International Gay and Lesbian Football Association

Interview with Mikey Collins: What Everybody Ought To Know About Gay Soccer In England

By Amanda May 1, 2008

The International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, better known as IGLFA, is an international organization dedicated to “fostering and augmenting the self respect of gay women and men throughout the world, and engender respect and understanding from the non-gay world, through the medium of football (soccer).”

Gay Games can Change the World

You must check out this Soccer coach's blog on Soccer. We will post #4 on our blog. Please go to her blog to read the other 4 reasons!

Top 5 Reasons To Attend A Gay Soccer Team Fundraiser

#4 - Gay soccer changed my life.

I can say without hesitation that the most defining moment of my coaching career came in July 2006 at the Gay Games in Chicago. To give you a little bit of background, I was going on my third year as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at NYU and had worked my socks off with little to show yet - although out of conference I was doing well, my conference winning percentage was hovering around a staggering 20%. Ouch.



This photo of the New York Ramblers was taken in Soldier Field at the Opening Ceremony for Gay Games 2006.

So, heading into the 2006 Gay Games with my beloved Ramblers, I selected a First and Second squad to travel to Chicago. Sadly both teams lost just about every game in the opening rounds. One of my players told me I was a f*ing joke of a coach (when I took him off the field), and another blogged he would seek revenge on me because I benched him after scoring an own-goal. I was convinced that coaching was not in my blood.

I walked back to the hotel with one of my players, and found myself complaining about the entire series of events. He stopped me mid-sentence. I can hear his voice as though he’s sitting next to me today. “Amanda… can I tell you something? Uhm…. I’m HIV positive.”
Wide-eyed and speechless, I stopped sniffling.

He continued. “The Ramblers are more than a soccer team to me,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t care about the wins and losses. Sure, the competition keeps me sharp, but this organization has provided me a place for social support and a healthy lifestyle that I wouldn’t have received anyplace else on this earth.”

It was this moment I knew that my ability to affect change through soccer, and not just gay soccer, was greater than I ever imagined. My outlook on my responsibilities as a coach completely changed, and I’m sure my players could feel this confidence as we went on to beat the #1 seeded team and take 3rd place in the tournament.

CLICK HERE for another article by Amanda.

Interview with Mikey Collins: What Everybody Ought To Know About Gay Soccer In England

Chicago-based PR Interns Needed for Gay Games Cologne

With just over two years to go, the efforts to organize and promote Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 are ramping up. Chicago-based All Terrain Public Relations, a division of 10-year-old marketing agency All Terrain, has been hired to provide public relations services in North America for Games Cologne and the Federation of Gay Games. Headed by Kevin Boyer, the former head of global marketing and PR for the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, All Terrain PR is seeking public relations interns that can support its Gay Games promotional activities.

Interns will conduct media research; help create ideas for print, tv, radio and online stories; communicate with North American media about story pitches and press releases; establish databases of athletes for interviews; effectively use blogs, social marketing websites, and video-posting websites; ship collateral materials to LGBT sports events in North America ; and track research, activity, and clippings for reports.

Required skill sets include: excellent writing and verbal communication skills; highly organized and detail oriented; personable on the phone and in person; creative; internet savvy; and, excellent computer skills including knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software. Knowledge and appreciation of sports and travel is essential as is a comfort with working with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) subject material and LGBT individuals. Fluency in both German (written and verbal) and English is desirable though not essential. You should have a driver’s license.

All Terrain interns work on all PR projects so while this position is for someone whose primary responsibility would include Gay Games activities, the intern should expect to work on other clients from time to time. Those clients include major brands in automotive, professional sports, liquor, food & beverage, fashion and style, hospitality, and consumer safety.

There is no cash compensation for this internship. Course credit can be established with your college or university. Expected workload is 15-20 hours a week including occasional evenings. Internship term is for 3 to 4 months, extendable. The internship will be based in the West Town offices of All Terrain (close to mass transit at Western & Grand Avenues). LGBT individuals are encouraged to apply but the best person for the internship will be chosen regardless of sexual orientation.

If interested, please e-mail resume, cover letter, and 2 writing samples to us at public.relations@allterrain.net.

