Featured events


7-9 September 2012
Brussels Games
Brussels

Brussels Gay Sports will offer a weekend of fun and fairplay in the capital of Europe, with volleyball, swimming, badminton, and tennis, as well as fitness and hiking.

Learn more HERE.
26-28 October 2012
QueergamesBern
Bern, Switzerland

The success of the first edition of the QueergamesBern proved the need for an LGBT multisport event in Switzerland. This year will be even bigger, with badminton, bowling, running, walking, floorball.

Learn more HERE.
17-20 January 2013
Sin City Shootout
Las Vegas
The 7th Sin City Shootout will feature softball, ice hockey, tennis, wrestling, basketball, dodgeball, bodybuilding and basketball.

Learn more HERE.

13-16 June 2013
IGLFA Euro Cup
Dublin
After this year's edition in Budapest at the EuroGames, the IGLFA Euro Cup heads to Dublin for 2013, hosted by the Dublin Devils and the Dublin Phoenix Tigers.

Learn more HERE.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Professional sport leagues and protection for sexual orientation

Pete Olsen from Wide Rights has analyzed the new collective bargaining agreement from the NFL, and discovered that protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is now part of the contract under which players work for their teams.

Read Pete's analysis HERE.

Outsports provides more background on how the change was made HERE:

An NFL spokesperson explained that it "was introduced early on in the drafting process of the CBA by our lawyers as something that needed to be included. It parallels the policies and practices of our own office, which include non-discrimination, domestic partner benefits, and the hosting of PFLAG and related events."

And Outsports also provides news on demands for the NBA to follow the NFL's lead. The appeal comes from The Resource Center Dallas, an LGBT advocacy group that has sent a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern and union head Billy Hunter asking that language like that of the NFL be added to a new NBA contract currently being negotiated.

Gay Games Ambassador John Amaechi to launch HIV initiative

From Pink News

John Amaechi, the openly gay former basketball player, is supporting a new HIV programme aimed at African communities in the UK.

The 40-year-old, who has Nigerian heritage, will launch the three-year Terrence Higgins Trust programme tomorrow (Friday). The programme will see 15 volunteers each year taking a two-month training course on HIV and mentoring skills. They will then hold training workshops in the community on HIV treatment, prevention and stigma. Barclays gave the programme a £141,000 donation and staff will help trainees with skills such as marketing and basic accountancy.

Amaechi, who now works as a psychologist and political activist, said: “I’m proud to be endorsing such an innovative community focused project which will make a tangible difference through the powerful medium of peer to peer support. HIV is now a manageable condition but people are still dying needlessly because of a lack of education about the virus and social stigma which contributes to fears about HIV testing in African communities. As someone with Nigerian roots I know just how complex cultural beliefs are about sexual health and how important it is that this group has specialist support to counter prejudices and equip people with the information and tools they need to look after their health and the health of their families.”
Amazon.com:Amazon.ca:Amazon.co.uk:Amazon.de:Amazon.fr:

Federation of Gay Games to present talk at Play the Game conference

Find the Play the Game 2011 website with more information, photos, video, program, etc. HERE.

PLAY THE GAME 2011: Bringing change to the heart of sport
German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
3-6 October 2011


The Federation of Gay Games, represented by VP for External Affairs Marc Naimark, will be participating in Play the Game, an international conference on change in sport, to be held from 3 to 6 October 2011 at the German Sport University in Sportpark Muengersdorf, which participants in Gay Games VIII will remember as the main sports hub.

The topic of the talk is "Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best: How the Gay Games strive to include women and transgender athletes", and will be part of a session entitled "Transgender Challenges". Also speaking in that session will be Honorata Jakubowska on the topic "Gender (division) troubles in sports", and Zeljko Blace of FGG member organization qSport Croatia, who will speak on "QueerSport: tension between sport normativity and queer expression".

View conference sessions online: 

For the seventh time Play the Game will gather stakeholders in sport to join the discussion on essential issues in world sport at the world communication conference Play the Game 2011 - bringing change to the heart of sport. Play the Game 2011 is organised in cooperation with the German Sport University in Cologne, Germany. Many topics from the international sports agenda will be up for debate on Play the Game 2011 from 3-6 October.

If you are unable to attend Play the Game, you still have the opportunity to follow the plenary debates and presentations through live streaming from the conference on our streaming page and after they take place with video on demand. Some parallel sessions will also be available after the conference as audio or video on demand.

The full schedule, for which sessions will be live-streamed including possible changes in the programme, is shown on the streaming page of the conference.

Watch Play the Game 2011 live.

Most presentations from the speakers will also be available for download the day after the presentation is scheduled and pictures from the conference will be uploaded continuously on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/play_the_game/) and the conference website.
The following sessions are scheduled to be streamed live during the conference:

Monday 3 October:13.00-16.15: Opening Session: Play the Game 2011 - Changing the Heart of Sport
16.30-18.30: Plenary session: Match Fixing - the biggest single threat to sport?
20.00-20.40: Main theme session: Volleygate
20.40-21.45: Main theme session: The Middle East on the Move

Tuesday 4 October:9.00-11.45: Plenary session: Chasing the White Elephants - Mega-events for the Public Good
14.15-16.40: Plenary session: Fair Play, Fair Pay: How to create growth in grass root sport

Wednesday 5 October:9.00-10.55: Main theme session: Little Difference, Huge Impact: The Gender Challenge to Sport
11.00-12.45: Main theme session: The intersex challenge to sport?
14.00-16.40: Plenary Session: WADA reforms - which changes are most urgent in anti-doping policies?

Thursday 6 October:10.50-12.45: Change in Sport Day - part 1: Symptoms and diagnosis
15.30-18.20: Change in Sport Day - part 2: Finding the cure
18.20: Closing session

See more on the individual sessions in the conference programme.

Gay Games I at number 5 in Outsports' top 100 LGBT sports moments

We've been posting updates as each group of ten events on the Outsports countdown is published, but for this one, we didn't want to wait.

Multisports, 1982: Dr. Tom Waddell was an Olympic decathlete who had a dream of holding a sports event geared to gay and lesbians, to shatter the stereotype of what being an athlete meant. He was thwarted in his attempts to call them the Gay Olympics and instead settled on Gay Games.

The first were held in San Francisco from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, 1982. There were 1,350 athletes from 10 countries competing in 17 sports.

Keep reading this post which has great quotes from Gene Dermody and Roger Brigham HERE


If Gay Games I is number 5, we're eager to see number 4 through 1!

