Late last year, the America East Conference announced that it had become the first coalition in higher education to commit to the You Can Play Project.

By advocating for all athletes, including LGBT students, the nine schools of the America East Conference say that all student athletes are welcome at their universities. These athletic directors represent a who's who of college sports athletes and coaches and now become trailblazers of a new kind by speaking on behalf of gay and lesbian athletes.

America East commissioner Amy Huchthausen is joined by athletic directors Patrick Elliott (Binghamton University), Lee McElroy (University at Albany), Pat Meiser (University of Hartford), Steve Abbott (University of Maine), Jim Fiore (Stony Brook University), Charlie Brown (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Bob Corran (University of Vermont), Marty Scarano (University of New Hampshire) and Mike Lynch (Boston University).