"Koeln Taler" (Cologne Coins) support Gay Games VIII

From the beginning of July 2009, bakeries in Cologne will be supporting the "Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010" with the new "Cologne Coins"®.

In the future, "Gay Games VIII, Cologne 2010" will be represented at the bakeries of Cologne on red and white shortbread coin cookies! The sale of the "Cologne Coins" started with the Cologne Pride on 3 July 2009. The red and white "Cologne Coins" are decorated with a wafer displaying the logo of Games Cologne. By purchasing and using these edible coins, the bakeries of the bakers' guild not only support the Gay Games in a symbolic way, but also financially. For each coin sold, the organizers will receive a small remuneration. The presentation and premiere sale will take place at the traditional bakery Zimmermann on Ehrenstraße; further bakeries are to follow.

The bakers of Cologne as well as the team members of the Gay Games Cologne are happy about this combined promotion: The bakeries will also continue offering the "Cologne Coins" after the CSD 2009 and will thereby help to advertise the next Gay Games Cologne in 2010. This sweet and tasty pastry with its classical and traditional colors of red and white will also be available as Cologne pastry after the games.

The future of LGBT sport

FGG CONFERENCE SESSION in COPENHAGEN
TOPIC: The Future of LGBT Sport & Culture
DATE: Monday, 27 July 2009
TIME: 15:30 - 17:00
OPEN TO ALL - ALL ARE WELCOME

1. Discuss status of international LGBT Sport and Culture events

• What is your view of the current International LGBT Sport and Cultural events schedule ?
• What changes, if any, would your organisation like to propose ?
• From 2011 onwards, what is the ideal calendar of events for your organisation ?
• What role are you or your organisation able to play in implementing any proposed changes ?

2. Present scenarios proposed by session participants
3. Continue discussions during 2010
4. Schedule a follow-up conference during GGVIII in Cologne

We look forward to seeing you!

ADDRESS of FGG CONFERENCE:
LOCATION: IT University of Copenhagen

ADDRESS: Rued Langgaards Vej 7DK
ROOM: ITU Level 3 - room 1

Gay footballers battle for world domination

From CNN:

LONDON, England (CNN) -- One year before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, 26 teams of gay and lesbian footballers are battling for global supremacy in the Gay Soccer World Championships.

Co-ordinated by the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), the tournament, which began on Sunday, is being hosted by the Federal Triangles club in Washington D.C., and supported by the local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United.

IGLFA spokesman Michael Pranikoff told CNN that the competition has been running annually since 1992.

"We started very small. There were just a few clubs from around the world. But we have gone from strength to strength. Last year the tournament was in London and sanctioned by the Football Association."

Pranikoff said there are no professional players involved, but the standard of play is strong and the teams in the top divisions are very competitive.

Although the tournament involves club sides -- rather than national teams, there is still a strong international feel with players from the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Argentina, Italy, and Norway all taking part.

The London Stonewall Lions are the reigning champions in the men's division and expected to figure in Sunday's final at Trinity Washington University, he said.

Despite the competitive nature of the event, Pranikoff said there are also less serious divisions where there is a more important message.

"When you are on the pitch it's all about the game. But it's also about providing an environment where people can be free to be who they are.

"It's a lot about camaraderie too. There are a lot of places in the world where gays and lesbians aren't accepted."

So, is the competition restricted to only gay and lesbian players?

Not at all, said Pranikoff. "It's very open, we don't discriminate."

He said gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and heterosexual players were all welcome to play.

Pranikoff said he is happy with how the 2009 event is unfolding, despite numbers being slightly down on what was expected -- due to the effects of the recession, swine flu and the upcoming Out Games in Denmark which has made attending the football tournament unaffordable for some teams.

"This year we didn't have as big a global turnout as we hoped for but there have been a lot of challenges -- so we're pleased to have 26 teams here."

Outside of organizing the current world championships, the IGLFA has also been involved in helping other organizations at stamping out homophobia, Pranikoff said

DC rally for Gay Games IX bid

A message from Metropolitan Washington Gaymes. Please note that this is presented for information purposes and does not imply any support for a particular bidder for Gay Games IX.

"I'M GAME 2014"
DC Rally to Host Gay Games IX

Monday, August 10, 2009
7:30pm - 10:30pm
Stead Park (17th and P Streets, NW)
1625 P Street, NW, Washington, DC

Help us welcome the Site Selection Committee to DC.