Kevin Boyer
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
All Terrain
2675 West Grand Ave.Chicago, IL 60612
Kevin.Boyer@allterrain.net ~ www.AllTerrain.net
O 312.588.3713 ~ m 847.436.3424 ~ f 773.486.4818

Will Anyone Come Out from the Field ?

Columnist Steve Charing ponders this question as the baseball season starts. There are 750 players in the major league. Will any of them come out while still playing professionally? What will the response be from the fans.

Click HERE for the article.

Washington Blade Online

Atlanta Drought Affecting Sports Events

Run with Pride is moving in Atlanta.

The Soccer Tournament is being affected, and a golf tournament are all affected by the long drought Atlanta has been experiencing.

Read the details on Southern Voice Atlanta.

Click HERE for the article.

Liquid Assets New England Swimming (LANES)

The name Liquid Assets has such cool name, that we must promote this mostly LGBT swim club in New England. Scott Kearnan, contributing writer for Bay Windows, New Englands largest LGBT newspaper, gives insight to a successful swim club.

Click HERE to read the article.

Liquid Assets - New England Swimming (LANES) will host its fundraiser at dbar in Dorchester on Saturday, April 26 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information on the team, including membership information, visit http://www.swim-lanes.org/

Liquid Assets (LANES) is proud to host The 2008 Boston Tea Party Meet on 3 May 2008. This year's meet is exactly six weeks before this year's IGLA Championships in Washington, D.C. - what a great way to get tuned up and ready!

Chris Morgan, Gay Games Ambassdor News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Morgan
Email: chunky@chunkymuscle.com
Website: www.chunkymuscle.com


GAY POWERLIFTER QUALIFYS FOR EUROPEAN AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(London – April 21, 2008) Chris Morgan, the current reigning Gay Games Powerlifting champion, has qualified for both this year's European and World Championship Finals.

He was lifting in the British Championships, held in Tamworth, England (20th April), making a total of 557.5 kilos to place second in the 82.5 kilo class, reclaiming his place in the England Team. Chris has already appeared for England on four occasions taking World Championship Silver (2004), Gold (2005) and Bronze (2006), along with European Silver (2005).

Speaking about the competition, Chris Morgan Said 'It feels wonderful to have earned the opportunity to represent my country once again, especially after my health problems over the last year. There were certainly times that it seemed a distant dream that I'd ever grace the World Championship again. I'd like to think my family and the Federation of Gay Games for their love and support in what has been an extremely difficult year since my operation'.

'I've taken the decision to end my career in the 75 kilo class and open a new chapter in the 82.5 kilo class. This means a brave new world with a different training regime, competitors, goals and objectives. After winning three world medals at the lower weight class, it now seems the right time for an exciting new challenge'.

The European Championships are to be held in Ireland in June, whilst the World Championships are to be held in Evansville, USA in November.

Useful Notes to Editors
Contact Details
Email: chunky@chunkymuscle.com
Website: www.chunkymuscle.com

Useful Notes to Editors
Chris has been Powerlifting for over 10 years and his past Accomplishments include:
World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation - British Drug Free Powerlifting Association
International Elite Standard lifter
British Drug Free Powerlifting Champion 2005
World Championship 2004 (Silver)
European Championship 2005 (Silver)
World Championship 2005 (Gold)
World Championship 2006 (Bronze)

Current Ranking
* No 1 in London and South East
* No 2 in England
* No 2 in Britain
* Top 10 in World

International Powerlifting Federation – British Weightlifters Association
* British Championship Finalist 2004

Current Ranking
* No 1 In London
* Top 3 in England
* Top 5 in Britain

World Gay Games
Four World Gay Games Gold medals 2006
World Gay Games Gold Medal 2002
World Gay Games Silver Medal 1998
Gay Games record holder in Squat
Gay Games record holder in Deadlift
Gay Games record holder in total poundage
He is a member of the Board of Ambassadors for Federation
of Gay Games and the Gay Games in Cologne 2010

www.gaygames.com www.games-cologne.com

He is a member of the English Football Association's Advisory Group on Homophobia.
www.thefa.com

He is sponsored by Umbro - Kit Suppliers to the England Football Team
www.umbro.com

Chris would like to thank the management of Soho Gyms for the use of their facilities and the support of their staff.
www.sohogyms.com

Jochen Farber is the head of public relations/marketing for Cologne Gay Games 2010. He did a very extensive interview with Ross Forman of the Windy City Times. Jochen Farber reflects on his visit to Chicago Gay Games and talks about Cologne 2010. It is a great interview.

