Gay Games Ambassador Judith Light in Advocate Hall of Fame

The Advocate is celebrating its 45th anniversary and is naming a member of the Hall of Fame for each year. Gay Games Ambassador Judith Light is the hero for 1996 (hat tip to Outsports):


It’s maybe hard now to remember a time on television and in movies where straight women didn’t have gay best friends, HIV-positive sons, or transgender daughters. But actress Judith Light had no problem doing it early on. Throughout her lengthy career on stage and screen, Light’s choices for roles have reflected the actress's passions in real life, making her a true ally for LGBT people, and the right cover subject for a 1996 feature in The Advocate on straight females as allies.

Light played Jeanne White in the 1989 TV movie The Ryan White Story, which chronicled the life of a young boy who became a face of HIV/AIDS at a time when stigma and discrimination against people with HIV was rampant. In the soapy dramedy Ugly Betty, Light played media matriarch Claire Meade, mother of Rebecca Romijn’s transgender character, Alexis. She's even credited with helping former Who's the Boss? co-star Danny Pintauro to come out.

Off screen, Light has tirelessly raised funds and awareness for LGBT rights, as well as HIV. She has been aligned with several philanthropic and activist organizations like Broadway Cares; Equity Fights AIDS, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Hetrick Martin School, and dozens of others.
-Michelle Garcia

Brian Burke profile in Xtra

Xtra.ca has a great profile of Brian Burke, winner of the 2011 FGG Straight Ally Legacy Award:

Before his youngest son came out in December 2007, Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke didn’t know a single gay person. That was about to change.

The following summer, Brian and Brendan attended the Toronto Pride parade together. The famous father and son were just two faces among thousands of revellers in the crowd: cheering, laughing and watching the rainbow-decorated floats pass by. Like other dads, Burke worried he would embarrass his son. “I asked him, ‘Who is more embarrassed here? The GM of the Leafs or a kid at the Pride parade with his dad?’” he recalls. “He said, ‘Dad, are you kidding? I’m more embarrassed.’”

The experience left an indelible impression on Burke and helped cement a bond with his son that would shape the next four years of his life.

Publicly, Brendan was still living with a secret. With the support of his family, he made the decision in 2009 to come out to the world. While the act of coming out, especially under such unwelcoming pressures, was itself an act of rebellion, he went even further, proudly and naturally stepping into the role of advocate for gays in sport.



Burke was behind his son every step of the way, appearing on ESPN and challenging anyone who dared contest Brendan’s declaration.

Then, in 2010, the unthinkable happened. Just two years after Brendan came out privately to his family, Burke lived through every parent’s worst nightmare. Brendan, just 21, was killed in a car accident in Indiana.

Keep reading HERE.

FAQ / The Gay Games were good to have back when they were founded in 1982, but are they still necessary today when homosexuals have complete equality?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

The Gay Games were good to have back when they were founded in 1982, but are they still necessary today when homosexuals have complete equality?

The Gay Games are an international event, which welcome and encourage participation of athletes from countries where discrimination against homosexuals is part of the law, in some places even punishable by death.

But even in places where discrimination against homosexuals is outlawed, in daily life, and perhaps more so in sport, homophobia remains very present. Even in the most progressive countries, homophobia and even violence against gay men and lesbians remain a reality.

One of the missions of the Gay Games is to combat homophobia by providing visibility for the countless gay and lesbian athletes.

World boxing champion patron of GaySportMed track meet

GaySportMed has announced that Myriam Lamare, holder of several championship titles in boxing from the WBA, WBF, and IBF , will be the patron of the upcoming track meet to be held on 28 April in Marseille.

Lamare continues to compete, while serving as a member of the regional assembly of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Vote for Cleveland to host the 2012 Social Media in the Tourism Industry Symposium

One of the "bidders" for the 2012 Social Media in the Tourism Industry Symphosium (SoMeT) is Cleveland, which has just defeated Kansas City in the latest round. Follow the voting HERE. Round 2 will see Cleveland face off against Knoxville, Tennessee on 4-5 April.

The Third Annual Symposium on the use of Social Media in the Tourism Industry will be held November 7-9, 2012 at a location to be determined.