Join Metropolitan Washington Gaymes, Team DC athletes, artists, performers, cheerleaders, sports supporters, DC City officials, surprise celebrity guests and all your friends under the celestial bodies for a big gay rally for Washington’s chance to bring 12,000 athletes, 80,000 visitors, 15 cultural events and eight days of sports competitions to Washington DC in 2014. The event opens at 7:30.

A free screening of Hairspray is set to begin at sunset on a giant 20' x 40' outdoor screen.

See the Facebook Event Page

RSVP "Attending" to guarantee your name entered into on site raffle of fabulous prizes to be announced. Check back here for details.

Boston kickoff for Gay Games IX bid

A message from Boston 2014. Please note that this is presented for information purposes and does not imply any support for a particular bidder for Gay Games IX.

Come join us for our Gay Games Bid Kick-off rally. Celebrate Boston’s bid for 2014 Gay Games. Be a part of this historical moment.

Thursday Evening, August 6, 2009
The Estate
1 Boylston Place
Boston, MA

7:00 - 8:30pm

RSVP at: rsvp@boston2014.com

Facebook: facebook.com/boston2014

Party to support Cleveland bid for Gay Games IX

A message from Cleveland Synergy Foundation. Please note that this is presented for information purposes and does not imply any support for a particular bidder for Gay Games IX.

Dear Friends,

You’re invited to a global party.

It’s not just any party—it’s a celebration. A celebration all about why we love Cleveland, and why we’re proud to call Ohio home.

On July 31 at 8 P.M. at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Cleveland, the Cleveland Synergy Foundation is throwing the “Frivolity” community event, a free night of music, entertainment, and celebration. You’ll have exclusive access to the entire Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum—for free.

Why the party? The city of Cleveland is a finalist to host the 2014 Gay Games, a global event that promises to enhance the social and economic profile of Cleveland. But to win the world’s support, we need your support.

How can you be a part of this historic event? Simply show up and celebrate. It’s free—go to www.clevelandsynergyfoundation.org and print out your invitation.

This party promises to be THE EVENT of the summer, and you are invited. Come out and show your support for Cleveland as the host for the 2014 Gay Games.

You Rock. Cleveland Rocks. My Games Rock.

Be there.

Gay Games VIII - City Team Fact Sheet

Gay Games VIII
31 July to August 7, 2009

City Team Fact Sheet



Opening Ceremony: Saturday, 31 July 2010
· Evening event (start time still TBD). Planned running time is 2.5 hours.
· Takes place at RheinEnergieStadion, home of Cologne’s football (soccer) club.
· Team San Francisco enters first, then athletes enter by country alphabetically, and then by state and province for USA and Canada. Team Cologne is the last group to enter.
· USA athletes enter by U.S. state, alphabetically. Thus, Team Dallas and Team Houston enter together as part of Texas. Canadian athletes enter by Canadian province.
· Cologne will establish rules for what may be carried into the stadium with each city team (banners, signage, etc.). These rules have not yet been published. You can view Chicago’s rules online at http://www.gaygameschicago.org/ceremonies/lineup.php but keep in mind that Cologne’s rules may vary.
· Note: There is a cycling meeting (not a race) on Saturday, 31 July 2010.

Closing Ceremony: Saturday, 7 August 2010
· Typically an afternoon event (start time still TBD)
· The venue may be either the Gay Village in the city, or at Laxness Arena (a concert venue).
· Athletes enter all together to represent the new found friendships of people from around the world so no city banners or flags necessary.

2009 Promotional Event(s)
· One Year To Go Registration parties – 15 July to 15 August 2009
· 10 Euro Discount Code available for people who register at the event - cityteams09
· Resources available:
· Chicago 2006 DVD (to play)
· Chicago 2006 CDs (for drawings or giveaways)
· promotional materials
· Short Cologne Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3JHARCnUOA
· Matthew Mitcham Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjdiMwxjijY
· Artwork for any newspaper ads you place.
· In some cities, an FGG representative may be available to participate.
· Help with press release for local market, if needed.
· Contact Kevin Boyer at kevin.boyer@games-cologne.com to acquire materials.