Click HERE for the direct link.

Visit the Windy City Times for other reports.

Sheryl Swoopes NBA star of Seattle Storm Speaks Out

Seattle Storm, WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes gives an interview with Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter, Jim Moore about coming out, and how she has succeeded.

Here is one quote to tempt you into this article: "Yes, she's in love with her partner, former Comets assistant Alisa Scott, and wants to marry her someday, yet Massachusetts is the only state where it's legally possible. And, yes, most people have been supportive but, no, the league hasn't."

Sheryl Swoopes is out with no regrets. Hopefully she will be seen as the Billie Jean King of Basketball one day. Check this one out.

Click HERE to read Jim Moore's article on the Seattle PI web site.

Mayor of London promises support for a Gay Games bid

Ken Livingstone, mayor of London has promised to support a bid for Gay Games in London. He made many pledges in a speech today. These were reported on http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/ today.

Full Article about the mayors pledges.

Bidding cities can find information on the Federation of Gay Games web site.

2014 Gay Games bids press release:



More information about the Mayor on TowlerRoad.com:

London Mayor Ken Livingstone (above), Boris Johnson (below), and other mayoral candidates appeared over the weekend at an event organized by UK group Stonewall at which they campaigned and addressed concerns of gay voters. Livingstone made a splash by unveiling an LGBT Manifesto, designed, he said, to make London the most gay-friendly city in the world.
Said Livingstone: "As Mayor, and throughout my political career, I have promoted rights for lesbians and gay men. If re-elected in May I will work to ensure that London retains its reputation as a welcoming and safe place for lesbian and gay Londoners and visitors. London is undoubtedly one of the great lesbian and gay capitals of the world and I want London to continue to celebrate lesbian and gay culture in all its aspects. For many, London is a city that allows people personal freedom to express culture and live their lives in peace and as they choose. People come here to be free. I made one of my first political acts as Mayor the creation of the London Partnerships Register - to assert that lesbian and gay people should be fully recognised by the state. I have been delighted by how many same-sex couples have used the register and the role the register has played in convincing the Government to introduce the Civil Partnerships Act. I am determined to continue to use the full extent of my powers as Mayor to oppose homophobia and deliver for lesbian and gay equality."

Pride Sports Boston

Looking for LGBT Sport Clubs in Boston? New in town?

Check out the web site and start getting fit. Team Boston is part of the action. Team Boston was first established in 1980, to help bring a cohesive contingent of gay athletes from the Boston area, to the first Gay Games. Since then Team Boston has proudly represented Boston in every games since.

Click here for Boston!

London Mayor Supports Gay World Cup

The PinkNews is reporting that the Mayor of London responded to charges that he unfairly supports non-gay sports with billions of pounds, but offered no cash to the 2008 International Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Cup being held in London. Mayor Livingstone says that he requested a proposal, but that his office has not recieved one from the organisers.

Click HERE to read the full article by Tony Grew.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7407.html.


Cick HERE for information about the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association World Championship to London in 2008

Gay Sports Movement in Poland

The basic struggles of gay sports make great strides forward in Poland. This blog entry chronicles volleyball in Poland. Gay and straight see progress of sport. There is hope for a Volleyball tournament in Warsaw in 2009. This is progress!

Click HERE for the detail:

There are several teams from Poland planning to play in Prague May 3, 2008 for the Prague Rainbow Spring 2008. There are 30 teams registered this year!

Click HERE for the English web site:

2 Gay Games Ambassadors and Heroes

Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John are in this video at the Women's Sports Gala in Beverly Hills. The event is the Billies. Billie Jean King is a hero to sports and specifically to all women that compete in sports. She insisted on equality for women and she worked to make it happen. I wish we all could be as successful.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King hosted the Women's Sports Foundation's third-annual "Billies" in Beverly Hills. The awards honor outstanding portrayals of women's athletics in entertainment and media.

CLICK HERE for the video.