The symposium will be a combination of destination marketing organizations, hotels, resorts, attractions and any other tourism related entities sharing ideas and learning more about how social media is effecting promotion within the travel industry.

What makes this conference unique is the involvement of attendees throughout the entire process. Attendees will have a voice in everything from the location to the session topics and presenters.

We look forward to your attendance and participation!

Gay Games dancers compete in "Britain's Got Talent"

Soren and Bradley Stauffer-Kruse have competed in many ESSDA and NASSPDA same-sex DanceSport competitions and now perform as show dancers. They are performing on this season's edition of "Britain's Got Talent".


Listen to an interview on the BBC HERE.


NewNowNext profiled the couple before Gay Games VII:

The Gay Games , which kick off in Chicago next month on July 15th aren’t only for sporty folks participating in those events one traditionally thinks of—like basketball, soccer, softball, track and field… There for all manner of skilled and talented artists. Take, for example Soren Kruse & Bradley Stauffer who are the U.K. Ballroom champs and will be traveling from London to go for the gay DanceSport/Ballroom Dancing gold in the Windy City. This smart and charming pair (They’re a couple! Yay!) are the real deal. They’ve been dancing for seven years, they compete in tournaments all over the planet, and back in their current homeland of England, they were the subject of a British TV documentary about the same-sex ballroom circuit. And when they planned their wedding last December it was written up in the London newspaper, The Guardian . Fancy!

Kruse is from Germany, Stauffer is American, and they live in London, so the two are a perfect representation of the global appeal of the Gay Games. And they’re perhaps just about the most debonaire participants traveling to the Games. So, I quizzed them about their big trip ahead (And yes, the fabulous third person tone they responded in is their own. Fierce!). And they used terms like “versatile” and “back-lead” and “top lines.” Oh my…

Keep reading HERE.

FAQ / How many people participate in the Gay Games?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

How many people participate in the Gay Games?

Since 1994, each Gay Games has drawn 10,000-12,000 participants, figures comparable to the Summer Olympics. The Gay Games are one of the world's largest amateur athletic events, and the largest event open to all adults.

• Gay Games VIII in Cologne in 2010 attracted some 10,000 participants from about 70 countries. 
• Gay Games VII in Chicago in 2006 attracted 11,500 participants from 70 countries. 
• Gay Games VI in Sydney Australia in 2002 attracted 12,100 participants. .

It is difficult to estimate the number of visitors and spectators attracted by the Gay Games, but it clearly represents thousands more in addition to the registered participants, along with hundreds of volunteers from the local community.

1 August 2012 / First teams register for Stockholm Unity Cup

The first three teams have registered for Stockholm's Unity Cup, a football tournament hosted by Stockholm Snipers IF and Råsunda FC. During Stockholm Pride, the HBT- team Stockholm Snipers IF together with the straight team Råsunda FC are hosting a football tournament 1-5 August 2012. Gay teams from all over Europe are invited along with some straight local Stockholm teams with the goal of building bridges between the communities and creating unity.

Find all info on their Facebook page HERE.

Here are the first three teams registered:

Number 1 is of course host team Stockholm Snipers:

---

Second is Hamburg Ballboys:

---

Third to register is Iceland's Styrmir:

David Kopay in Advocate Hall of Fame

The Advocate is celebrating its 45th anniversary and is naming a member of the Hall of Fame for each year. Gay Games Ambassador David Kopay is the hero for 1976 (hat tip to Outsports): 

Dave Kopay tried to fit the profile of a squeaky-clean, all-American football player, and for the most part, he did. Kopay was a star at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles and was recruited to play at the University of Washington. As co-captain of the Huskies, Kopay led his team to the Pac-10 conference title, and he was named an All-American running back. Kopay was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1964, and led the team in rushing yards in his rookie year. He dated girls and even married a woman, but Kopay knew he was gay.

Kopay was later recruited by the Washington Redskins under legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi, whose brother was gay. The team's assistant general manager and the sport's information director were also gay. Kopay had dated tight end Jerry Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Redskins who later died due to AIDS in the 1980s.

Kopay retired in 1973. Two years later, a frustrated Kopay read an anonymously sourced article about gay athletes and decided it was time. He became the first NFL player to come out and gave an interview to The Advocate in 1976. He later wrote The David Kopay Story, a best-seller in 1977. Though he did apply for coaching jobs in the NFL and college football, Kopay said he largely believes he was turned away because of his sexual orientation.