Euro Gay Cup regatta opens in the Netherlands

We send our best wishes to all participatnts in the Euro Gay Cup sailing weekend as it opens today.

The event, sanctioned by GLORY and organized by Christoph Gaspers-Carouge, who organized the sailing event at Gay Games VIII, brings together sailers from around Europe.

This 9th Euro Gay Cup 2011 is taking place in Lemmer, in the Netherldands through October 3th 2011. The Euro Gay Cup 2011 will be held on sailing yachts for the first time in the history of the event.

Learn more about the event and its history HERE.

University of Michigan public service announcement: what should happen when a player makes a homophobic slur

Via Outsports, a public service announcement produced by Howard Bragman and the Spectrum Center, the oldest US campus LGBT center at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. The film was broadcast in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Spectrum at last weekend's U of M football game.

The Spectrum Center: "Huddle Up" from Filmic Productions on Vimeo.



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Carlin Yetts reports from San Francisco's WWB III wrestling tournament: part 4

You may remember Carlin Yetts as our 700th Facebook fan. Carlin is a wrestler from Columbus, Ohio, and in part to prepare for Gay Games 9 in nearby Cleveland+Akron, he has launched a new LGBT wrestling club in his town. 

He's back from San Francisco, where he competed in the third WWB wrestling tournament hosted by Golden Gate Wrestling Club.

Here is his final report on his experiences there for the Gay Games blog. 



Getting up Saturday for the WWB Cup, I felt like I was a freshman in high school all over again. New to freestyle wrestling, Ii took a crash course in the rules a practice the night before. So it was now or never, and I was ready to get at it. Since I left my singlet at home I was very honored to wear one of Gene's. Those who know Gene and me know that I'm a bit bigger than him, so while it may have fit fine on Gene, on me, it left nothing to the imagination. So singlet, shoes, and knee pads on, I'm ready t owrestle in my first freestyle tournament ever.

My first match was against John Flavia from Southern California. Still in the folkstyle mindset, I wanted to give it my all. I didn't travel out here to get pushed around just because I don't know any freestyle moves. The firstt period went to John. I was giving up points for being pushed out of bounds. I didn't realize that this was giving him points! Like I said, I'm a newbie to freestyle.
(Thanks to Golden Gate Wrestling Club for this video of the match)

Another great thing was to be coached by Roger during the break. He calmed me down and got my focus back. In the second period John went in for a shot and I pulled a nice Turk on him. In the end, John won the period and the match. I was so pumped up, because even though I lost I knew I had gone out and given it my all. Then Gene came over to me and told me that I had done his singlet proud and that it was the best match he had seen. When he said that it almost brought me to tears. To hear that from the man who was at the first Gay Games say that to me, a guy who knows nothing about freestyle, was a true honor.

My next match was against Golden Gate Wrestling Club's very own Ross Capdeville. I had watched him wrestle in the previous round, and decided I was going to try to work the inside for a bearhug or throw. But
once I went for it and he saw what I was trying to do, he took it away from me. Ross won both periods but again I made him work for it and gave it my all.

After the tournament we all went back to Gene's house to eat and for the awards. John and I were given the award for the most exciting match. I was very honored that Gene and Roger chose our match.

This week has been such a eye-opening experience. Meeting new friends from different parts of the world. Learning a new form of wrestling in three days. Just that feeling of togetherness when all these clubs come together in one big family. No matter what your race, sexual orientation, or where you come from we are all wrestlers and we love this sport.

See you all at Sin City in January in Las Vegas!

Northwestern University athletics staff say "It Gets Better"

Northwestern University athletics staff have made a video for the "It Gets Better" project.

The video was filmed over the summer and features Northwestern Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips, head coaches Pat Fitzgerald (football), Kate Drohan (softball) and Claire Pollard (women's tennis) along with current or former student-athletes Michael Thompson (men's basketball), John Shurna (men's basketball), Amy Jaeschke (women's basketball) and Michelle Batts (softball).

Participants in Gay Games VII will remember that Northwestern hosted several sports, including wrestling, powerlifting and bodybuilding.

Find the full press release from Northwestern HERE.

View the video below, and visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.






FSGL president comments on new French sports minister on Radio France International's English service

Radio France International's English service reports on concern over the nomination of a homophobe, David Douillet, as the new French minister of sport, asking Christelle Foucault, president of the FSGL, for her comments. You can listen below:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

En français / Nomination de David Douillet au Ministère des sports : la FSGL s'inquiète


After benefitting from two sports ministers favorable to the fight against homophobia in sport, France now has a new minister with a well-earned reputation for homophobia and sexism. FGG member FSGL has issued a statement expressing their concern regarding the new minister.

Lundi 26 septembre 2011

La FSGL (Fédération Sportive Gaie et Lesbienne) prend acte de la nomination de David Douillet en remplacement de Chantal Jouanno au poste de Ministre des Sports et s'inquiète de la continuité des actions menées en collaboration avec ce ministère depuis maintenant deux ans. Succédant à Rama Yade fin 2010, Chantal Jouanno avait confirmé, depuis sa prise de fonctions, la poursuite de la lutte contre l'homophobie dans le sport amorcée par la secrétaire d’État alors sous la tutelle du Ministère de la Santé de Mme Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin. Malgré son élargissement à la lutte contre les discriminations de manière générale, Mme Jouanno avait réussi à obtenir que bon nombre de Fédérations sportives signent la charte dans le cadre de leurs conventions d'objectifs avec le ministère des sports.

Un certain nombre de chantiers sont également en cours suite à la mise en place du comité de lutte contre les discriminations, auquel siège la FSGL, avec notamment la création d'outils visant à la fois à recenser les actes de discriminations et à informer le personnel encadrant sportif, à féminiser les arcanes du sport français et à rendre le milieu sportif plus respectueux des différences. Connaissant les propos homophobes et machistes tenus par David Douillet dans le passé, la FSGL s'inquiète de savoir quelles seront les positions du nouveau ministre des sports sur ces sujets et leurs mises en œuvre.

