Organizational Ally to Queer Youth – Awardee:
SANTA CRUZ DERBY GIRLS AND SANTA CRUZ DERBY GROMS
The Santa Cruz Derby Groms and the Santa Cruz Derby Girls are inclusive organizations that involve many queer, non-binary, and trans youth and adults as both skaters and league volunteers. Both organizations have taken active roles in supporting LGBTQ+ youth across Santa Cruz County by holding free skate nights for LGBTQ+ youth at the roller palladium and reaching out to local GSAs to provide free tickets to Derby games. Both organizations openly welcome trans and nonbinary people to play and embrace people of all body types. Both organizations proudly show the incredible skill, strength, and importance of LGBTQ+ athletes. LGBTQ+ young people involved with the Santa Cruz Derby Groms harness their incredible strength, defy gender norms, and build lifelong bonds through the sport of roller derby.
