I also want to address a comment made by a poster who joined the discussion to share some facts about Packy that she felt were important to mention.
She specifically challenged myself and others (Denali in particular… they REALLY dislike both of us ;)) to get involved in a “real” group of actual professionals who were dealing with Safe Sport and facing challenges, so that we would hear their stories, and broaden our perspective.
She then shared that,though she disagreed with folks objecting to the GM lifetime ban, she firmly supported AFE.
Here’s my challenge with this… AFE has taken thousands of dollars in donations from people who publicly and LOUDLY support GM. AFE has also taken donations from people who have known AK since her days riding as a junior, who were actually there when abuse was occurring at Flintridge… people who know, or strongly suspect what she has shared is true. Those people simply DON’T CARE. They have amazing memories of an incredible riding program with a talented coach, and they firmly and loudly have declared that they want all acknowledgement of children who were abused along the way swept under the rug. They are CRYSTAL CLEAR about it. Same goes for most of the GM supporters. Sweep the abused kids under the rug, because these two men were legends in the sport, and abused children “tarnish” their “legacy.”
Abused children are actually a major PART of both of these mens’ legacies. I value people over riding skills, blue ribbons, and a sport. I can’t say the same for others though.
Also, AFE requires me to pay money. That money will presumably go towards lobbyists (specifically Tom Sheridan of the Sheridan group - he is the name they have pointed to who is going to Washington to try and change Safe Sport in a manner all these people find acceptable… just in case anyone was curious). So if I actually want to know what is going on in their discussion groups, town halls, etc etc, I have to monetarily contribute to this cause.
So no… I’m not joining this group.
If one of the people/puppets who have recently popped into this thread and repeatedly claimed that it is possible to want to reform Safe Sport, while ALSO supporting victims, can point me to a group which is NOT full of Jimmy Williams and George Morris fans, and NOT taking money from legendary coaches in the sport who have gone online and declared that sexual abuse in sport isn’t a real issue because everyone knows that some kids were “screwing for the blue” back in the day… and DOES NOT have members in it’s midst who blame survivors of sexual abuse when they were minors for someone committing suicide later on when these issues come to light…
I’d be very interested in hearing what a group of professionals like that has to say about Safe Sport.
So I’m punting this nonsense back on you people… show me a group not full of child molester defenders, a group made up of decent people who are also concerned about the impact of Safe Sport on professional coaches in any number of different sports, and I’m happy to listen with an open mind to what those folks have to say.
But Athletes for Equity? No. Not giving them money. And anyone who does, needs to ask themselves, “Why am I doing this? Because I want to continue to win ribbons and curry favor with a bunch of people who don’t care about minors being molested?”
After all, the President of that group is a USEF Judge… and it is CERTAINLY an influential little group of professionals in one particular sport. So don’t be surprised if people watching this, develop the opinion that supporters of this group are a little lacking in the integrity department.