Logos on Uniforms, Pins, Banners
· City Teams typically produce uniforms for athletes coming from their city. Uniforms vary from the very simple (t-shirts with same color and logo) to more complicated (shirts, jackets, track pants, caps, etc.)
· The Games Cologne and FGG logos can be incorporated into your City Team uniform and banners. In fact, we encourage it.
· The Federation of Gay Games will soon announce a simple process by which you can ask permission to use the FGG logo on your uniforms.
· Trading Pins cannot use the Games Cologne logo, but you may request permission to use the FGG logo.
· All logo usage needs to be approved.

Online Promotion
· Link back to Gay Games VIII at http://www.games-cologne.com/.
· No approval necessary to place the logo on your website.
· Buttons and banner ads (both GIF and Flash) are available online at http://www.games-cologne.de/en/static/take-part/banner#Buttons_GIF
· Professional “tourism” images of Cologne are available upon request from Kevin Boyer, kevin.boyer@games-cologme.com.

Print Materials for Events
· You may request postcards, brochures, posters and business-cards for promotional purposes.
· Vinyl banners are available for major events (they are to be returned and will be re-used by others.)
· To request materials, you can submit an online request at http://www.gaygames.com/en/marketing/ or contact Kevin Boyer at kevin.boyer@games-cologne.com.

Travel & Lodging for Cologne
· Air Travel: Fly into Cologne, Dusseldorf (40 minutes by train) or Frankfurt (1 hour by train). Continental, Delta, United, and Air Canada all have direct flights to Dusseldorf (1 or 2 stops on the way). Flights to Cologne are sometimes a bit more expensive and usually involve another stop or a 2nd airline but are also available. Frankfurt is a major hub and many airlines fly direct, sometimes nonstop from the USA or Canada.

· Airport Transfer: All three airports have train stations with trains going to central Cologne. Visit http://www.bahn.de/ for details and pricing for trains from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. Cologne’s Stadtbahn light rail system connects the airport to the rest of the light rail system.
· Airline Discount: Cologne does not yet have an airline partner but expects to have one sometime this fall.

· Hotel Accommodations: Cologne’s official housing partner is HRS – Hotel Reservation Service. The system is already online and is very easy to use. http://www.games-cologne.de/en/cologne/accommodations

· Group Accommodations: Using the system, select 10 or more rooms for 10 or more adults and you’ll get a page with instructions on how to request group booking information. There is a form to complete, or you can email them at groups@hrs.de, or call them at +49 (0)18055 2077 300 or at +49 (0)221 2077-300.

· Hosted Housing: Cologne will have a hosted housing program. To be notified about the program, sign up for their e-newsletters. http://www.games-cologne.de/en/take-part/offer-accommodations

· Ground Transportation: Cologne has an excellent bus and rail system. Mass transit is available for access to all sports venues except for sailing, where Cologne is providing a shuttle. You should not rent a car to get around in Cologne but car rentals are available for day trips if you prefer.

City Team Events in Cologne
· Parties: Some city teams like to have an event in the city upon arrival or sometime during the week. Soon Cologne will post a list of bars, clubs and restaurants in Cologne at http://www.games-cologne.de/en/cologne/gay-cologne where you can choose a venue for a possible event.
· Meetings: Meeting rooms are available during the Gay Games. Contact Marc Naimark (mnaimark@gaygames.org) for details.

Communicating with Registered Participants
· Listserv: For the 2006 Gay Games, Chicago organizers and the FGG created a listserv system that allowed City Teams to send messages to registrants in their geographic area. These lists still exist and are in the process of being merged with Cologne’s registration data. A final solution is not yet in place but is expected soon. For the moment City Teams are likely to have access EITHER to the Cologne data or to both the Cologne and Chicago data. The contact for listserv information is Paul Oostenbrug, at poostenbrug@gaygames.org.
· The Chicago data lists are much larger than the Cologne lists will be at the beginning and would be a good starting point for summer promotions.

· Qubesport: Cologne highly recommends urging all of your athletes and artists to register for Qubesport.com. This is a fairly new online LGBT sports community. Cologne will help establish a Qubesport group for your City Team or sport to facilitate information sharing. Note that Cologne benefits financially if people sign up so it’s good to encourage people to go there.

· Pick-Up Players / Teams: Qubesport is what Cologne is using to help people find a team, doubles partner, or to pick up players.

FGG Membership & Partnership Program
For information on the FGG Membership and Partner programs, visit http://www.gaygames.com/en/membership/index.htm or contact Paul at poostenbrug@gaygames.org.

