Equality Index Site | Mason LGBTQ+ Resources

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University athletic department is one of just 10 in Division I to achieve a perfect score in Athlete Ally's Equality Index rankings, released Monday.
 
Mason is joined by Arizona, Boston University, UC Davis, Illinois, Kent State, Ohio State, Miami (Fla.), Penn and USC on the list of schools which earned a perfect 100 in the inaugural Division I-wide rankings.
 
The Athletic Equality Index was developed as a way to measure LGBTQ inclusion policies and practices in collegiate athletic spaces. Launched in 2017 and updated in 2019, this first-of-its-kind report provides a comprehensive look at how institutions are supporting their LGBTQ student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and fans. To do this, a scale was developed that scored the implementation and accessibility of nine critical LGBTQ-inclusive policies and best practices.
 
"I'm so proud of our department for achieving a perfect Athletic Equality Index score," assistant vice president/director of athletics Brad Edwards said. "It is critical we provide an inclusive environment for our student-athletes to ensure they have the resources necessary to achieve competitive success. Moving forward, we will continue to implement initiatives which benefit and protect our student-athletes, staff and all members of Mason Nation."
 
The George Mason department of athletics is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all student-athletes, specifically as it relates to sexual orientation and/or gender identity and gender expression.
 
Mason Athletics partners with the University LGBTQ+ Resources Office and the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment to foster inclusion and craft policies and protections for student-athletes, staff and the University as a whole.
 
"This is such an important distinction for Mason and it represents our commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for our LGBTQ+ student-athletes and the entire LGBTQ+ community," Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell said. "We are proud of the great partnership between Athletics and LGBTQ+ Resources and all that has emerged from it."
 
In addition to protections offered for student-athletes through George Mason University's non-discrimination policy, the athletic department also features a comprehensive transgender student-athlete policy to provide an inclusive competitive environment.
 
The department's Fan Code of Conduct also includes protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
 
Mason launched an LGBTQ+ Student-Athlete Group in 2020, aiming to bring individuals from different sports and backgrounds together to share what they have in common while developing a platform for camaraderie, shared experience and fellowship.
 
What's more, each year, the department hosts a Pride Game to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion within athletics. The game has been held during contests in women's lacrosse (2019), men's volleyball (2020) and women's soccer (2021).
 
To learn more about all of the LGBTQ+ Resources offered by Mason Athletics, click here.