Plus largement, Chantal Jouanno avait également eu un discours très ouvert sur les questions de société qui touchent aujourd'hui la population LGBTQi, à savoir qu'elle se déclarait favorable à l'adoption par les couples homosexuels et le mariage pour les couples de même sexe. Ce discours,relativement rare dans les rangs du gouvernement semble donc s'éloigner avec l'arrivée de David Douillet. Cette nomination n'est pas sans rappeler les propos tenus par le Président de la République lors d'un conseil des ministres en juin au cours duquel il a déclaré : "je ne crois pas qu'il y ait de l'homophobie dans le sport", niant ainsi l'ensemble des cas avérés et la raison même des actions de sa ministre d'alors, Chantal Jouanno.

Nous attendons donc avec impatience les premières déclarations de M. Douillet et saurons nous montrer très exigeants pour que les actions menées depuis deux ans ne restent pas sans effets et continuent dans leur voie pour un sport plus propre, plus sain, plus respectueux. Espérons que notre nouveau ministre des sports s'attache à appliquer le code moral du judo dans ses nouvelles fonctions et qu'il nous prouve ainsi que les déclarations du passé n'étaient alors qu'erreurs de jeunesse.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Women's Sports Foundation issues position statement on intersex athletes

Via Pat Griffin, whose analysis we encourage you to read, the new statement on intersex athletes from the Women's Sports Foundation:

As the recent controversy surrounding Caster Semenya’s eligibility for women’s track makes painfully clear, intersex athletes are vulnerable to exclusion from women’s sports, as well as ridicule and invasion of privacy. The Women’s Sports Foundation believes that women with intersex conditions have the same rights to participation in athletics as all women. It is also our position that eligibility standards for women’s sports that require an athlete to demonstrate particular hormone levels promote the policing of gender by medical means, leading to the unwarranted invasions of privacy not only for intersex athletes, but any athlete whose femininity is questioned. Moreover, any policy that singles out women’s sports for eligibility based on hormone levels is discriminatory and sends the harmful message that female athletes are uniquely vulnerable and in need of special protection from the normal, natural variation in size, skill, and athletic ability that exists among members of either sex.

Read the report HERE.

San Francisco Track and Field Club and other friends at Folsom Street Fair


The annual Folsom Street Fair is a San Francisco institution, and perhaps the leading special-interest event in the world. Team SF and Wrestlers Without Borders member Golden Gate Wrestling Club had a booth, and ran a beer tent, an important source of revenue for the club's activities throughout the year.

Other FGG-related organizations running beer tents this year were the San Francisco Spikes Soccer Club, the San Francisco Tsunami swim club, the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Track and Field club, seen above.

29 October 2011 / Yellow Rome Open Tennis and Indoor Football tournament

YELLOW SPORT is proud to present the 3rd Edition of YELLOW ROME OPEN 2011 a TENNIS and FUTSAL INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT under the patronage of FGG member organizations GLTA (Gay & Lesbian Tennis Association) and IGLFA (International Gay & Lesbian Football Association) with the support of the EGLSF.


The YELLOW ROME OPEN 2011 will be held in Rome on September 29th/October 2nd at two venues for tennis, the T.C. GARDEN and the T.C. APPIO CLAUDIO in Rome, and at A.S.D. LA TORRE for futsal. The tennis tournament will have SINGLES, DOUBLES and MIXED DOUBLES draws and CONSOLATIONS draws for all the categories (except for doubles).

The ICONS' CUP 2011, international futsal tournament, part of the main event of Yellow Rome Open, will see the participation of men & women international soccer teams from all over the world. It will be held in 2 days for women and 1 day for men, in an athletic and exhausting race to the victory!

The Yellow event also has the support of the City of Rome - X Town Council, of the Province of Rome and of the Lazio Region Board. During the event the main high schools' students of the X Town Council will compete for the drawing competition "A smash for the Civil Rights", with the theme : "A sign for integration".

All info, registration and details at www.yellowsport.it or by email at: yellowroma@gmail.com

COME & PARTICIPATE.......BE FIRST IN THE CAPITAL OF HISTORY!!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Wrestlers Without Borders "WWB III" and "Don Jung Memorial" tournaments



On 24 September, the Golden Gate Wrestling Club hosted the 26th annual Don Jung Memorial Tournament in San Francisco, which was also the WWB III international tournament.

Two dozen wrestlers from New York, Illinois, California, Ohio, and Australia competed in the freestyle event. The photo accompanying this posting shows the tournament officials for the Wrestlers Without Borders championships

Standing, left to right: Abraham "Alex" Ostrovskiy, the top-rated FILA official in the world; Golden Gate Wrestling Club President Gene Dermody; San Diego Wrestling Club Captain Greg Lines; San Diego WC founder Russ Connelly; WWB Chairman Roger Brigham. Kneeling: Greco-Roman wrestler Akil Patterson of College Park, Maryland; and WWB Sports Officer Josh Watkins of Chicago.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

GALA Choruses leadership conference underway in Palm Springs

The FGG wishes participants in the leadership conference of member organization GALA Choruses a great conference this weekend:

Join us in beautiful Palm Springs on September 22-25, 2011 for a weekend of exploring how we go about "Making Music that Makes a Difference." The Annual Leadership Conference is an essential source of know-how, fresh ideas you can take home to your chorus and collaboration for artistic directors, administrators and board members.

Lead presenters include Sharon Rodning Bash, a program director at Arts Midwest, Jeffrey Nytch, director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder, John Jacobson, choreographer and Bruce Thibodeau, president of the Arts Consulting Group. Along with a variety of workshop topics, these presenters will make sure you leave Palm Springs with ideas worth more than the cost of the conference.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Carlin Yetts reports from San Francisco's WWB III wrestling tournament: part 3

You may remember Carlin Yetts as our 700th Facebook fan. Carlin is a wrestler from Columbus, Ohio, and in part to prepare for Gay Games 9 in nearby Cleveland+Akron, he has launched a new LGBT wrestling club in his town. 

He's now in San Francisco for the third WWB wrestling tournament hosted by Golden Gate Wrestling Club, and will be reporting on his experiences there for the Gay Games blog. 

Here's his third installment:

Breakfast took me back to my college days in Honolulu, with fresh pineapple, something I just never get in Columbus. I joined Eddie at the dog park, where I enjoyed a fabulous view overlooking the Bay. On one side you could see the Oakland Bay Bridge, and on the other the the Golden Gate Bridge covered in fog. Then it was off to the Castro for lunch at The Cove, then to the hardware store. Yes, there's a genuine hardware store, right in the middle of the Castro. It was hilarious.

Then it was off to Gene's house, a shrine to so much history from the Gay Games. One thing in particular that had me awestruck was seeing his medals from every single edition of the Gay Games, from Gay Games I in 1982 through Gay Games VIII in 2010.

