Coming off a year of being featured at film festivals worldwide, ODU alum David McFarland will be attending the Hampton Roads premiere of “Alone in the Game,” a documentary film he wrote and produced on Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m. on the campus of ODU in the Mills Godwin Life Sciences building.
The AT&T original feature-length documentary follows a group of athletes and sports figures from the biggest stages in American sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLS and NCAA, among others, to explore the ongoing struggles LGBTQ athletes are facing at the professional, collegiate and Olympic levels.
Featured perspectives come from:
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
- Former ESPN President John Skipper
- Former NBA center Jason Collins
- Former NFL lineman Ryan O’Callaghan
- MLS Cup champion Robbie Rogers
- Olympic medalists Gus Kenworthy
- Olympic medalists Megan Rapinoe
Viewers will hear the personal stories of LGBTQ athletes who deal with living their most authentic life or hiding in fear that their sports careers will come to a crashing end if the truth comes out.
“It’s time to unveil such important and inspirational stories. We’re giving viewers a rare look into the lives of these elite athletes’ unique journeys and open their eyes to the daily challenges these athletes face on and off the field of play,” said David McFarland, “Alone In The Game” creator and executive producer. “With added attention to this issue, I’m hopeful we can affect real change at the highest levels of American sport and that the next generation of LGBTQ athletes will be judged by their athletic performance, rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“Alone In The Game” shines a light on the stark reality of the big business of sports. It also exposes a culture of exclusion, bigotry and discrimination which keeps many LGBTQ athletes in the closet and living in silence.
“As America’s culture, including that of the sports world, continues to evolve, AT&T remains steadfast in our support of inclusion, which encompasses advocating the right mindset surrounding the LGBTQ community,” said Daniel York, senior executive vice president and chief content officer for AT&T. “We are honored to provide these athletes a platform to share their stories and empower others going through similar struggles.”
Following the film, Mr. McFarland will take part in a panel discussion about the film and its impact. The evening event is free and open to the public.