Since then, Kopay has been working in his family's business while remaining a voice for gay athletes. Only a handful of professional athletes have come out since Kopay, but his story endures as more young athletes look to his example and guidance in their own coming out.
-Michelle Garcia

Flashback to Gay Games VIII visual arts event: "Move It!"

"Move It!" was the theme of the visual arts event of Gay Games VIII. Cologne's  Wallraf-Richartz Museum hosted an exhibition devoted to movement in all its forms.

Here are a few images from the exhibition. You'll find more online HERE.

FAQ / How do the Gay Games include culture?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

The Olympic Charter states that "Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

Similarly, since the very beginning, culture has been part of the Gay Games. While more athletes take part than do cultural participants, the Gay Games cultural program is an important part of each edition of the Gay Games.

The required cultural components in any Gay Games include a Choral Festival and a Band Festival. FGG member organizations GALA Choruses and the Lesbian and Gay Band Association help coordinate the participation of hundreds of singers and musicians in a series of performances that start with Opening Ceremony and run through Closing Ceremony, with a hightlight during the Gala Concert bringing together all musicians in a major joint performance.

Performances take place throughout the Games, in the Games Village, at sports venues, and at any number of locations indoors and out.

Another required componenent is a visual arts event, which can include exhibitions, art competitions, and performance art.

A principle of Gay Games cultural program is that events must be inclusive and participatory.

Other cultural events include symphony orchestra performances, cheerleading demonstrations, color guard, poetry slams, as well as ant number of partner events (theater, dance, cinema, exhibitions...).

Learn more HERE.

Watch a great video of the 2012 Sydney Frontrunners Little Black Dress Run

Thanks to Prue Dudley for this fun video of this year's Little Black Dress run from Sydney FrontRunners.

28 April 2012 / 1st Bear Soccer Tournament in Milan

Info HERE.

Stephen Frost speaks on London 2012's commitment to diversity

Toronto's Globe and Mail reports on a speech from LOCOG's Stephen Frost at the Canadian Supplier Diversity Conference:

Stephen Frost opened his speech in Toronto by acknowledging that, yes, he's a short, white bloke from England trying to make this summer's London Olympics more diverse and inclusive. But he was dead serious when he said the task is not about being politically correct; it's about doing smart business.

The head of diversity and inclusion for the 2012 Games didn't mince words. Pledging to make this summer's Olympics "a Games for everyone" was one of the biggest reasons London won the bid to be host. Speaking at a Canadian Supplier Diversity Conference on Friday, Frost said the challenges of delivering on that promise have been immense and at times "terrifying." But he believes they will create systematic change.

"LOCOG [London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games] is not a charity and we're not doing anything that doesn't make these Games better," Frost said in his speech. "It's easy to say things in your campaign, but it's an entirely different thing to deliver them. Well, there aren't enough PR agencies in the world to cover this up if we don't get it right."

[...]

Frost, himself a gay man, has involved former NBA player and gay athlete John Amaechi for perspectives on inclusion for gay and lesbians at the Games. He has also worked with British Paralympic wheelchair racing champion Tanni-Grey Thompson on issues of accessibility for disabled athletes and spectators.

"It's hard work, so often it just doesn't get done in many businesses or projects," Frost said. "But we need to reject tokenistic diversity inclusiveness. The Olympics often becomes a repository for the world's problems. The London vision will definitely empower change, enhancing the hiring of disabled people, including gays and lesbians and dealing with homophobia in sport, bringing cultural communities together. We're not going to solve the world's problems, but we are going to use the power of the Games for change."

Read in full HERE.

Billie Jean King in Advocate Hall of Fame

The Advocate is celebrating its 45th anniversary and is naming a member of the Hall of Fame for each year. Gay Games Ambassador Billie Jean King is the hero for 1981 (hat tip to Outsports):

Billie Jean King first exploded onto the tennis scene in the 1960s, winning her first Wimbledon title during her first doubles tournament, and then 20 more Wimbledon titles by the end of the 1970s. In 1971, she was the first female athlete to win more than $100,000 for winning a match, but King knew it was wrong that she and other female players were generally paid less than male players.

