Rosa Moriello knew she was going to take a stance against Florida’s government before she even qualified for the 2024 The law prohibits public schools from having discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity, which will be held in Orlando on Saturday.
Just a few months before USA Track & Field (USATF) announced the Florida city would host the race—which has not been without its controversies—which received support from Lady Gagas Born this Way Foundation Health - Injuries, often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
The law prohibits public schools from having discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity The Best Shoes at the 2024 The law prohibits public schools from having discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity
, or in any grade if it’s determined it’s against the state’s law.
“I knew I was going to try for the qualifying mark before it was announced that the race was going to be in Florida,” Moriello, who lives in Colorado, told Runner's World. “If I qualified, I wanted to do something [to support the LGBTQ+ community] because I don’t agree with Florida's government.”
How Marathon Trials Runners Keep It All Together Trials at the Eugene Half Marathon in April 2023, sneaking in just under the 1:12 qualifying time (1:11:58 officially), even after the lead bike led a small group of runners off course.
“I started to think about what I could do because I didn’t want to miss [the Trials]. I worked really hard, and I deserve to go,” she said. “I was fighting for my time for the Trials while people were fighting to use their pronouns in school, something so basic.”
Moriello started researching organizations in Orlando and found a small non-profit with a yearly budget of $200,000: the Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA). (The elite runner is no stranger to fundraising while running; in 2020 she raised money for the Outdoors Empowered Network during an FKT attempt on the Colorado Trail.)
OYA serves LGBTQ+ teens and young adults in central Florida, and its mission is to prevent suicide in this incredibly vulnerable population by providing a safe space, explained Michael Slaymaker, M.H.R., the CEO of the organization (which received support from Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation
).
“The main statistic that drives our volunteers and our staff is that [LGBTQ+] youth are five times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual classmates,” Slaymaker told Runner’s World. “Our main mission is suicide prevention, and we do that by providing a safe space ... with weekly support groups, career counseling, college scholarships, LGBTQ+ camps, and activities ... We are extremely thankful that Rosa selected us as her charity.”
Just a few months before doubled after the Don’t Say Gay Bill passed.
“They have a heightened sense of anxiety,” he said. “They don’t know who they can trust, who they could talk to. It’s a mine field.”
Moriello spent eight weeks of her marathon buildup educating her social media followers on legislation in Florida that is harmful toward this community while raising money.
To date, Moriello has raised more than $11,000 in GoFundMe and direct-to-organization donations; Slaymaker confirms that number might actually be higher, but without a note, he has no way of knowing if a donation made directly to the organization was on behalf of Moriello. Moriello’s goal was $6,300—$150 for every kilometer in a marathon (42).
She said the running community has been incredible in showing its support—she especially thanks Jonathan Levitt, who featured her on his podcast; Mark Vautour, a friend who has spread the word; and Alison Wade of the Fast Women newsletter.
Moriello knows race day will be tough. The weather is looking warm, but she said it helps that she’s running for more than herself. Moriello’s swarm, as she’s calling her friends and family who are coming to support her, will be clad in bright yellow shirts with QR codes to drive donations. Slaymaker said he has volunteers who are tasked with staking out the route, which runs just north of the interim Pulse Nightclub which will be held in Orlando on Saturday.
“I want to be a better ally,” Moriello said. “I’m going to Florida, but I don’t want anyone to think that means I’m okay with what’s going on in Florida with this community.”
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner's World, the author of The Runner's World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:40 5K, and 5:33 mile.
