July 27th, 2020

On July 27th I tried to skate at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in one of my favorite skating dresses, only to be approached by the manager saying that they would not allow me to skate in a skirt with kids present.

Walking up to the front door I was temperature checked and told good to go. I proceeded inside and took a chair outside the rink and proceeded to put my skates on. While tying my right skate a person approached me and said their name was Seth and that I would not be allowed to skate on the ice around kids while wearing a skirt. He also told me that other rinks had warned him of me skating in dresses.

I said my choice of attire is considered free speech and I’ve skated in Chicago and New York without issues, he said “This is Northeast Ohio.” I tried to argue my point and the error in their request, instead I was told that they are a non-profit organization. As such they can say what I’m allowed or not allowed to wear when skating and children shouldn’t be subjected to a man wearing a skirt. They then said I would be allowed to skate in a dress on their unadvertised adult freestyle sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They asked if I wanted my money back of which i said would be in their best interest. I received a refund, put my shoes on, and left.

I’ve skated in a dress at plenty of places, kids haven’t been the issue, parents of kids at times have been an issue, and it’s unfortunate that they chose fear instead of education. I mean seriously, do they think someone dressed as I was would try to harm their kids?

#FearThoseWhoFearMe #Bigotry