She fought Bobby Riggs, one of the top-ranked U.S. players of the 1930s and 1940s to take a stand against sexism and unequal pay in one of the most famed and storied tennis matches of her life, the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes." Though Riggs was past his prime at that point, he claimed that the women's game was inferior, striking a nerve with King. She trounced him, in a tennis match watched by 50 million people around the world. Three years later, King became the first president of the Women's Tennis Association.

King was well accomplished by the arrival of the 1980s, when a palimony lawsuit from a former lover suddenly put her personal life in the spotlight. King, who was married, was having an affair with her assistant. King beat the lawsuit, but it still cost millions in endorsements and lead to a divorce. Despite all she had lost and left to lose, the tennis star decided to host a press conference in 1981 against her lawyer’s wishes to admit to the affair. Now she is one of the most vocal proponents of LGBT people and women in sports from the school level, up to the pros.
-Michelle Garcia

FAQ / Sport has nothing to do with your sexual orientation, so why have Gay Games?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

Sport has nothing to do with your sexual orientation, so why have Gay Games?

As stated in the Olympic Charter, The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.

In locker rooms and playing fields everywhere in the world athletes talk about their private lives. They celebrate victories with those they love, they travel with their partners, they share their sporting life with their families, and they never imagine that they are supposed to somehow keep sports untainted by any contact with their personal life.

Sport is part of people’s identity and social life, not a job where we go for a certain number of hours each day. No one should have to hide important parts of their identity such as the person they love or the composition of their family just to practice sport.

John Amaechi is GaydarRadio's "hero of the week"

The retired basketball player - hailed as "one of the world's most high-profile gay athletes" - psychologist, educator and political activist chats to Robin Crowley as part of GaydarRadio's Heroes & Heroines season. Listen to the full interview here - Part 1 and Part 2.

The Hero & Heroine Awards are GaydarRadio's way of celebrating LGBT History Month, recognising the people who influence and make a difference to the LGBT community. Every Sunday for 12 weeks, GaydarRadio will be interviewing one of these very people.

Voting for this year's Heroes & Heroines has now closed. The winners will be announced on GaydarRadio on Sunday 1 April 2012. Find out more at www.gaydarradio.com.

Find out more about GaydarRadio at www.gaydarradio.com. Tune in via iPhone and android apps, online @ GaydarRadio.com and on DAB radio in London and Brighton.

Website: gaydarradio.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GaydarRadioOfficial
Twitter: twitter.com/gaydarradio
YouTube: youtube.com/gaydarradio

Out to Swim and the Gay Games

Out to Swim celebrates its 20th anniversary. Here's a very personal story of what it means to discover and particpate in the Gay Games and LGBT sport.

FAQ / Aren’t the Gay Games just a sort of ghetto for gays and lesbians?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

Aren’t the Gay Games just a sort of ghetto for gays and lesbians?

The Gay Games welcome athletes of all sexual orientation. And the people who participate in the Gay Games continue to compete in sport between each edition of the Gay Games. Some do so exclusively in LGBT sports organizations, but most compete in mainstream sport, both individual and team sport.

There's plenty of time to learn the dance for the TIP Party!

Tournoi International de Paris 2012 - flash mob par TIP2012

Equality Forum announces National Sports Panel

Equality Forum has announced the composition of its National Sports Panel. 

National Sports Panel

Saturday, May 5, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
237 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA
MAP

FREE

This panel explores the challenges facing openly LGBT athletes in college, amateur, and professional sports.

		Brian Kitts (Moderator)  Board Member GForce Sports
		Brian Kitts is a Managing Partner of the You Can Play Project and a Board Member of GForce Sports, two organizations promoting equality for LGBT athletes. He  teaches sports management at the University of Denver.
		Patrick Burke (Panelist)  Cofounder You Can Play Project
		Patrick Burke is a Cofounder of the You Can Play Project, which promotes respect for LGBT athletes in sports. A scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, Burke is a dedicated straight ally in the fight for equality.
		Nevin Caple (Panelist)  Founder Br{ache the Silence Campaign
		Nevin Caple is a former college basketball player and Founder of the Br{ache the Silence Campaign, created to advance LGBT inclusion in intercollegiate athletics and stop high school bullying.
		Jason Magnes (Panelist)  Chair Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia (PATH)
		Jason Magnes is a junior at University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Penn Tennis Team. One of two out male varsity athletes at Penn, he is the leader of the student group PATH.
		Lee-J Mirasolo (Panelist)  Assistant Coach Princeton University
		Lee-J Mirasolo is an Assistant Coach for the women’s ice hockey team at Princeton University. An out player in high school and college, Mirasolo is an advocate for athlete openness in all sports.
		Brandon Stoneham (Panelist)  Soccer Player Adelphi University
		Brandon Stoneham is an openly gay Division 1 soccer player at Adelphi University. By telling his coach and team that he’s gay, Stoneham joins a growing number of student athletes who are, in his words, “redefining normal.”

