For those who listened to our latest episode, you heard Tobin and me say that we won’t be silent in the face of injustice. I want to say that again, but also want to say this: silence has never been how progress is made, and neither is despair.
Sports taught me that.
I grew up watching athletes use their platforms in ways that shifted culture. I watched the WNBA center Black lives and women’s lives long before others did. I watched Colin Kaepernick kneel and force a national reckoning with our racism. I watched a nation embrace our fight for equal pay, better working conditions, and respect for women athletes, and help us win. Those moments did not fix everything, but they moved us forward. They showed what is possible when athletes choose to engage.
That history reminds me of what is possible, even now.
ICE continues to terrorize communities across the United States. Families are being torn apart. People are living in fear simply for existing. I grieve the lives lost and the harm being done, and I know without hesitation that none of this will or could ever be justified.
Still, I believe in people. I believe in community. I believe in collective action.
I see it in Minnesota, here in Los Angeles, and in cities across the country. Neighbors showing up for one another. Organizers doing the hard, often invisible work. People choosing solidarity over silence. That matters.
There has been a lot of conversation about athletes using their voices right now, especially within the current USWNT. I want to say this with care. Advocacy does not look one way. Leadership does not have a single timeline. Many players are still growing into their voices and learning how they want to show up. That deserves patience.
At the same time, history shows us that when athletes do speak and use their platforms with intention, it can shift hearts and open doors. I hope we continue to make space for that growth and evolution in every person. I hope others make the choice to speak, rather than stay silent.
Tobin and I are not perfect. We take time to process, to reflect, to find language that feels honest. I do not always get it right, but I am committed to continuing to try.
My platform is a privilege. One I do not take lightly. And I will continue to use it in service of a safer, more inclusive world.
So hear me, loud and clear, when I say this:
Trans men and women, I see you and I stand with you.
Immigrants, I see you and I stand with you.
Communities resisting fear with courage, I see you and I stand with you.
I will use my voice, my platform, and my resources to support work rooted in dignity, safety, and humanity. I will not look away.
There are resources linked below for anyone who needs them. Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other. And remember, progress has always been built by people who chose connection over silence.
With hope,