Out Water Polo Player

OutSports.com has a great article by Dan Woog about Brown University water polo player Hank Weintraub. Water polo may have a homophobic culture in some pools, but not at Brown. Things are moving forward in sports for LGBT players. Take a look at the Outsports.com article.

Click HERE for the full article by Dan Woog.

www.outsports.com

Sailing and Field Hockey Added to Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010

Cologne, Germany – Cologne’s Gay Games organizers announced today that Sailing and Field Hockey have been added to the Sports Program for Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. By placing the sailing regatta in The Netherlands, the 2010 Gay Games will be the first where competition will take place in more than one country.

July 31 to August 7, 2010 some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries will travel to Germany’s Rhine Valley when Cologne hosts the Gay Games VIII Sports & Cultural Festival. Sporting events ranging from soccer and beach volleyball to billiards, dancing, softball and figure skating will take place. Pre-registration for all sports is now open with full registration scheduled to launch July 1, 2008.

Both sailing and field hockey have a historic presence in previous Gay Games having been contested in Chicago in 2006 and Sydney in 2002. “There were so many requests for sailing and field hockey that we decided to include them as well,” said Annette Wachter, managing director of Games Cologne.

The sailing regatta will be held in the Netherlands, about an hour’s drive from Cologne. “Sailing will be offered on the Maas Lakes near Roermond, the Netherlands – a world-renowned sailing area where the region’s best crews train and compete,” Wachter said. “There will be a shuttle service bringing the sailors to the Maas Lakes and back to Cologne.” The regatta will conform to international standards, and all results will be official and accredited internationally. Demand for sailing is expected to be high; Chicago’s 2006 sailing regatta was the first sport to fill up.

The second new sports event, a field hockey tournament, will take place at Muengersdorf Sportpark in Cologne, directly adjacent to RheinEnergie Stadium. Sixteen teams will face off against one another. Teams from Australia (men) and The Netherlands (women) are defending Gold Medallists from the Sydney 2002 Gay Games.

YouTube Videos

Take a look at YouTube.com and search for Gay Games. Use quotes "Gay Games" and you will be amazed how many of your friends have uploaded videos from various Gay Games over the past 25 years.

Check out this diving video.

Sports Trainer, Lesbian, Reality TV

They say that Jackie Warner is giving housewives girl crushes on Bravo's reality show "Work Out". She is a favorite character on the show. Read about this on Gadsden Times Online.

Click HERE to read the full article by Stephanie Rosenbloom.

WORK OUT
http://www.bravotv.com/Work_Out

Gay Games Swimmer blogs every stroke

The 1 7th Man is a web blog devoted to the training journal of an athlete named Joel. The blog covers daily training regime, diet, swimming news, web sites, video links, and plenty of cute swimmers . Scroll down the right column and check out the many categories on his blog. He has a complete guide to all fun things about swimming and training in general. It is worth a visit.

http://the17thman.typepad.com/

Cologne offering Golf preview of 2010

Golf tournament to promote acceptance: "Golf Cologne – be part of it!" on 19 April 2008

Preview competition for Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010

A golf tournament is to be held in Cologne to raise awareness of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. On April 19, 2008, dozens of golfers will face off against one another while promoting greater acceptance of homosexual, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people.

For an entire day in April, the organizers of the Cologne Gay Games will be holding plenty of interesting activities for active golf players and fans called "Golf Cologne – Be part of it!" Newcomers to the sport will have the opportunity to participate in a four-hour starter workshop with a golf professional, where they can discover how fascinating the game of golf can be. Clubs and balls will be provided.

Check it out the entire press release, by clicking HERE.

http://www.games-cologne.com

Final Four about hoops, not gays

A writer for the Orlando Sentinel would like to see the newspapers stop reporting about the marketing towards the growing lesbian tourism that follows the final four, and stick to reporting about the sport only. Take a look at this article by Shannon J. Owens "From the Press Box". She also seems to think lesbians should be handled by the local sports people and stay away from the NCAA.

It is an odd disturbing sports report. A link to the article has been sent to GLAAD.

Click HERE to read the article on The OrlandoSentinal.com.

More comments online about how wrong it is to report about lesbians watching sports.