Next was pratice at Ross's place. He took us into some intense training and moves I had never seen before. I guess I'm more used to wrestling "East Coast style", and more basic moves. After that intense workout I decided to head back to Roger and Eddie's place to recover and get ready for tomorrow's pratice. One more day until WWB III! I can't wait!

Gay Games Ambassador Brian Sims and other LGBT sports figures on list of who's who in gay Philadelphia

In Philadelphia magazine's list of who's who in gay Philadelphia, the "jocks" page features Joanna Lohman, a starting player with the Philadelphia Independence, a professional women’s soccer team that surprised everyone by placing second last year in the national championship; Wayne Knaub, commissioner of the Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League (GPFFL); and Meegan Coll, a member of the Flying Phoenix Dragon Boat team.

And Gay Games Ambassador Brian Sims, who recently nnounced a run for the Pennsylvania state legislature, appears on the "Legal Eagles" page:


Sims started his advocacy by helping elect Judge Dan Anders to the Court of Common Pleas. “Dan was trying to join Ann Butchart on the bench, and it was really important to me that he was running as a member of the LGBT community,” says Sims, an attorney who’s now running for the State House in the Democratic primary against Babette Josephs who’s held the seat for almost three decades. The ex-football- star—a Division II champ—is a former Army brat who lives in the Gayborhood with his 170-pound Newfoundland. He credits his dad with teaching him to be a leader. “He’s shown me my entire life that a strong, intelligent, capable man can also be compassionate and empathetic,” says Sims. “He was a career Army officer who has a doctoral degree, has traveled the world, has been married to the same woman his entire life, and is loved by all of his children. There’s a lot to look up to there.”

Carlin Yetts reports from San Francisco's WWB III wrestling tournament: part 2

You may remember Carlin Yetts as our 700th Facebook fan. Carlin is a wrestler from Columbus, Ohio, and in part to prepare for Gay Games 9 in nearby Cleveland+Akron, he has launched a new LGBT wrestling club in his town. 

He's now in San Francisco for the third WWB wrestling tournament hosted by Golden Gate Wrestling Club, and will be reporting on his experiences there for the Gay Games blog. 

Here's his second installment:

It's my second day in San Francisco. After Eddie made me some awesome oatmeal for breakfast, Roger and I went to Berkeley Bowl. It looks like the North Market in Columbus on steroids. Then after dropping off the groceries, Roger took me
to Muir Woods National Monument. To see these trees is amazing. Just gigantic redwoods towering over you... all you can do is go "wow". As we were walking through the park trading wrestling stories of past wrestlers, coaching experiences, and our own wrestling triumphs and disappointments, I realized how fortunate I was to be able to share and hear stories from such a great man as Roger.

Back in the car we got a bite to eat then headed across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco, where I was able to take in some of the amazing sights.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

5 November 2011 / We'll be at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards and Expo


Compete Sports Diversity Awards and Expo
November 5, 2011, Phoenix, Arizona

Carlin Yetts reports from San Francisco's WWB III wrestling tournament

You may remember Carlin Yetts as our 700th Facebook fan. Carlin is a wrestler from Columbus, Ohio, and in part to prepare for Gay Games 9 in nearby Cleveland+Akron, he has launched a new LGBT wrestling club in his town. 

He's now in San Francisco for the third WWB wrestling tournament hosted by Golden Gate Wrestling Club, and will be reporting on his experiences there for the Gay Games blog. 

Here's his first installment:

After a seven-hour plane ride and two subway trips, I finally arrive in Castro Street in San Francisco. I'm taken aback by all the sights and sounds of this famous place so much gay history has been made. I make my way to the Eureka Valley Recreation Center for my first-ever practice with the Golden Gate Wrestling Club. The smell of wrestling mats hits me in the face as I head upstairs, where I finally meet Roger Brigham in person. Greeted by a handshake and a hug from a fellow Ohioan makes me feel very welcomed. After shaking hands with other members of GGWC and some visiting Aussies, it was time to hit the mats. Its been about five months since I hit a wrestling mat and sitting on a plane all day didn't help my back at all. But as we wrestlers do, I sucked it up and gave it our all. After some takedowns and throws I was feeling great. The feeling of hitting the mat is second nature to me.

Then I finally got to meet Gene Dermody, who has been a part of the Gay Games since it started. It was truly an honor to meet him after reading about GCWC and the Gay Games history. After some wrestling and chatting it up with some other wrestlers, I went out with Gene, Roger, and another great wrestler Calvin, to have something to eat the Castro. I went back with Roger to his house in Oakland where i would be staying for the week. His husband Eddie welcomed me in with a handshake and a big hug. I was so tired from the flying, walking, and wrestling I just crashed... looking forward to another day in a community of wrestlers when I woke up!

Outsports top-100 moments in LGBT sports history: numbers 11-20

Here's a reminder of the latest ten stories in the Outsports series:

Over the rest of the summer we will release our list of the 100 most important moments in gay-sports history. We have focused on specific moments, whether they be a few minutes or a day, that have shaped the course of our history; Many of the faces of those moments will be familiar to our readers.

We focused on what we consider to be the “gay-sports movement.” There were certainly amazing gay and lesbian athletes before the Stonewall riots in 1969, but there wasn’t a push for gay equality in sports until after that fateful day in New York City. Our moments range from July 1, 1969 to July 1, 2011.

Of particular note to friends of the Gay Games,  Greg Louganis, John Amaechi, and Esera Tuaolo are all Gay Games Ambassadors, and the NCLR Sports Project was a winner of one of the Federation's inaugural Legacy Awards in 2007.

11) Ian Roberts comes out / 1995 / rugby
12) Renee Richards wins right to play in U.S. Open / 1977 / tennis
13) Magic Johnson announces he has HIV / 1991 / basketball
14) Greg Louganis comes out / 1994 / diving
15) John Amaechi comes out / 2007 / basketball
16) Esera Tuaolo comes out / 2002 / football
17) Brendan Burke passes away / 2010 / hockey
18) Gareth Thomas comes out / 2009 / rugby
19) ESPN airs ‘World of the gay athlete’ / 1998 / media
20) NCLR initiates sports project / 2001 / sports

Federation of Gay Games, IGLFA, and AllOut respond to FIFA on Nigerian lesbophobia


As we reported earlier, following the letter of protest of the FGG, IGLFA and AllOut, and AllOut's petition regarding reports of lesbophobia on the Nigerian women's football team, FIFA replied asking us to provide "evidence" of this behavior.

