An update to my post on July 27th, 2020.
I have interacted with tens of thousands of kids and adults in general and in my line of work, some only briefly, others more.
Below is a something of which I need to put out, an experience of which I need to talk about and to be heard.
People who know me may know some of all that has happened in my many years of dealing with this. For others, this will be a side of me that you may not have fully known, of which I ask you to read with an open mind and to the end.
Some specific details have been moved to later in the story, other details have been left out for brevity.
Back in July of 2020 I went to the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster Ohio to ice skate, as I was putting on my skates the general manager, Seth Greenburg, came to me and asked my name. I told him “Steven Arness” and he replied “I’ve heard of you from other rinks” he then told me I had to leave. When I asked why, I was told “I can’t let you skate around kids” He then seemed to imply that since they were a non-profit organization that they could restrict my participation. I told Mr. Greenburg that I’ve skated at other rinks and was told “This is Northeast Ohio” Well this can’t really apply as I’ve skated at Kent State Ice Arena, Center Ice, Brooklyn Recreation Center, Winterhurst, and one other I’m trying to remember of which are all located in “Northeast Ohio”
I’ve been dealing with this bigotry for over 16 years, considering Mr. Greenburg had heard of me before, you would think that he could of had a better response in place. Eventually I just gave up on changing his mind and left.
I had enough this time and filed a case of discrimination with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC). Both Seth Greenburg and David Noble adamantly defended their position in not allowing me to skate. In fact they went so far as to change the age limit of who would be allowed to skate on which sessions. I was offered an unadvertised adult only session to skate on, but then told later that I still wouldn’t be allowed to participate if I showed up in the same condition.
In March of 2021 the OCRC came back and found probable cause and they offered a conciliation of which I disagreed with as I was not a party in it.
My next correspondence from the OCRC was In June of 2021 and the OCRC wrote that I chose not to participate in the conciliation (false and we are fighting this result) and that they also made an agreement with the Alice Noble Foundation which closed the case.
It’s not like I’ve stood idly by, over the past 16 years I’ve faced all kinds of marginalization and discrimination from the skating community. I contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, the United States Figure Skating Association, the Professional Skaters Association, the International Skating Union, and the Cleveland Skating Club about my experiences. The ACLU, USFSA, PSA, and the Cleveland Skating Club said there was nothing they could do, the ISU did change some of their rules which marginally benefited males while greatly benefiting most females.
Even my first coach, Jean Kendo Weigl, was not immune to the bigotry I faced as they themselves were blacklisted and harmed for their choice in teaching me. My second coach, Leslie C. Shackelford-Rinicella, says she faced the same hassles from others. Other coaches like Chris Martin just flat out refused to teach me unless I conformed to their standards while their female students were not faced with the same constraint, others just outright lied. Most however just said no or hung up and/or stopped responding to my emails after they knew who I was. Shaker from what I heard even changed their rules to deter my participation. And why is it that those who knew of what was going on and could influence and effect change did nothing?
My picture used to hang on the wall at Skaters Edge in Cleveland and Dale used tell me that people would call him to take it down before coming in. Back in the day I was skating 10 to 14 hours a week and another 8 to 15 hours in off ice exercises, even so, I was told by many that I was not taking it (skating) seriously.
For the most part however I was able to skate, but mostly on the outside of the skating community.
So why was I told to leave?
For the fact that I was wearing a rather plain leotard with an attached skirt, suntan tights and white skates. A combination that I’ve worn at numerous other rinks and rarely have had any flagrant actions taken against me.
What I wore is the same kind of attire that a female could be wearing while skating. Mr. Greenburg and David Noble said my attire was not typical male clothing and on that basis I could be told to leave.
Not a week goes by that one doesn’t hear about some kind of discrimination, be it race, gender, or sex. Even though what I endured was blatantly obvious, nobody did anything about it. When I talk about it, people at first don’t even believe me as certainly a white cisgender male couldn’t possibly be discriminated against. When I show them my picture, the typical response is that I should just wear pants. Another person argued that I couldn’t claim discrimination as a dark skinned person couldn’t easily change their skin tone to avoid it while I could just wear pants and be treated normally. Telling me to leave shows that bigotry and discrimination is far more diverse then black and white.
Being the epitome of discrimination and a white heterosexual male seems to be a myth as nobody believes you.
What it also shows is that while everyone speaks of male privilege, males are actually suppressed and a minority not only by societal precedents, but also of their own skin and mind.
What about those who witnessed my removal? What did they think? Did they think it was right for Mr. Greenburg to remove me? Was I some kind of threat? Surely I must have been as kids were secluded away from my presence. How much of a threat could I be though? Even if I did something, most anyone there could probably describe me to a T. Did they also learn then that Mr. Greenburgs actions were acceptable?
What about those who thought differently? Those who wondered who I was and what I was about yet unable to ask the question due to someone else’s bigoted actions. Were they on the fence? On my side? Were they swayed? Or did they possibly think it was wrong? If they thought it was wrong, was their voice heard? Or was it stifled like mine was?
It’s been said that people should fear the people who fear me, I couldn’t agree more.
#FearThoseWhoFearMe