25 June 2011 / Berlin Pride "Civil Courage Prize" awarded this weekend

Emy Ritt (FGG) and Wessel van Kampen (GLISA International) will be representing their organizations this Saturday in Berlin. Join them there!

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FGG and GLISA have been awarded the 2011 Civil Courage Award (Zivilcouragepreis) given by the Berlin Pride Association (Berliner Christopher Street Day eV).

The Civil Courage Award was first introduced in 2001 and has since been presented annually
to people or organizations that have furthered the cause of LGBT equality. The Civil Courage Award is an expression of acknowledgment for the achievements and work of these individuals and organizations. The Pride Board has selected both the Federation of Gay Games and GLISA International, and in particular, their current Co-Presidents, as Civil Courage Award laureates 2011 of the Berlin Pride Association.

Walter-Ahrens

Also honored will be Tanja Walter-Ahrens, who has worked on the fight against homophobia within the German Football Federation, and as the representative of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation to the Football Against Racism in Europe initiative.

The Pride Board honors the Co-presidents Emy Ritt, Kurt Dahl, Julia Applegate and Wessel van Kampen for their courage, their openness and their foresight to recognize the wish of the global sport community to combine resources and have one global event in 2018. The Civil Courage Award expresses our admiration and hopefully supports the process in the long run. The joint appearance of GLISA and FGG Co-Presidents will evoke emotions all over the world and will set a mark for hopes for a reunited community.

The prize stands for courage, perseverance, but also determination and vision.

The Pride Board honors GLISA International for their success in developing continental LGBT associations built after the model of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, alongside their World Outgames.

The Pride Board honors FGG, as the pioneer in international LGBT sporting activities. Since Gay Games I in 1982, hundreds of sport groups and clubs have been founded, a development that continues stronger than ever. FGG has built a unique community of LGBT sport groups from all over the world to carry forward and expand the legacy of the Gay Games.

FGG Co-President Emy Ritt (Paris, France) responded: "We are very pleased to accept this honour as a call to continued action towards our common goal of One Quadrennial Event in 2018. To have 'Sport' as the theme of this year's Berlin Civil Courage Award, as Germany hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup, is also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that sports can change the world."

Kurt Dahl (Chicago, USA), the male Co-President of the Federation, added: "We are touched by this honor, which will be an opportunity to thank the Berlin LGBT community for their commitment to building bridges. Our hope is that all sports and culture organizations will work together toward our shared goals of fighting homophobia and empowering gay and lesbian athletes and artists as we work together towards One Quadrennial Event in 2018."

The 2011 Civil Courage Award will be presented to the Co-Presidents of FGG and GLISA during a ceremony on the main stage of the PRIDE FINALE at the famous Brandenburg Gate on 25 June 2011.