We have chosen to take FIFA's request at face value, and have replied to FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke as follows:


We have received your letter in which you asked us to provide you with evidence about the homophobic statements made by Ms. Uche. Ms. Uche has made such statements several times at Rédigerpress conferences and has been quoted by journalists from several renowned newspapers and press agencies.

As you know, the article that prompted the intervention of Ms. Tatjana Haenni was the story appearing in the New York Times (http://gaymes.info/uchenyt). During a phone interview with the journalist, Coach Uche talked about homosexuality as a “dirty issue,” and “spiritually, morally very wrong.”

The journalist also relates Ms. Uche's use of religion to “correct” players' homosexuality, combining homophobia with religious discrimination. “The issue of lesbianism is common“ she said to the journalist, “I came to realize it is not a physical battle; we need divine intervention in order to control and curb it. I tell you it worked for us. This is a thing of the past. It is never mentioned.”

Should you have any difficulties reaching the reporter of this story, we would be happy to put you directly in contact with her.

The New York Times' story refers to statements made by Ms. Uche in a seminar, as reported by Nigerian newpaper the Sun News last March (http://gaymes.info/uchesunnews), five months before Ms. Uche was interviewed by the New York Times. At this event, the 'First Seminar on Women's Football in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects', she said “It's a worrisome experience that some of our players indulge in lesbianism. Some of them go as far as renting rooms in hotels around the team's campsite where they go to satisfy their orgy:”

At the very least, Ms. Uche, with the support of her equally homophobic national federation, seems proud to have made homophobia and hate speech part of the ordinary operation of her team. Because of this, we urge you to include the Nigerian Football Federation in your investigation: as a former technical assistant for the country’s soccer federation, James Peters, was also quoted in the Sun News article, saying that he had removed some players from Nigeria’s women’s team “not because they were not good players, but because they were lesbians.”

We are repeating our willingness to continue our collaboration with the FIFA in investigating this case, and would like to know when a decision on holding a disciplinary procedure would take place.

Sport for All conference opens in Beijing

The Federation of Gay Games was pleased to be part of last year's Sport for All conference in Finland. This year's conference is underway in Beijing. Here's a report from Sport and Development:

The 14th World Conference on Sport for All got under way today at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing with workshops, plenary sessions and other meetings designed to promote health, fitness and well-being by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to participate in sports activities and embrace the Olympic values.

The focus of this year’s Conference, running from 21 to 23 September, is on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes, and was reformatted from earlier conferences to place greater emphasis on interactive knowledge-sharing and the exchange of best practices. Experts from around the globe will share their experiences on a wide range of Sport for All activities with an estimated audience of 600 people this week.

Hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Conference has been jointly organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) in collaboration with SportAccord. The Sport for All Conference is one of the IOC’s key advocacy initiatives in this field. It has, since its formation, been dedicated to promoting broad dissemination of the Sport for All philosophy globally.

“We can always do more”
“Our hope is that when you go back to your respective cities and countries, you will be able to implement on the ground what you have learnt or discovered during this Conference,” IOC President Jacques Rogge told participants at Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony. “I think we all agree: In the end it is not just about talking, but about taking action and seeing concrete results. We can always do more to get more people moving and taking exercise.”

IOC Sport for All Commission Chairman Sam Ramsamy concurred: “In today’s society, Sport for All has to play a very significant role in ensuring that citizens at large participate in sports activities. Elite sport is a beautiful objective and a high ideal for many participants. At the same time, sport offers many other values in abundance, such as fair play, volunteerism, community involvement, a healthy lifestyle, and much more. This is our focus in Sport for All.”

Sport for All grants
In light of the focus of the 14th Sport for All Conference — the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes — the IOC’s Sport for All Commission decided to create a grant to support the outstanding work of entities actively engaged in promoting Sport for All, particularly in the developing world, and disseminating the health and social benefits of sport in general.

The three winners of the grant correspond to the three main themes of the Conference:
  • Health and social benefits of physical activity (Eco Sports Group - Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Programmes and policies (Ethiopia - Sport Builds Bridges)
  • Development and promotion of Sport for All (Health Qigong Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Health Qigong Association)

“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport. This is one of the fundamental principles of Olympism,” said President Rogge. “This is why I am very pleased about the Sport for All Commission’s project to reward three of the many outstanding Sport for All initiatives around the world ... we thank them all for their valued contributions and wish them continued success in the future.”

New blog by gay high school swimmer

From Outsports:

“Sam I Am” is a new blog written by Sam, a 16-year-old high school junior in Pennsylvania. In ninth grade he was on the school swim team, but he quit his sophomore season, feeling inadequate and lonely, which he chalks up to wrestling with his sexuality. Sam now intends to rejoin his swim team this winter, and is using his blog as a way to reach out, come out and tell his story.

Read more HERE.
Read Sam's blog HERE.

Gay Games Ambassador wins European championship

Chris Morgan wins European championship gold and Best Lifter award

Chris Morgan, the current Gay Games Powerlifting champion, has won his first World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation European Championship Gold medal, plus his first ‘International’ Best Lifter Award at this year’s European Deadlift Championships.

He was lifting in the competition held in Volka, Estonia and made lifts of 215 kilos, 240 kilos and then a lifetime best of 265 kilos at a bodyweight of 81.4 kilos to take the overall pound for pound title.

Speaking about the competition, Chris said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted to have won my first European Gold Medal and more importantly my first International Best Lifter title. I can’t quite believe that after winning six british titles and four world titles during my career that this is my first European Championship win’.

Chris added: ‘After nearly a year of injury and illness I was beginning to worry that I may never have the opportunity to finish my collection of World and European Medals. This now means I have Gold, Silver and Bronze medals from both World and European Championships’.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

24 September 2011 / Boston gay flag football league hosts youth field day this Saturday

An interesting story from Outsports:

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Boston’s FLAG Flag Football League and the Massachusetts Commission on GLBT Youth will be hosting a first-ever GLBTQ Youth Field Day. The event will be held from 1pm-5:30pm on the M Street Field in Independence Park in South Boston, located on E. 1st Street between M and N Streets.

Teens throughout Massachusetts have been invited to spend the afternoon with other GLBTQ high school students for an afternoon of games, food, music, and networking. The league’s Commissioner, Richard Moore, sees this event as a natural extension of his organization’s mission.

