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Pride Month

    Inspired by recommendations from the LGBTQ+ Coaches’ Caucus, we have created a series of classroom and tournament resources to celebrate Pride Month. We invite you to commemorate the month in your school or community with our special posters featuring speech and debate coaches and alumni! In addition, you’ll find a literature collection featuring LGBTQ+ stories and recommended texts for historical context to enhance your next practice, classroom, or tournament experience during June and beyond. Get started below!

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    Poster Series

    Click each image below to view individual posters, or download the complete set.
    Know an alum the NSDA should feature in the future? Email us!

    Celebrate Pride Month Posters!
    BECAUSE OF THIS ACTIVITY, I AM NOT ALONE AND I AM NOT AFRAID. - Kyle Akerman
    Kyle Akerman
    NEVER GIVE UP. IF IT’S WHAT YOU’RE MEANT TO DO, THEN IT WILL HAPPEN. - Chris Colfer
    Chris Colfer
    DEBATE GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO NOT ONLY EMBRACE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES I CARED ABOUT, BUT ALSO INTRODUCED ME INTO A COMMUNITY OF LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS WHO GAVE ME SUPPORT I NEVER KNEW COULD EXIST. - Kenny Delph
    Kenny Delph
    SPEECH AND DEBATE ALLOWED ME TO BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY MYSELF. IMMEDIATELY, I WAS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND OFFERED A SECOND FAMILY: ONE THAT PULLED ME OUT OF THE DARK AND INTO THE LIGHT. - Joele Miguel Denis
    Joele Miguel Denis
    I AM HAPPY THE NSDA TAKES PRIDE IN WELCOMING AND SUPPORTING ALL THOSE WHO SEEK TO LIVE AND ARTICULATE THEIR TRUTH. OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. - Mario Herrera
    Mario Herrera
    AS A STUDENT, SPEECH AND DEBATE TAUGHT ME THAT WHAT MADE ME DIFFERENT, MADE ME SPECIAL. AS A COACH, I GET TO HELP MY STUDENTS FIND THE JOY THAT COMES WITH BEING THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF. THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT. - Daniel Hodges
    Daniel Hodges
    SPEECH WAS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I AM NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERYONE IN MY COMMUNITY WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. - Lily Indie
    Lily Indie
    IF SPEECH AND DEBATE HADN’T OPENED DOORS FOR US, PERSONALLY, EDUCATIONALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET, MUCH LESS MARRIED. FORENSIC ACTIVITIES GAVE US THE CONFIDENCE TO LIVE OUR AUTHENTIC IDENTITIES AND HELP EMPOWER OTHERS AS THEY FOLLOW IN SIMILAR JOURNEYS. - Adam J. Jacobi and J. Scott Baker
    Adam J. Jacobi and J. Scott Baker
    DEBATE CHALLENGED ME TO NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE PARTS OF MY GENDER AND SEXUALITY I HAD SUPPRESSED, BUT AFFIRMATIVELY EXPLORE WHAT MY IDENTITY AS A QUEER BLACK WOMAN WAS. - Brooke Kimbrough
    Brooke Kimbrough
    MY FRIENDS AND COACHES IN SPEECH AND DEBATE ENABLED ME TO EMBRACE MY TRANS IDENTITY AND HELPED ME FIND MY VOICE. NOW, I WORK TO EMPOWER AND LISTEN TO OTHERS WHOSE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD. - Jessica Kurr
    Jessica Kurr
    WE CAN BOTTLE UP OUR IDENTITIES, DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM OUR DIFFERENCES, AND SUPPRESS OUR FEELINGS. OR, WE CAN FIND A PLATFORM TO PASSIONATELY PUSH PAST OUR BOUNDARIES AND COME TO CELEBRATE WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL. SPEECH AND DEBATE PROVIDES THAT EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT. - Iain Gabriel Lampert
    Iain Gabriel Lampert
    SPEECH AND DEBATE WAS THE FIRST COMMUNITY WHO LOVED ME FOR WHO I WAS. INSTEAD OF FEELING SHAME, I FOUND SUPPORT AND LOVE IN BEING HONEST IN WHO I AM. - Crawford Leavoy
    Crawford Leavoy
    SPEECH AND DEBATE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH AN AVENUE TO HELP MY LGBTQ+ STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER THEIR SEXUALITY OR GENDER, THEIR VOICE MATTERS. - Chris Machado
    Chris Machado
    AT A TIME WHEN I WAS AFRAID TO SPEAK UP, DEBATE TAUGHT ME HOW TO USE MY VOICE TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER WORLD. - Carlos Maza
    Carlos Maza
    DARTMOUTH DEBATE COACH KEN STRANGE TAUGHT ME TO THINK WITH INTELLECTUAL RIGOR. WITH IT, I FOUND EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS; RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO TRANSITION TO PRESENT AUTHENTICALLY; AND DISCOVERED HAPPINESS AND PRIDE. - Grace Mead
    Grace Mead
    DEBATE TAUGHT ME HOW TO TAKE MY IDEAS, RESEARCH THEM, AND TURN THEM INTO STORIES OTHERS BELIEVE IN. I AM THE BEST ME POSSIBLE BECAUSE DEBATE GAVE ME SKILLS I’VE USED EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. - John Tao
    John Tao
    SPEECH AND DEBATE WAS A TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE WHERE I WAS ACCEPTED AUTHENTICALLY. I WAS CHALLENGED TO WORK CRITICALLY, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CREATE LASTING MEMORIES WITH LIFELONG FRIENDS. - Rowen Thomas
    Rowen Thomas
    SPEECH AND DEBATE HELPED ME FOCUS MY SKILLS TOWARD MY PASSION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLITICS. IT ENHANCED MY VOICE AND RAISED MY SELF-ESTEEM TO WHERE I AM TODAY. - Chris Walton
    Chris Walton
    Download All Posters
    More Alumni

