10th Season Redefines the Future with Gender Neutral Moniker
Philadelphia, PA: Today, Philly Roller Derby (PRD) is proud to announce the decision to drop the gender-specific ‘girls’ from the league’s namesake. General Manager, Joe Salenetri said, “As our league and the sport of roller derby continue to grow, it has become evident that identifying as ‘roller girls’ may feel exclusionary to some in our community.” The change comes at a perfect time; founded in 2005, PRD is about to begin their 10th season.
Many skaters in the league have no reservations about the update, and believe it’s more representative of the roller derby community in Philadelphia.
Heavy Flo, who joined PRD in 2008, is in favor of the revision. “We are comprised of women, men, young adults, and children,” she said. “We are athletes that should be recognized beyond our gender, but rather for our sport.” Her sentiment is echoed by fellow skater, Castro, who has been with the league since its inception in 2005 and seen the evolution of the sport: “Simply put, our organization is not just a group of girls. We are a collective of people who tirelessly work to bring the empowering sport of roller derby to our fair city.”
PRD will undergo a rebrand to accommodate the change, but not to worry – the iconic Liberty-Bell-roller-skate logo will not otherwise be impacted. Regarding future changes to the league, Salenteri noted, “A name change is just one step in creating a welcoming and safe environment for all of our current and future members.”
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Established in 2005, Philly Roller Derby is the premiere flat-track roller derby league in Philadelphia dedicated to developing and promoting strength and athleticism in people of all ages through regular, intense training and high-level local, regional, national, and international roller derby competition. PRD is a skater-owned and operated roller derby league comprised of over 60 skaters, dozens of officials and volunteers, as well as countless fans and supporters and currently ranked 10th in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association comprised of over 300 teams worldwide.