Keep reading HERE.

Jeff Sheng's new Facebook page


The Federation of Gay Games adds its thoughts to our friend, photographer Jeff Sheng, on the official end yesterday to the US military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.


After his "Fearless Campus" project, a series of photographic profiles of out collegiate athletes, Jeff launched "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", featuring closeted US military personnel. The associated exhibitions and book became one part of the campaign against this discriminatory policy, and we are happy to let you know that he has a new Facebook page for his work, including "Fearless": facebook.com/JeffShengPhoto

Oh, and today's Jeff's birthday! Happy birthday from the FGG!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

This weekend: Swim for Equality in Malibu, followed by "Finish Line Pool Party"


All info HERE.

On Saturday, September 24, in Malibu, 2011 Swim for Equality swimmers will brave the open ocean waters to raise critical awareness and funds for LGBT rights in California. Do you have what it takes?

The Swim will be immediately followed by a Finish Line Pool Party Celebration featuring a hosted vodka bar by Blue Angel Ultra-Premium Vodka, hosted BBQ by Mogan’s Café, and spray tans by The Tan Man, at the home of True Blood's music composer and OUT 100 recipient Nathan Barr.

Equality California is on the front lines, advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights across California. Equality California advocates for pro-LGBT legislation in Sacramento and works with key coalition partners and thousands of volunteers to build public support for full LGBT equality, nothing less.

Join Equality California for the Second Annual Swim for Equality. Sign up to swim, help a swimmer meet their $2,000 fundraising goal or make a donation.
How to Participate >

Together, we will achieve equality for LGBT Californians, one stroke at a time.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Gay Games 9 fundraiser in Cleveland


Last week took place the first Gay Games 9 fundraiser in Cleveland.

Outsports looks at Rick Welts after leaving NBA team management

A great piece from Outsports:

Rick Welts on NOH8, finding love, leaving the Suns, and opening closet doors in sports
Sep 18th, 2011
by Cyd Zeigler jr..

Just 24 hours before his final moments as president of the Phoenix Suns, Rick Welts was looking ahead with memories of the years he was afraid to come out of the closet. Having posed hours before for the NOH8 campaign, his role in ameliorating that fear for others was top-of-mind.

“Having had no one in a position like mine that I could look to who had done this where I could see how it played out was a real obstacle,” Welts said. “Hopefully people who are in my similar position have had an opportunity to see that this can play out really well for them personally, and also to help elevate both the quality and quantity of the conversation about sexual orientation in men’s team sports.”

Welts announced publicly earlier this month that he would leave his position with the Suns to be with his new partner (below). Having previously lost a relationship because he was unable to reconcile his same-sex partner with his career, Welts has been focused on not repeating that history. He’ll move in the coming months to northern California where his partner shares custody of two children with his ex-wife.

Keep reading HERE.

GLSEN Sports Project a target of "Christian" lobby

From AddictingInfo.com:

Linda Harvey, the founder of Mission America, says that LGBT people don’t exist. She made the comments during her weekend broadcast while she was attacking the Gay, Lesbian, And Straight Education Network.

Harvey was particularly perturbed by the GLSEN Sports Program which works towards “creating and maintaining an athletic and physical education climate that is based on the core principles of respect, safety and equal access for all students, teachers and coaches regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.”

Harvey believes there is no need for such a program because according to her, there is no proof that LGBT people exist.

Harvey: “There’s one big fact that’s not backed up. There is no proof that there’s ever anything like a gay, lesbian or bisexual or transgendered child, or teen or human. One of the other things you’re gonna see as I mentioned is a big campaign GLSEN’s gonna roll out this year calling for ‘respect,’ respect! Not just for people, but for homosexual lifestyle. The PR campaign to hold up gay as a good thing: the lifestyle, not the person, because there are no such humans.”

Mission America’s major area of focus is homosexuality from a conservative Christian viewpoint, particularly as it relates to American youth. It also opposes the influence of pagan and feminist spirituality, and provides a range of apologetics for Christianity.

Ms Harvey works out of California, but her radio show is in Columbus, Ohio. We encourage her to come to nearby Cleveland and Akron to see 10,000 LGBT athletes and artists and friends at Gay Games 9. Then again, no.

Video promotes Cleveland as a business center for Chinese firms


We don't know what she's staying, but the images of Cleveland are pretty good!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

FGG at Forum FSGL

The Federation of Gay Games thanks member organization Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne for their kind invitation to the 3rd Forum FSGL, a fair during which FSGL member clubs present themselves to potential members, alongside other organizations such as the Paris LGBT center, SOS Homophobia, and AIDS-prevention organizations, as well as other sports organizations.

Thanks to Emy Ritt, Sonia Abécassis and Marc Naimark for staffing the Gay Games booth.

Before the sports demonstrations from member clubs, a panel discussion on women in sport was held, featuring Sous les shorts des filles, the FSGL's women's group.
Among the speakers was FGG co-president Emy Ritt, who spoke on ways to promote women's participation in sport. She took as an example the communication tools of Games Cologne to promote women's participation, highlighting the need to show women in the event. She also spoke of the Women's Space at Gay Games VIII, and the need to promote an institutional presence of women.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

19 September 2011 / NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Summit

Among those invited to this summit is our friend Pat Griffin. We look forward to some real progress from this event.

NCAA To Host Inaugural Inclusion Summit In Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS--- In an effort to help shape future diversity and inclusion efforts within higher education and intercollegiate athletics, the NCAA will host its first Inclusion Summit, Monday, September 19 in Indianapolis.

Titled “Challenges, Champions and Collaborative Strategies Moving Toward a More Inclusive Culture,” the summit will bring influential leaders in higher education and advocacy groups together to engage in a dialogue that identifies measurable action-oriented outcomes and strategies. The goal will be to advance an inclusive culture in intercollegiate athletics and higher education.

“The Inclusion Summit provides the NCAA with an opportunity to have face-to-face contact and dialogue with individuals in our membership and individuals from a variety of perspectives who can help us create and further inclusive policies and practices within the Association,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of membership and student-athlete affairs and the national office’s chief inclusion officer.

“With this first-time event, we will hear issues in detail and work toward possible solutions. We’ve had the opportunity to reach out to some specific groups to get their feedback, which we believe were the first steps to having a successful summit. Now we all come together to work toward change, which we believe will benefit our student-athlete population and hopefully all of higher education.”