Other Links:
· Scholarship Program - http://www.gaygames.com/en/participants/scholarship/index.htm
· Federation of Gay Games Annual Meeting - http://www.gaygames.com/AM2009

Contacts: Kevin Boyer, (312) 588-3713, Kevin.Boyer@games-cologne.com
Paul Oostenbrug, (773) 525-9531, poostenbrug@gaygames.org

Games Cologne at Cologne Pride

Games Cologne at Cologne Pride

Flashback: opening of registration for Gay Games VIII

Mayor of Cologne opens registration for Gay Games VIII... register now HERE!

"Basket et maths"

The short films produced by French TV network Canal Plus and the French ministry of health and sport, with the support of the FSGL, are now available online. Of particular interest is the film "Basket et maths", which features two teammates whose feelings about each other are not as clear as they might be...
View it (in French) HERE.

TIP figures are in

Final registration numbers from the 2009 Tournoi international de Paris show participation from 1300 athletes from 40 countries in 15 sports.

Thanks to fast action on the part of the organizers, a last-minute crisis caused by the closing of the party venue hours before the event was overcome, and the TIP was able to generate a profit that will allow the participating FSGL clubs to operate throughout the year, and to keep their membership fees at a reasonable level.

A thanks to the organizers of the TIP and the FSGL for their warm welcome for the FGG and Games Cologne, and our best wishes for next year's edition, which will again take place on Pentecost weekend, which in 2010 will be from 22-24 May.

Absolut Colors

ABSOLUT VODKA and BLU To Help Fund Eastern European Participation in Gay Games® VIII Cologne 2010

ABSOLUT VODKA and the magazine BLU have both announced partnerships with Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 to help bring Eastern European participants to next year's Gay Games in Cologne. ABSOLUT and the magazine BLU are making a contribution to the Gay Games 2010 Scholarship program that will help provide funds to lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender athletes and artists from Eastern Europe who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend the sports & cultural festival.

"Gays and lesbians from Eastern Europe are often targeted by homophobic hate groups," said Annette Wachter, CEO of the Cologne Gay Games. "We hope that by bringing Eastern European participants to the Gay Games, we can help strengthen self-esteem and inspire them so that they can achieve progress in their own countries.

Pernod Ricard Deutschland GmbH, on behalf of the ABSOLUT brand, enthusiastically supports this goal and on May 28, 2009, Christina Elste from Pernod Ricard presented a donation to the Gay Games Cologne organization in support of the scholarship fund.

"With this money we will help finance the participation fees, travel and accommodations for many athletes," said Wachter. "Without this donation, participants would have had no chance to come to the Cologne Gay Games."

"Almost 30 years ago ABSOLUT decided to support the right to individuality," said Christian Seel, Marketing Manager at Pernod Ricard Deutschland. "At the time, this was regarded as risky, but today we look back in pride. ABSOLUT COLORS is for us a logical continuation of our philosophy, which aims to encourage people to show their true colors and be proud of themselves for who they are."

The Gay Games Sports & Cultural Festival was founded in 1982 and takes place every four years. Everyone is welcome regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic/artistic ability, physical challenge, age, or health status. The motto of the Gay Games is "Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best."™

Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 will take place 31 July to 7 August 2010. With 34 sports and five cultural events, the Cologne Gay Games are expected to draw 12,000 participants, more than the Olympic Games.

Federation of Gay Games at Copenhagen Human Rights Conference

The final program for the Copenhagen conference is online. Direct link to the FGG session on "The Future of LGBT Sport and Culture" can be found HERE.

In this workshop FGG will propose a series of open questions and ask participants to discuss. Some of the questions are: What is your view of the current International LGBT Sport and Cultural Events schedule? What changes, if any, would you like to see? From 2011 onwards, what is the ideal calendar of events for your organisation? What role are you or your organisation able to play in implementing any proposed changes?

"Attractive" female players get preferential treatment at Wimbledon

An interesting article entitled: "Babe, set and match: Why looks count for more than talent when Wimbledon decides which girls will play on Centre Court" in the Daily Mail. Read more HERE

NY State Senate in the news... ah, homophobia!

As the NY State Senate remains in crisis, a long and enlightening interview with homophobic Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz, in which he returns to the question of his opposition to the 1994 Gay Games.

Video (Spanish) and full transcript (English) HERE.

