June 2020
Pride Month Reflection • An Invitation to Be the Change • 7 Questions with a City Leader
• Podcast Format Update • Motivational/Inspirational Playlist
Reflecting on Pride Month 2020
This year Pride Month was about so much more than LGBTQ+ Pride. The videoed death of George Floyd sparked global protests unlike anything the world has ever witnessed. The NGFFL, along with hundreds of other organizations worldwide, has made a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and representation of our Black members, because we realize “All” lives cannot matter until we live in a world where Black Lives do Matter. As we continue to strategize manners to ensure the NGFFL is an organization where our Black members, our trans members, our women, our ethnic, religious, and other minorities never feel less than equal, we ask you to continue being the example and being the change we the world needs. We will continue to work tirelessly to create a fully inclusive organization where all our members can safely “Compete, Connect, and Unite.”
The year 2020 continues to force change throughout the entire globe. Change was never more apparent than what was witnessed during this Pride Month. In the event you missed something, here is a brief summation of some of the major happenings:
The SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) ruled the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes LGBTQ+ people (prohibiting work and living discrimination)
Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests for racial justice and equality happened globally
LGBTQ+ communities across the country united with BLM to amplify their voices
COVID-19 makes a strong resurgence through the southern US and numbers continue to rise
Just to name a few…
This year was anything but the normal focus on celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride in the month of June. Nonetheless, we found ways of connecting and uniting for causes greater than ourselves. We collaborated and gave back to our communities by volunteering, by contributing to humanitarian causes, by protesting, by speaking out, by listening, by showing up, by wearing a mask, by staying home, and simply by being human human-beings.
Pride Month 2020 gave us much more to reflect upon than parties and parades, though we certainly missed them. Nonetheless, this year, Pride Month allowed us the opportunity to reflect on who we are as people and how we want history to look back at the legacy we left based on the decisions we made during this time. The NGFFL thanks you all for your contributions to creating a better, safer, healthier, equal society.
If you have ideas on how the NGFFL can continue to move forward and work with our members and in our communities to ensure safety, equality, and prosperity for all please reach out to any Board member with your suggestions.
Be The Change
The events of the last several weeks have resulted in a nation in turmoil as it grapples with the issues of systemic racism, trans-negativism (phobia means fear, and their plight is not about fear), a national pandemic, and civil unrest among many of its citizens. The range of emotions that many may be feeling include anger, deep sadness, helplessness, and grief. It is important that we recognize that many in our NGFFL community are processing those emotions as well.
This is a time where we can and should be able to lean on each other for support. We recognize that there are some people who want to be supportive yet may be feeling uncomfortable because they are uncertain of how to support. So many live with the stigma of systemic racism as a part of their everyday lives are are processing in real time, every day, the deep emotions evoked and even triggered by these recent events.
A great starting point to help process is facilitated sharing sessions to enable the stories of those in our NGFFL family to be heard. While we know every person is not equipped to handle such a task, working together, you can create a framework for sustained, deepened dialogue. Very often being able to talk out issues in a productive manner can help create understanding and begin collaboration on solutions.
Other methods where you can help:
Do not tolerate any form of racism, hatred, or social injustice.
Immediately denounce any form of racism, hatred, or social injustice; no matter if is intentional or not, no matter if it is malicious or not, no matter if it was intended as a joke.
Do not allow trans people, people of color, women, or other underrepresented individuals who speak up to be silenced or treated unfairly because they spoke up.
Do not ignore issues simply because that has not been your experience or observation.
Listen when the underrepresented tell you about their experiences.
Share a post on your social media page denouncing social injustice and promoting equality.
Write an original post on social media that denounces social injustices and promotes equality.
Write a letter or an email to your local representatives (chief of police, council people, mayor, governor, judges) demanding actions that create a safe environment for all people.
Organize a letter writing campaign among others in your community to do the aforementioned.
Call your local representatives and ask for an audience, in person. Use that time to discuss issues of inequality and injustice.
Organize a telephone calling campaign of others in your community to do the same.
Collaborate with people of color and help create solutions to mitigate social and racially difficult situations.
Organize group visits to your local official's offices and meetings and discuss issues, even when you were not invited.
Research and join, or contribute to, organizations that fight for social justice and equality for disenfranchised people.
Donate to organizations working toward social and racial equality.
Attend a protest.
Help and protect protesters.
Help organize a protest.
Recognize silence actually contributes to the current imbalanced system.
Be anything but silent.
Together we can be the change we want to see in the world, but it takes us all doing our individual part!
Seven Questions With a City Leader: Nick Colletti
How did you get started in flag football?
I heard about it through a friend from guys at the gym (so typical!). I was against it at first, because I had a macho-man former athlete complex (Lol)! Boy was I wrong! Never looked back...it's been 11 years.
What does the local SDAFFL mean to you?
This place is home, this is where my second family is. It's family, it’s friendship, it’s growing up, and it's falling down, and being lifted back up. It's purpose beyond just drinking and partying. I honestly don't know what I would do without it. (See our video—it speaks to this directly—and could be a good idea for other leagues).
What motivated you to lead the SDAFFL?
In my 11th year (and serving the last 4 years on the board) I thought it was my time to lead. I knew I had great, but relatively risky, ideas and I am the type of person that could implement them. I also knew I wanted to assemble a board of ultra-passionate people whose skills were unique to the SDAFFL's current challenges--recruiting and retention. When you compete with everything, including the sunshine and ocean, you need to have the right pitch to make sure this organization is worth the commitment. I think we are accomplishing that very well. My team is beyond amazing.
What are your biggest challenges?
I think just knowing when to reign in my creative juices, and not implement too many changes or ideas too quickly. We have been around for 17 years because we are doing several things right. The challenge really lies in listening to the team, the members, the coaches, etc., and whittling down what areas need and can realistically be improved upon, and what things we are doing right that need to be amplified.
What is your most memorable flag football experience?
There are so many...but beyond my 6 SDAFFL championships my teams and I have won, and similar success in Gay Bowl (I was on the champ team 3 of the 6 wins)...I'd honestly go with when I coached the SD Toros in Gay Bowl San Diego. Although we did not achieve the gold then, it was a great experience, and gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to lead, and still achieve so many of the various goals we set out to meet. It's one of those things you have no idea how you'll be received (and I'll be honest, I'm not everyone's favorite person!) but it showed me there are all types of leadership, and I found my style.
What would you like all the NGFFL to know about the SDAFFL?
We aren't as intense as we seem!! Don't get me wrong... we want to win, that's the goal... but we are also a league of diversity, talent, community service, fun, and family. We love to have a good time! I think we have an excellent track record of focusing on the goal, but not forgetting to be fun, friendly, and respectful to one another.
What are the SDAFFL’s goals for the next few years?
We want to build back up our numbers, and keep them steady. Again, competing with the sunshine and the ocean is tough! I think we would also like to have a gay bowl team in each bracket (A, B, C, and Women's) and see if can't get a clean sweep!
Updating to Reflect Change
The NGFFL Podcast, OuTside the Huddle, is going through a revamp to better align with the updates to the 2-Minute Drill. OuTside the Huddle will be focusing more on being an uplifting and educational podcast, instead of simply being informative. Effective immediately we are opening the forum to any and all members with a story they want to tell. As life continues to change, it is important we remain an evolutionary program. We want the podcast to reflect what is important and meaningful to the larger NGFFL community.
If you want to be featured or have an idea you want the show to try, please reach out to O.T. Porter-Fisher, Director of Communications for more details.
Turn up your volume and click the banners below!
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