The first part of the program will focus on identifying and discussing challenges. Topics will include student-athlete disabilities; challenges for minorities; issues regarding gender equity; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) issues and challenges.

College and university presidents will lead the second section on successful best practices used in championing diversity and inclusion on their college campuses. The third section will focus on attendees contributing to the development of a strategic plan that would seek to strengthen diversity and inclusion by building presidential engagement, enhancing the student-athlete experience and identifying the role of the national office in program identification and delivery.

In addition to Franklin, NCAA president Mark Emmert will provide the welcome and opening comments. Other speakers include Eli Wolff, fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University; Ken Shropshire, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative; Donna Lopiano president, Sports Management Resources, LLC; Pat Griffin, professor emirata, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and sports project consultant, The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network; John Peters, president, Northern Illinois University; Susan Martin, president, Eastern Michigan University; Javier Cevallos, president, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; and Raynard Kington, president, Grinnell College.

En français / Vidéos du 3ème Forum FSGL

Yagg.com a enregistré des vidéos de présentation des différentes associations de la FSGL lors du Forum FSGL le weekend dernier.

La première vidéo reprend les associations : Football Club Paris Arc-en-Ciel, Décalage, Les Gaillards, le BK Paris Softball Club, Contrepied, le collectif Sous les shorts des filles, Les Petites Frappes, Les Enrolleres et Double Jeu Tennis Paris.


La deuxième couvre Entre 2 Basket, Le Coq Musclé, Les Dérailleurs, Aquahomo, Athletic Cœur de Fond et les FrontRunners de Paris.

Et enfin, une iterview de Christelle Foucault, présidente de la FSGL





Friday, September 16, 2011

Outsports top-100 moments in LGBT sports history: numbers 21 to 30

Here's a reminder of the latest ten stories in the Outsports series:

Over the rest of the summer we will release our list of the 100 most important moments in gay-sports history. We have focused on specific moments, whether they be a few minutes or a day, that have shaped the course of our history; Many of the faces of those moments will be familiar to our readers.

We focused on what we consider to be the “gay-sports movement.” There were certainly amazing gay and lesbian athletes before the Stonewall riots in 1969, but there wasn’t a push for gay equality in sports until after that fateful day in New York City. Our moments range from July 1, 1969 to July 1, 2011.

21) Tim Hardaway tells radio host, ‘I hate gay people’ / 2007 / basketball
22) IOC allows trans athletes to compete / 2004 / Olympics
23) Justin Fashanu commits suicide / 1998 / soccer
24) Out John Curry wins world figure skating title / 1976 / figure skating
25) Mike Piazza announces he’s straight / 2002 / baseball
26) Umpire Dave Pallone fired by MLB / 1988 / baseball
27) Intersex Spanish hurdler banned from track / 1986 / track & field
28) Sheryl Swoopes comes out / 2005 / basketball
29) Majority of pro athletes would welcome gay teammate / 2006 / sports
30) 11 out athletes at Athens Summer Olympics / 2004 / Olympics

Thursday, September 15, 2011

How to Do Everything shows how to be "Proud to Run"

Mike Danfort, producer Blythe Haaga, and Ian Chillag (with a lollipop)

Fans of National Public Radio's weekly humourous news quiz "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!" may not yet be aware that Ian Chillag and Mike Danforth, the show's producer and senior producer respectively, have launched a weekly podcast called "How To Do Everything". As its name implies, HDTE, part advice column, part survival guide, calls on expert advisers to tell listeners how to deal with a wide range of life's challenges, from the safest manner of jumping out of a moving car to the best way to scramble eggs.

When listener Adrienne called for advice (listen HERE) on running a 5k race, little did she know that the very hosts of the podcast were themselves experts on the subject. Ian's a veteran runner who has run some top races, including the Boston Marathon, and who took advantage of Chicago's Valentine's Day "Cupid's Chase" 5K to initiate Mike (and Mike's wife's) to the wonders of competitive running... after which Mike declared he would never run a race again.

Mike and Ian don't hesitate to leave the studio to take on a challenge (listeners are always able to tell that they are in the field because of their hushed voices, even when amidst thousands of runners). And so they availed themselves of the first opportunity that presented itself, June's "Proud to Run", the annual 5/10k organized by Chicago Frontrunners, a club that is itself a member of two Federation of Gay Games member organizations: Team Chicago and International Frontrunners.

While neither Mike nor Ian are themselves Frontrunners, the timing suited their recording schedule. And David, one of the guys Ian runs with, had recommended the race .because medals would be presented by the Chicago Pride Parade Grand Marshal. When David ran the race, he had received his medal from George Takei, and Ian and Mike were hoping for someone of equal fanboy cred. (Alas, they would end up not with Mr. Sulu, but with a Real Housewife. As Ian says: "She was very nice, but she's no George Takei".)

So how did this LGBT race stack up to the dozens of others Ian has run? The weather was great, and the course along Lake Michigan stunning (although Ian was already quite familiar with the lakeshore, as it's his regular course for training, especially in January, when he pretty much has the place to himself). One thing that set Proud to Run apart from other races in their eyes was the "cause". As Ian observes, people are usually looking for the timing and quality of a race, and while they're happy for the race to be raising money for charity, that's not their primary focus. At Proud to Run, which takes place during Chicago Pride, the social message and the fundraising* seemed perhaps more important than the race itself.


Mike was struck by the enthusiasm of the onlookers, and the massive presence of cheerleaders: "Male cheerleaders, mostly!" he notes. "There were people cheering by the side of the road, and even people cheering while running, wearing their costumes. I'd vowed not to run another race after Cupid's Chase, but Proud to Run made me want to race again."

Ian's a good runner – he won his division in Proud to Run -- whose proudest moment as a runner was the Boston marathon, which he describes as both "fun and horrible": he managed to finish despite finding his body shutting down, leading to some particularly memorable images for Mike: "His neck cramped so he could only look straight up. He finished the race with rather striking expression...".

Ian also writes about running. He's particularly proud of a radio piece for the regretted Weekend America program on a blind Mongolian marathon runner, and an in-depth piece on a running program aimed at the homeless.

I asked both if they would be coming to run in Cleveland at Gay Games 9 in 2014. "Can you do that?! How do you qualify?... Really? You don't have to have a qualifying time? If you don't have to be qualified, I'm in!" (The latter comment is from Mike.)

