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, October 15, 2010

NY Lions in the NY Times

From the New York Times:

OUTSIDE it was fall, but inside, winter had already arrived. Huddled in the stands on a recent Friday night, a small group of fans yelled enthusiastically for the NY Lions hockey team. One of dozens of teams in the adult coed league run by Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, the Lions are also one of five that belong to the New York City Gay Hockey Association. On the ice a spirited match against a straight team called TBD was under way.

“I think maybe people are surprised that we’re just as rough and we play just as hard as they do, and I think that they might not expect that,” said Robb Riedel, who plays on two teams — the Wizards and the Hotshots — and is also the gay hockey association’s communications director. But he added, “We’re not as cutthroat as some of the other teams, and we really welcome the chance to bring in new players who haven’t played before and teach them the game.”

Jeff Kagan started the association with Jeff Minck in 1999. The two had previously played on the same team, but neither knew the other was gay until Mr. Minck read an essay Mr. Kagan had written for the Toronto Gay Hockey Association in 1997.

Teams in the adult hockey league are divided into divisions numbered 1 (experienced, highly competitive players) through 8 (stay upright much of the time). This fall, three gay teams are in Division 8, and one each in Divisions 6 and 7.

Despite the name, not all Gay Hockey Association players are gay. “Fifty percent of our membership is straight people, and that’s such a great thing, I think, because their interest shows that they’re very open-minded,” Mr. Kagan said.

One such player is John Haldi, captain of the Polar Bears. “It was a really great place to be on my first hockey team, and there is certainly no requirement to be gay,” Mr. Haldi said. “The requirement is to be open and accepting.”

Continue reading HERE.

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