JMB: And let me, because many think that you have based your political career on this topic, the topic of opposition to homosexuals. It includes, it is said, because I haven't been able to find the Spanish-language column that you wrote in 1994, you wrote a column about the Gay Games that were going to be celebrated here in the city of New York and you said: "It might be that some of the gay and lesbian athletes are already infected with AIDS and go back home with the virus." And you said that children could determine that, if there were so many gay and lesbian athletes,there was nothing wrong [with it] nor any risk. This is something you said in the year '94 and it created quite a stir. And in 2003 you also were opposed to giving additional funding to a high-school, the Harvey Milk School, which is dedicated specially to students who have had trouble at their school, or at home for the fact of being homosexual. You said that it took away finding from Latino students but, when it came down to it, Latino and African-American students were the majority in that school...

RD: ...GAY! The majority were homosexual. Better said, both situations give me the reason. Number one, the gays - OLYMPIC games for gays and lesbians - WHY! What do they have that is so special! There are olympic games for the deaf, for the mute, for those who limp, for the dismembered, for the elderly...

JMB: But you made it seem as if all of them had AIDS.

RD: Well, yes, because back then, Magic Johnson came out with AIDS and Magic Johnson was denied entry in another country.

JMB: Uhhum.

RD: Because he had AIDS at that same time,so we were telling everyone - all those who were there - "Come in!" - at that time when things were difficult with AIDS and we didn't know - "Come in!" without having been checked. Better said, that is... that is... like now in Mexico. Why now in Mexico, when now you have that fever, everyone stops going to Mexico, and everyone begins to use protection - eh, eh - the same thing! You know! A catastrophe is happening. Why are we going to bring everyone here without checking.

Which pro athlete will come out of closet?

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

As the movement for marriage equality and gay liberation gains momentum, we should peer with heightened expectation toward the world of sports. Yes, sports. Every movement for civil rights over the past century has seen the struggle for equality reverberate in the often quite conservative arena of sports.

[...]

To risk their jobs is to risk their golden ticket. This is why the athletes who have come out of the closet have done so after they retire. Esera Tuaolo[*] and Dave Kopay[*] of the NFL, John Amaechi[*] of the NBA, Billy Bean[*] and the late Glenn Burke in Major League Baseball, all took this route. The reasons for staying in the closet are manifest.

[...]

In sports such as football, one might expect there to be even threats of violence carried out in hard play on the field. But maybe the ride could be smoother than we all think.

Brian Sims, a former defensive tackle and captain of the Bloomsburg University football team, came out to his team during his senior season. As the Web site Outsports.com wrote, "With the preparation and frenzy surrounding the team as they inched closer to the playoffs and then started winning playoff games, the sexuality of one of the team's most respected players was the furthest from players' concerns ... No one shied away from him. His being gay became just more fodder for locker room teasing, like someone's fat mom."

Not ideal, but there is clearly space to come out that Kopay in the 1970s, or even Tuaolo a decade ago, didn't have. The movement outside the playing field means that a number of writers could be expected to write favorable pieces about the "gay Jackie Robinson."

[...]

Read the entire article HERE

* Gay Games Ambassadors

FGG Ambassador takes bronze at European championships

Chris Morgan, the current Gay Games Powerlifting champion, has added a bronze medal to his collection at this year’s European Drug Free Championships. .

He was lifting in the European competition, held in Kohtla Jarve in Estonia and made lifts of 217.5 kilos in Squat, 112.5 kilos in Bench Press and 250 Kilos in Deadlift, giving him an overall total of 580 kilos. He was competing in the 82.5 kilo weight class. Chris was returning from serious injury and has now made the qualification standard for this year’s World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships to be held later this year. Chris has now represented England on six occasions, taking gold, three silvers and two bronze medals across the European and World Championships.

Speaking about the competition, Chris said: ‘The last few months had been extremely difficult with injuries leaving me without a qualifying total for this year’s World Championships. This competition in Estonia has helped me to overcome these problems and rediscover some of my form on the platform. I’m very pleased to have made the England team for another World Championship, but realise there is a serious amount of work to be done. It’s always an honour and a privilege to represent my country in international sport.’

‘I’d like to thank all my supporters and friends at the Gay Games for their support through my injury problems and take the opportunity to remind everyone of the Gay Games that are happening in Cologne next year.

