dragging of anyone’s name through the mud as there as no SS case. Even if there had been a case, there would still be no name-dragging based on the accusations alone since SS doesn’t make any public announcements or release names of those accused until after an investigation is concluded and a ruling has been made.

[skydy]

@BigMama1

Are there any rules / consequences around publicly divulging ongoing investigations which are supposed to confidential?

I don’t know. Here are rules you can read if you are interested:

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/3wwM…l-media-policy

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/0T1b…code-of-ethics

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/sqpN…ule-guidelines

[fargaloo]

@BigMama1

Re your scenario it generally would go like this: vindictive ex girlfriend files a false claim with SafeSport. As makes preliminary inquiries and finds insufficient supporting evidence or corroborating witnesses. SS declines to open an investigation and the case is closed. Vindictive ex may or may or may not face sanctions for false reporting. There is no dragging of anyone’s name through the mud as there as no SS case. Even if there had been a case, there would still be no name-dragging based on the accusations alone since SS doesn’t make any public announcements or release names of those accused until after an investigation is concluded and a ruling has been made.

Exactly. Not Safesport, but…

A few years ago, a former student came forward long after I had last seen him, and accused me of bullying and harassing him. His accusations were serious and, had they been found to be true, would have probably resulted in me losing my job. The University had to abide by the academic code of conduct and investigate the complaint. There was no supporting evidence, so the investigation was dropped. However, the initial investigation of the complaint resulted in the student getting help for what turned out to be a major psychotic break. Of course it was upsetting – it was painful to think that a student could think that about me, even if I knew it had nothing to do with reality – but 1) I wasn’t scared, because I don’t bully or harass students, and 2) it didn’t make me wish there wasn’t an academic code.

People who are scared of Safesport have reason to be.

[Mara]

@MissAriel

I cannot get over the irony of Diane’s organization being called “Athletes for Equity in Sport”. SafeSport is about trying to balance the inherent INequity of the coach-athlete relationship that provides an easy avenue for abuse by providing a way for athletes to end the abuse.

Thank you, Kim for such a powerful piece.

If George were reinstated on Wednesday, all traces of Athletes For Equity would be gone by Thursday morning.

[Mara]

@kenyarider

As a defense attorney, I can only wish that my juries are like Diane Carney, however, unlike her, they are not. They actually believe victims of abuse. Yes, people have been falsely accused and convicted but in George Morris’ case, that does not appear to be the case. Is it going to be harder for some trainers to comply with the rules, yes, but lots of things are hard and people manage to adjust. USEF/USHJA will adjust to the new rules and hopefully children will be a bit safer. This issue has been beaten to death and like the current political situation, probably is no longer worth trying to change any hearts and minds. The writer, Kim, wrote a very eloquent, brave response to AFSS or whatever they call themselves. Just like Lambda and other groups that support evil, AFSS will remain, hopefully, on the fringes and sink into obscurity, where it belongs.

I think you mean NAMBLA. Lambda is very much against the forces of evil.

[limptoad]

I, for one, will not be doing business with anyone involved in this trashfire. And I do show, and won’t be attending any that hire Diane. #byediane

[Bobby7]

Diane has an unhealthy obsession with George, always has and always will. This whole thing is about George and nothing more.