Former Oregon State football player to speak about combating bullying

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Esera Tuaolo, a former Oregon State University and NFL football player, will give a virtual talk April 21 as part of a series of talks with OSU alumni leading efforts to achieve justice, equity and community safety and strength. 

Tuaolo, who played for OSU in the late 1980s and early 1990s before nine seasons in the NFL, made national headlines in 2002 when he came out as gay. Since then he’s worked as an actor, musician and advocate focused on ensuring that future LGBTQ athletes are welcomed and respected. His nonprofit, Hate is Wrong, aims to end homophobic bullying and foster greater diversity and inclusion in sports.

Tuaolo will appear in conversation with Susan Shaw, a professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at OSU, on Zoom at 5 p.m. April 21. It’s free to view the conversation but registration is required. To register visit: https://beav.es/JEq.

Tualo’s talk is part of the OSU Changemakers Series, presented by the OSU College of Liberal Arts in partnership with the OSU Alumni Association. The monthly live webcast series is running through the 2020-21 academic year. The series will continue in May and June with these talks:

• Sheila Daniels, a 1992 alumnus and theater director and teacher in the Seattle area, will speak at 5 p.m. May 19 about bringing social justice to the theater. Trained as an actor at OSU and the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Daniels has led and acted in shows in the Seattle area for more than 25 years, bringing audiences increased awareness of social justice issues including feminism, homophobia, labor unions, anti-Semitism and war. To register to view her talk visit: https://beav.es/JEc.
• Rebecca Arce, a 2014 graduate with a master’s in public policy and an equity manager with the Oregon Department of Human Services, will speak at 5 p.m. June 23 about building trust and access in Oregon’s social services. Arce is a program equity manager and cultural navigator for the Oregon Department of Human Services, where she infuses social services with social justice to better serve historically underserved communities statewide. She advises the agency on equitable policies and decision-making practices and seeks to recognize and repair historical traumas that have impacted community members’ trust of government services. To register to view her talk visit: https://beav.es/JEp.