    NSDA Poster Template

    You can make your own posters featuring current students, coaches, or alumni from your program! Download the template below and follow the instructions to start creating.

    This resource is provided under the framework of our Honor Society. We ask that you please feature individuals who live by our Code of Honor.

    Get the Template

    Additional Resources

    We’re constantly striving to make speech and debate a more inclusive activity. You can download our free resources below to help make your team and your tournaments a safe and welcoming space for all. Thank you to our members of the LGBTQ+ Coaches’ Caucus and other community members for significant contributions in developing these materials, with special thanks to Jessica Kurr, Crawford Leavoy, and E. Cram. This Rostrum article provides an overview of the guides available on our website. Visit our Resources page and use the “inclusion” filter to the left of the screen to find related items.

    Dress Code Template
    Gender Neutral Restroom Best Practices
    Pronoun Usage Best Practices
    Gender Neutral Restroom Sign

    Crawford Leavoy, Director of Speech and Debate at Durham Academy and Moderator of the 2017 NSDA LGBTQ+ Coaches’ Caucus, and Kiran Sundar, student at Durham Academy, discuss gender identity and inclusion in speech and debate in the following webinar recording.

    Gender Identity and Inclusion in Speech and Debate Webinar

    Recruitment and Mentoring

    Three Illustrated figures discussing jobs in front of a digital background

    It is not enough for coaches to simply say anyone can join the speech and debate team. Coaches must also be intentional in offering LGBTQ+ students a platform for their voices and fostering a safe and welcome team environment. Our NSDA Learn course Engaging and Mentoring LGBTQ+ Students offers best practices for engaging and mentoring students, including concrete strategies for both LGBTQ+ coaches and straight cis coaches to recruit, navigate conversations about sexuality and gender expression, and advocate for LGBTQ+ student needs. Members can enroll today for free and take the course at their leisure.

    Three Illustrated figures discussing jobs in front of a digital background

    We believe educators featuring topics, themes, and issues that impact an assortment of peoples and our society at large can create more informed global citizens and a space where students feel heard, welcomed, and encouraged to learn. Visit our Diversity and Inclusion page for specific competitive resources to diversify the subject matter at your tournament, classroom, or practice.

    Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
    Celebrate Black History Month
    Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
    Celebrate Women's History Month
    Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
    Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
    Diversity and Inclusion Resources