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DMF 120 (Auditorium)
24 Park Avenue
Bridgewater, MA 02325
United States
Session Abstract
"LGBTQ+ youth are on the rise in the United States, and in a 2021 study by the Trevor Project, approximately one in four LGBTQ+ youth identify as nonbinary. These increases have elicited more awareness and dialogue. At the same time, anti-LGBTQ+ bills are being put through local legislatures at an alarming rate, and most target youth—including their rights to play sports and use bathrooms based on their gender identity.
The films Bay Creek Tennis Camp and Beyond the Binary gently pose a provocative question—what if gender is not the ideal way to divide youth? By presenting a story about a group of Gen Alpha kids, played by several gender diverse youth who come together to advocate for themselves and each other, these films can be used to entertain, educate, and spark compassionate conversations about youth, gender, and sports."
Presentations
Film Screening: Las Amazonas De Yaxunah
Michael Zimmerman1, Peter Little2
1Bridgewater State University, United States of America; 2Rhode Island College, United States of America
Narrated by renowned Mexican actor and Oscar nominee Yalitza Aparicio and produced by ESPN Deportes, Las Amazonas de Yaxunah tells the story of an extraordinary Mayan women’s softball team from Yaxunah, a remote village
in the Yucatan peninsula. The team’s journey begins humbly, with makeshift
equipment and barefoot games played in traditional Mayan dresses due to lack of resources. When a viral video showcases the team’s determination and skill, invitations to participate in exhibition matches and tournaments across Mexico follow. The documentary highlights the players’ trailblazing resolve to play softball despite facing sexism, limited opportunities, and the broader discrimination often endured by Indigenous communities. It celebrates cultural heritage, the pursuit of equality, and the transformative power of sports, fun and play.
