Northern Ireland Sports Minister needs education about Gay Sports

The Northern Ireland government’s sports minister, Edwin Poots, said Feb. 19 that he doesn’t understand why gays need their own sports teams.

Poots was quoted “I just cannot fathom why people see the necessity to develop an apartheid in sport. “It would be unacceptable to produce an all-black rugby team or an all-white team or an all-Chinese team. To me, it’s equally unacceptable to produce an all-homosexual rugby team, and I find it remarkable that people who talk so much about inclusivity and about having an equal role in society would then go down the route of exclusion.”

He was commenting about a local gay rugby team. He seemed to be unaware that gay and lesbian teams welcome heterosexual players and many teams have heterosexual players on their teams. We need to get this message out to educate our elected officials and public.

Kelly Stevens

Gay Games Amabassador John Amaechi to receive honor from The Matthew Shepard Foundation

Judy Shepard will unveil the new campaign during the 7th Annual Bear to Make a Difference Gala, which will take place on Saturday, March 29th in Denver, Colorado.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation announced today that it plans to engage the general public in the mission to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion and Acceptance."

Each year, the Foundation honours outstanding individuals or organizations with the coveted "Making a Difference Award."

This year's honoree is John Amaechi, former NBA player and youth advocate.

Click HERE to read the full Article is on the Pink News UK.

GaySport.org Promotes Sports, Sports, Sports

Looking for a calendar for sports events?

Do you need to find a Gay or Lesbian Football club in Europe?

GaySports.org has a fantastic directory for you to find the answers. This site is maintained by EGLSF and is well structured.

"The Gaysport.info website is just one of the many initiatives that the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) promotes in support of sport for the LGBT community. Other major activities that the EGLSF promotes include EuroGames and the EGLSF lobbies for setting and acknowledging the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender in sports."

Click Here to link to gaysportsinfo.org.

Gay Men in Sports: Olympic Diver Guy Sandin

GayWired.com has a great article about Guy Sandin.
Gay Men in Sports: Olympic Diver Guy Sandin
By Dylan Vox

Read about Guy Sandlin's hard work to become an Olympic diver and coming out at age 30. He now lives in Los Angeles and looks as in shape as his Olympic diving days.

Check it out on GayWired.com

Photo Credit: Edith Sieg, Chicago Gay Games 2006
Photo shown is not Guy Sandlin.

Jack Mackenroth Designer, Swimmer, Gay Games Winner

Many of you met Jack on Project Runway this season on Bravo. Many more Gay Games swimmers already knew Jack many years and from many Gay Games cities. He not only looks like a model, but he is a model athlete.

A great blog interview with Jack Mackenroth on POZIAM BLOG. Jack discusses his life and attending Gay Games since Gay Games III Vancouver BC. Jack says attending Gay Games III as "one of the greatest experiences of my life." Jack has competed in every Gay Games since. His team set national masters records at Gay Games VII in Chicago 2006.


Click here to read the blog article.

Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 announce Golf Event for April 2008

Press Release, February 22, 2008

“Golf Cologne – be part of it!” on 19 April 2008
Preview competition for Gay Games VIII

Cologne 2010 Feb. 22, 2008 - Cologne. 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.

Click Here to read the entire press release:

From Gay Games I to ING Marathon

Ready, set, run

Gay runners prepare for challenge of upcoming ING Marathon
By Matt Hennie

"Scores of gay and lesbian runners will be among the 15,000 participants expected in the second running of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon late next month. Their reasons for taking part in such a grueling event — 13.1 miles for the half marathon and twice that for the marathon — are as varied as their running shoes."

Click Here to read the entire article.

Gay Games memories keep you dancing

SSO (Sydney Star Observer) article reflects on how Sydney Gay Games VI lead Gary Woods to pursue dance and kept him dancing.

"The conventions of ballroom dance can be paralleled to gender and sexuality norms that have existed for centuries. Gary Woods – the first student of Dance Dance with Hot to Foxtrot – has been instrumental in altering the rules of ballroom dance and thus the perception of sexuality."

As told to Andre Rangiah

Click here for the article:

Click here for the home page of SSO. www.ssonet.com.au

Ski Resort Cities compete for more LGBT Skiers

Bay Area Reporter has an article about the many Gay Ski Week events across North America. Many individuals and gay and lesbian ski clubs make annual treks to ski resorts, filled with parties and ski events all winter long.

Read the article by Matthew S. Bajko.
Click HERE.

Article Title: Fight for gay skiers heats up the slopes

http://www.ebar.com/

Gay Sports Groups on Campus

Don Woog has an interesting article on Outsports.com. Campuses started with LGBT Centers and GSA (Gay-Straight-Alliances) started. Next athletes wanted to come out in safety and with support. Next comes Gay Sports Groups on Campus. It Takes a Team is ready to help! It Takes a Team web site is full of even more information for athletes.

Click here to read Dan Woog's article.

Click her to check out It Takes a Team link for more information.

Golden Gate Wrestling Club Assisting High School Teams

Brotherhood of wrestling
by Kera Soko

The Golden Gate Wrestling Club (GGWC) is helping local high school wrestling teams. GGWC was founded in 1986 and is a member of Team San Francisco. Read the article on the Edge online.

Click HERE to read the article.

Golden Gate Wrestling Club
Team San Francisco

Gay Game Ambassador Billy Bean Supports TruthWinsOut.org

Bill Bean was featured in this article and video supporting TruthWinsOut.org. You can see the article and video on this link from The Miami Hearld Blog on 4 February 2008.

You can read about Bill Bean as a Gay Games Ambassador by clicking HERE.

GLAAD Sport Media Director Interview on Gay.com

Beth Dreher has an interesting interview with Ted Rybka, GLAAD's new Sport Media Director on Gay.com. Learn more about Ted's background. GLAAD has broken new ground on Sports and LGBT coverage.

Click HERE for the story.