Georgia becomes 2nd State with LGBTQ+ Committee
The Executive Committee of the GATA has announced the formation of an LGBTQ+ Committee to identify, prioritize and participate in advocacy activities impacting NATA, athletic trainers, and the patients ATs serve. The committee will represent the AT profession on the state and district levels advocating for inclusion and diversity within the athletic training profession and will also provide opportunities for involvement and leadership development within the various regions in GATA. The movement to support diversity and inclusion with athletic training began in 2017 with the creation of the NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, with SEATA following suite in 2018. Georgia becomes just the second state to form a stand-alone committee, following Florida’s committee launch in January 2021.
The mission of the GATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee will fall in line with the mission of the NATA committee, which is to advocate for an environment of inclusion, respect, equity and appreciation of differences in both athletic trainers and their diverse patient populations. The GATA LGBTQ+ committee will also identify, explore, address and provide educational resources regarding emerging topics and concerns relevant to diverse sexualities, gender identities and gender expressions within the profession and health care topics affecting patients in the GATA LGBTQ+ community. Note: The plus (+) sign represents diverse sexualities, gender identities and gender expressions, which may not be explicitly included in the “LGBTQ” acronym.
The primary objectives of the GATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee will be three-fold: (1) to champion an environment of inclusivity and equal opportunity for every AT and patient, regardless of an individual's sexuality, gender identity or gender expression; (2) to increase the body of knowledge on health care concerns and conditions that affect patients in the LGBTQ+ community; and (3) provide mentorship for ATs and patients in the GATA LGBTQ+ community. The GATA LGBTQ+ Advisory committee plans to achieve these objectives through the delivery of educational resources – to increase knowledge, understanding, and cultural competency – along with the community support needed to address prejudice, stress, and mental health considerations among GATA LGBTQ+ ATs and patients. The committee also hopes to establish a peer network for ATs and AT students in the LGBTQ+ community that promotes collaboration, positive interaction, and mutual support within GATA.
Lori Uretsky, MEd, LAT, ATC has agreed to serve as the committee’s first chair. “As the GATA representative to the SEATA LGBTQ+ Committee, I’m excited and honored to be the Chair of GATA LGBTQ+ Committee. The second state to do so! I am truly grateful and proud of our amazing Executive Committee of GATA, and look forward to serving, while being a resource to all athletic trainers, students, and patients,” says Uretsky.
The GATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee will consist of six members and a chair. A call for interested parties will be going out in the very near future, with the goal of assembling a diverse group of members from various regions of GATA. For more information on
The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association is an organization committed to education of its members and enhancement of the profession of athletic training, leading to better healthcare for the population which it serves. The GATA is proudly composed of licensed athletic trainers in many different settings. Over 1000 licensed athletic trainers from professional, collegiate, and high school teams to industries, physician offices, and rehabilitation clinics all work together to promote and practice the profession of athletic training within the state of Georgia. Follow the GATA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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