Softball in Boston is growing to 21 teams

Beantown Softball had 17 teams in the 2007 season. They are reporting 21 teams for the 2008 season and are holding clinics to welcome more new players.

Photo by Alice Cooperman

Bay Windows, New England's largest LGBT newspaper reports about this league online.

Click HERE to read the article. Bay Windows is an excellent news source. Check them out.

Check out the Beantown Softball web site.

http://www.beantownsoftball.com/

The NAAGA Gay World Series of Softball will be held in Seattle, WA, in August 2008.

Softball is a core sport for Gay Games.

18th annual Coady Roundball Classic coverd by Logo cable TV

The 18th annual Coady Roundball Classic , will be held in Chicago April 5 and 6. Logo will be filming a documentary during the event. The event is named after the founder of the event, Sam Coady. Sam served as a Co-Chair of Chicago Gay Games VII.

Read a full article on the Windy City Times web site.

Click HERE.

Click HERE for a full schedule of April sport events listed by Gay Games.

Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament

Businesses in Tampa, Florida are welcoming lesbian tourists and sports fans to the final four of the women's NCAA Tournament April 6 and 8. Times Staff Writer, Justin George writes about this on www.TampaBay.com.

Read the article, by clicking here.

Atlanta Softball and Flag Football Season Starts

Lesbian and gay softball and flag football teams started their season this weekend in Atlanta, GA. The Hotlanta Softball League had 3 teams win the Gay Softball World Series in 2007 and plan to defend their position in 2008, where the series will be held in Seattle, WA in the dry season of Seattle in August. Over 4500 men and women are expected to arrive in Seattle to play or watch the Gay Softball World Series.

Read about Atlanta league openings on Southern Voice.

Check out Seattle's Softball World Series on the Emerald City Softball Association web site:
http://www.seattlegaysoftball.com/
Seattle has 30 men's teams and 19 women's softball teams.

Read about the 2008 NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series on this web site:
http://www.series2008.org/

London Calling... 2008 IGLFA World Championship

Football (Soccer) teams from all over the world will converge on London, August 24th-30th 2008 for the London 2008 IGLFA World Championship. Volunteer Co-ordinator Lucy Walton is planning ahead and requesting volunteers for the event. Early call for volunteers helps assure plenty of support for the London 2008 IGLFA World Championship.

- Stewards
- Stage set-up
- Security checkers for lockers
- Sports Massage Therapists
- Sign Language Interpreters

Full details on volunteering, check out the London Titans web site: http://londontitans.com/.

London 2008 IGLFA World Championship web site: http://www.londonwc2008.co.uk/.

Ambassdor Hormel speaks out for Human Rights

James Hormel, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador spoke at a a March 18 news conference at the National Press Club. He said, “I believe our country needs to work to eliminate such abuses abroad and at home. We need to renew and reinvigorate our worldwide commitment to human rights, and that includes recognizing LGBT rights as human rights.”

Ambassador Hormel is also a Gay Games Ambassador and generous supporter of the Gay Games. Read more on the Gay Games web site under Ambassadors.

Gay Sports in Atlanta

Atlanta has a creative web blog that keeps the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community on top of sports events. The blog www.gaytlsports.com/blog1 also has articles and links to health and fitness. It is a great example of keeping a simple easy method of communication for the sports community.

Take a look and check it out: http://www.gaytlsports.com/blog1

FGG 2008 Annual Meeting in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA SELECTED TO HOST 2008
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES

Federation renews ties to African LGBT sport and culture community; October annual meeting will be the Federation’s first in the southern hemisphere since Johannesburg in October, 2001.

(San Francisco – March 17, 2008) The international Federation of Gay Games announces that Cape Town, South Africa has been selected to host the Federation’s 2008 annual meeting over excellent bids from two U.S. cities, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Palm Springs, California. Traditionally held in the fourth quarter, this year’s meeting dates are October 21-25.

Click HERE to read the press release from the Federation of Gay Games.

Memorial in SF for Debra Kent

Bay Area Reporter
A memorial will be held March 30 in San Francisco for Debra Kent. She died of ovarian cancer last December 21. She was living in Durham, North Carolina. Ms. Kent worked for the Federation of Gay Games in strategic planning.

To read the entire story at the Bay Area Reporter, CLICK HERE.