Chris’s forthcoming competitions will be the All England Championships on the 23rd August 2009 in Northampton and the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships to be held in Milton Keynes on the14th & 15th November 2009.Chris has recently been selected to represent England as an International Referee at this year’s World Single Lift Championships in Bradford to be held 11th, 12th & 13th September 2009.

Website: www.chunkymuscle.com

Chris has been Powerlifting for over 11 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
British Drug Free Squat Champion 2008
British Drug Free Deadlift Champion 2008
World Championship 2004 (Silver)
European Championship 2005 (Silver)
World Championship 2005 (Gold)
World Championship 2006 (Bronze)
World Single Lift Championship 2008 (Silver)
European Championship 2009 (Bronze)
Current Ranking
* No 1 South West
* No 4 England
* No 4 Britain
* No 7 World

International Powerlifting Federation - British Weightlifters Association
* British Championship Finalist 2004
Current Ranking
* No 1 South West
* Top 10 England
* Top 10 World

Four Gay Games Gold medals 2006
Gay Games Gold Medal 2002
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 an FGG Ambassador: www.gaygames.com www.games-cologne.com
He is a member of the English Football Association's Advisory Group on Homophobia www.thefa.com

Greg Walsh

Greg Walsh, a popular player in Chicago's gay sports leagues for most of the past 10 years, particularly basketball, died unexpectedly May 20. He was 41.

A Chicago-area native, Walsh was involved with running the basketball action at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, and though he did not play in the Games, he played annually in the wintertime Windy City Athletic Association's basketball league and the annual Cody Roundball Classic tournament.

Read the full obituary in the Windy City Times, HERE.

Stephanie Johnstone at Pride Toronto awards gala

Stephanie Johnstone looking nice at the Toronto Pride Gala, where she won the Pride Award for Sports.

Read more about Stephanie and the other winners HERE.

Sport panel refuses late GLBT submission

From the Sydney Star Observer:

Anger is mounting at the refusal of a national independent panel to allow a late submission addressing the needs of GLBT people in sport.

The Independent Sport Panel is due to report to the federal Government before the end of the year. A late request to include a submission on strengthening member protection policies in sports clubs to protect GLBT players has been rejected.

Rob Mitchell, behind much of the push to get the AFL to include sexual orientation in its vilification policies, contacted the panel last week and was told the deadline had passed.

“At the conclusion of the first Asia Pacific Outgames this panel was announced and an expert panel was established and there’s not one mention of GLBT people?… It’s an insult,” he said.

Sports Minister Kate Ellis announced the appointment of the panel to look into reforming Australian sport for future growth.

The panel will look at both elite and grassroots community sport.

Mitchell was also in talks with the Australian Sports Commission in a bid to increase the body’s awareness of homophobia in sport.

The ASC’s submission to the panel does not mention tackling homophobia or including GLBT people in sport.

Mitchell told Sydney Star Observer the ASC has agreed to talks with the community by establishing a reference group to address their board with a submission.

The ASC told SSO it was the starting point of conversations with the community and nothing has been set in stone.

Colombo Pride

From FGG member "Equal Ground":

We have pleasure in presenting the 5th COLOMBO PRIDE festival which will run from 28th June till 5th July 2009. COLOMBO PRIDE began quite modestly with a PRIDE party in 2005. At the time no one thought the event would take off the way it has. Catering only for a maximum of 100 persons COLOMBO PRIDE 2005 surprised all by surpassing the 100 mark with an attendance of over 325 persons. Riding on the crest of this success. COLOMBO PRIDE 2006 saw the launch of a weeklong celebration featuring events such as MotherSon, a one man play by Jeff Solomon, a LGBT Film Marathon, Kite festival, Party and theatre workshops which attracted even bigger crowds than 2005. 2007 and 2008 were even more successful than in the past with over 2000 persons attending PRIDE celebrations last year! As always, COLOMBO PRIDE offers a safe space for people to be themselves and celebrate their sexuality with PRIDE with other like minded persons.

Details on the Equal Groun blog.

June 22: Happi Birthdai Cyndi Lauper!

Cyndi Lauper performing at closing ceremony of Gay Games VII, Chicago 2006

Final IGLFA 2009 video: "We are all champions"

Congratulations to IGLFA, IGLFA 2009, and all the teams and volunteers for a great event! And come to the 2010 IGLFA world championships in Cologne during Gay Games VIII!