It's true that the Gay Games offer a unique experience for athletes to compete in world-class events, often alongside world champions in their sport, without needing to be selected for a national team, without a qualifying performance or event. In the spirit of "sport for all", the Gay Games offer anyone who registers the opportunity to compete under the guiding principles of "Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best ™ ". And so we hope to see Ian, Mike, Mike's wife, the blind Mongolian marathon runner, and many, many more running in Cleveland in 2014.

Game on!

*This year, the race raised money, through registrations and sponsorships LINK for Pride Youth and the Gerber/Hart Library. You'll find more information about these organizations HERE.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

NCAA announces new more inclusive policy for transgender student athletes

The National Collegiate Athletics Association, the governing body for university sport in the USA, has announced a new transgender policy for student athletes. We note that the authors of the policy, Helen Carroll and Pat Griffin, have also been consulted on the draft Gay Games gender in sport policy.

A new policy approved by the NCAA Executive Committee will clarify opportunities for participation by transgender student-athletes.

The policy is aimed at allowing the student-athlete to participate in competition in accordance with their gender identity while maintaining the relative balance of competitive equity among sports teams.

Approved at the August meeting and distributed via mail Sept. 7, the new policy will allow transgender student-athletes to participate in sex-separated sports activities so long as the athlete’s use of hormone therapy is consistent with the NCAA policies and current medical standards, which state:

A trans male (female to male) student-athlete who has received a medical exception for treatment with testosterone for gender transition may compete on a men’s team but is no longer eligible to compete on a women’s team without changing the team status to a mixed team. A mixed team is eligible only for men’s championships.
A trans female (male to female) student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication for gender transition may continue to compete on a men’s team but may not compete on a women’s team without changing it to a mixed team status until completing one calendar year of documented testosterone-suppression treatment.

“As a core value, the NCAA believes in and is committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equity among its student-athletes, coaches and administrators,” NCAA Director of Inclusion Karen Morrison wrote in a memo to the NCAA membership. “Since participation in athletics provides student-athletes a unique and positively powerful experience, the goals of these policies are to create opportunity for transgender student-athletes to participate in accordance with their gender identity while maintaining the relative balance of competitive equity within sports teams.”

Development of the new policies was aided in part by a report from the National Center on Lesbian Rights and the Women’s Sports Foundation last October that provided guidance on how colleges and universities should accommodate the interests of student-athletes who have transitioned or are transitioning from one gender to another.

Co-authored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Director of the Sports Project Helen Carroll and GLESN (Gay, Lesbian dn Straight Education Network) project director Pat Griffin, who has overseen educational efforts for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in sports for the Women’s Sports Foundation, the report stresses that any transgender student-athlete “should be allowed to participate in any gender-segregated sports activity so long as that athlete’s use of hormone therapy, if any, is consistent with the national governing body’s existing policies on banned medications.”

The report emerged after both organizations sponsored a “think tank” entitled “Equal Opportunities for Transgender Student-Athletes” in 2009 that included representatives from the NCAA, the National High School Federation, and experts on transgender issues from disciplines ranging from law and medicine to advocacy and athletics. The think-tank goals were to develop model policies and identify best practices for high school and collegiate athletics programs to ensure the full inclusion of transgender student-athletes.

The report offers a comprehensive discussion of what the term “transgender” means and how to provide access and equal opportunities to the individuals it applies to.

In April, the NCAA Executive Committee heard a presentation regarding transgender student-athletes and noted the NCAA’s effort to better educate institutions about accommodating the interests of student-athletes who are transitioning and to develop Association-wide policies regarding transgender student-athlete participation in college sports.

The August decision was the conclusion of that process, which included input from NCAA member committees, including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, other sports governance consultants, the Women’s Sports Foundation and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Other sports organizations, such as the LPGA, USGA, USA Track & Field and others, also have policies targeted toward the participation of transgender athletes.

The NCAA will provide resources for its membership, including the Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes resource book; a CD that contains the resource book; a slide presentation to educate administrators and student-athletes; and a 30-minute video featuring Betsy Crane, director of graduate programs in human sexuality at Widener University and a subject-matter expert on transgender issues.

Matthew Mitcham keynote speaker at new Australian legislator group

Gay Games Ambassador Matthew Mitcham was the keynote speaker at the first meeting of a new group of Australian Members of Parliament, as reported in the Sydney Star Observer:

The inaugural function of the Parliamentary Friends of LGBTIs was launched at the Parliament’s Mural Hall last night, with a large group of MPs and Senators turning out to show their support alongside representatives of LGBTI community organisations from across the country.

The launch was organised by Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch with the support of the Greens Senator Hanson-Young and Labor’s Graham Perrett.

“The purpose of this Friendship group, like all other friendship groups, is about hosting a function two or three times a year to let parliamentarians meet with particular constituencies … and be able to socially interact with their representatives and raise issues and hopefully through getting to know each other, provide an opportunity to give members and senators a much better understanding of the difficulties and some of the issues that are faced in your own communities,” Entsch told the room.

In introducing the function’s keynote speaker, Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham, Perrett told the room that Australia Post had issued a stamp to commemorate his gold medal win at the Beijing Olympics.

“But unfortunately in this house there are politicians who refuse to use those stamps still after that achievement. And why? Because Matt was one of only 11 openly gay athletes at the Beijing Olympics,” Perrett said.

Keep reading HERE.

And read Matthew's post on this event HERE.

3 October 2011 / Hudson Taylor and Ben Cohen at University of Pennsylvania

News from an event from Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia and Heterosexism that will take place at the University of Pennsylvania's Houston Hall of Flags from 7pm to 10pm on Monday 3 October:

Don't want to rock the boat? Afraid you can't make a difference? Well, think again. Remember, things don't just get better, you have to make them better.

If you want to help create a more accepting athletic community here at Penn, save the date and join PATH (Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia) as we host two prominent straight LGBT athlete allies--Ben Cohen (former professional UK rugby player) and Hudson Taylor (three-time NCAA All-American wrestler and current wrestling coach at Columbia University).

Come see both of them address the importance of letting heterosexual athletes know that it is "okay" to have gay teammates, as well as of conveying to out/closeted athletes that they will not face negative consequences as an open LGBT athlete. The two will also address specific steps we can take in order to begin such change and begin the long road toward eliminating the homophobia and bullying that exists in the athletic community.

At the end of the event, we will open up the floor to questions, so come prepared! If you would rather your question be asked anonymously, you can email it to us at jmagnes@sas.upenn.edu. Hope to see everyone there!