Our Group founder Andrew Langenfeld's message to the Team Philly panel discussion

Former Sydney Gay Games Official Promoted

The Sydney Star Observer has an article about Katrina Márton. Sydney Gay Games executive Katrina Márton is appointed by New Mardi Gras (NMG) to the organisation’s Head of Events.

Katrina Márton was the Executive Producer of the 2002 Gay Games. She also was responsible for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 2002. This is another very successful person that continues to shine.

Click HERE for the article.

FGG Ambassador David Kopay answers: Is the NFL Ready for An Openly Gay Player?

From the Washington Post feature on gay players in the NFL about which we posted earlier, this essay from FGG Ambassador David Kopay:

Come Out of the Dark Ages

When I came out, in 1975, I thought it wasn't going to take very long for other players to follow. Of course nobody talked about gay people back then. That's what made it such a totally wild story.

But if the NFL is not ready now, it should be. Come on, how many years has it been? In 1968 Jerry [Smith] -- Mr. Touchdown with the Redskins -- was out more than I was. Sure it was taboo, but now times have changed.

Society is still way ahead of the NFL on the subject of homosexuality. If you don't recognize that gay folks have every right of regular society then you are in the dark ages, but of course sports are in the dark ages. They are trying now though and that's a really big plus. On the college levels they're even more progressive. I've been welcomed like a total icon. It's amazing.

I've been blessed in being able to contribute to this issue and speak up for myself and others. I wish Jerry was alive to see it. I feel bad about that. When I came out it put him in a very difficult position, but I was just reacting like any player when someone's trying to knock your head off. Life puts you sometimes in a strange position and you just have to go for it. I may have missed out on coaching but I've done so much with my life and I am so blessed, so blessed that I even have parking karma... how good is that?

Things are changing and I'm so lucky to be alive in these times. To think that we now have a black president! I never thought I would see that day, but I hoped for it. As a long time supporter of civil rights I always felt that what Martin Luther King was saying was the same thing gays were fighting for.

Sexuality is a personal and complicated thing. You can't define somebody by a word. Love doesn't have a gender, it's love period. I know that. I knew that when i was married, I knew that when I was in the closet and I know that now... it's just love.

BAR column on sports movies at film festival

Writes Roger Brigham:

Three sports-themed documentaries in the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival drive one point home with crystalline clarity: to gain acceptance from others, you first have to have the strength to get comfortable with who you are, then have the strength to invade other people's comfort zones so they can react, learn, and grow.

For the full column, visit eBar.

Is the NFL Ready for An Openly Gay Player?

The Washington Post asks the question. And the answers don't seem to create much of a reaction... except for this one, with over 100 comments at the time of posting, from pastor and former NFL player Kenneth Hutcherson, senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church and a former linebacker:

No "Gay" in "Team"

Football is like the army -- it's a battle field. In war you have to trust the guy that's next to you. Now, if a teammate has different views about what they're attracted to in the showers it's going to affect the team. It'll destroy the oneness.

Men are going to be more comfortable with other heterosexuals. It's like having a woman on the team or having a woman in the shower. How can you keep your mind on the game when you're thinking about running back to the showers? It would have a tremendous effect. It would be safer for the team and the individual if they didn't come out.

When you have a team worth millions and millions of dollars anything that would mess with the oneness must be removed from the team. Homosexuality is a very divisive issue -- it would affect the camaraderie.

It's not a civil rights issue like with racism -- there's no comparison. That's not even apples and oranges, that's like comparing apples to Chevys. Has a homosexual ever been considered 3/5ths of a person? Has a homosexual ever had to sit at the back of the bus? Has a homosexual ever had to use a different bathroom? I can't change being black... but there are a lot of people, especially in our churches, that have changed being gay.

Read more here of this contribution, the comments to it, and the other contributions, on the Washington Post.

A look back at Tom Waddell

With the premiere of the film "Claiming the Title" coming soon, we thought it interesting to recall the birth of the Gay Games with this article from the New York Times.

Scouting; The Two Wars Of Tom Waddell

Published: October 28, 1986

Tom Waddell, who placed sixth in the 1968 Olympic decathlon and helped found the Gay Games in San Francisco four years ago, is fighting two battles these days. He has high hopes of winning one - an appeal to the Supreme Court of decisions siding with the United States Olympic Committee, which has prohibited the Gay Games from using the designation ''Gay Olympics.''

Continue reading at the New York Times.