College athlete comes out and comes back to his team

Via Outsports, the story in The Journal of Queens University of a young athlete who left his college volleyball team due to a homophobic atmosphere, only to return after his coming out changed the culture of his team:

After Bryan Fautley quit the men’s volleyball team in April 2010, head coach Brenda Willis told his teammates why.

Fautley had already revealed to family and friends that he was gay. But he hadn’t come out to the team.

“I thought I knew that my sexuality was going to be an issue,” Fautley said. “It was not an inclusive environment for a gay guy to really feel comfortable, especially to come out.”

Fautley was miserable on the court. He wanted out, and he wasn’t planning to return.

Joren Zeeman was the first to find out that casual homophobic slurs had driven Faultley to quit the team. The two players met up to chat — the first in a series of interactions that would catalyze a change in the team’s culture.

Earlier this month, Fautley concluded a five-year Gaels career with a fourth-place national finish at the ARC.

Fautley knew he was gay at 16 years old, but feelings of confusion and self-doubt were amplified because he was an elite athlete. He knew all about the homophobic culture present in male team sports.

“I’m an athlete and I’m gay? This can’t exist,’” he said. “It was the result of the general public’s belief that gay men don’t play sports.”

After being recruited to the Queen’s men’s volleyball program in 2007, Fautley came to Kingston determined to stay in the closet for his entire university career.

Keep reading HERE.

Mass marriage in Cleveland

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, news of an event held on 24 March 2012:

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Couples in traditional wedding attire – including some women in tuxedos – gathered in the Galleria Saturday.

More than 200 gay and lesbian couples from across the state participated in what they called the "largest illegal mass wedding ever held."

While some were dressed in more casual attire they all had the same intention: to send a message to the state of Ohio to recognize same-sex marriage.

[...]

Ed Mullen, executive director of Equality Ohio, said Saturday's mass marriage may be the biggest ever held.

In a news release, he said the rally and similar public events, such as the 2014 Gay Games in Northeast Ohio, could change attitudes about the gay community.

Read in full

HERE.

News about Gay Games 9 shared at fundraising social event

The ladies of WH2 served up a fun night at Shooters down in the Cleveland Flats and they brought some special friends with them - several of the Gay Games 9 representatives. And along with the fun came some exciting news - what was it? Take a look.

Michelle Ferris joins "women in triathlon" website as "virtual bike mechanic"

‎Gay Games Ambassador Michelle Ferris will be contributing to witsup.com, a website for women in triathlon:

2 x Olympic Track Sprint Medalist Michelle Ferris will be our 'virtual bike mechanic'.

Michelle has over 20years of experience in the cycling industry and is part of the Sales & Marketing team at Shimano. She is also the friendly face that a lot of Ironman athletes see on race day when they're having bike difficulties...

So excited to have Michelle and her wealth of knowledge on board the witsup.com team

Our thoughts for Brent Minor

On behalf of the FGG board and assembly, our condolences for the loss of his mother go out to Brent Minor, currently the executive director of FGG member organization Team DC, and formerly a long-time officer of the Federation, notably in the positions of Officer for Development and Co-President.

9 April 2012 / Auf Deutsch / Queer in (ost)Europa!?

Am 09.04.2012 findet in Hamburg eine sehr interessante Diskussionsveranstaltung zum Thema Homophobie im Fußball im Kontext der anstehenden EM in Polen und der Ukrine mit Fans und Aktivisten aus Polen, Ukraine, England, Östereich und Deutschland statt.

FAQ / Games for gay people? Why not Games for Jews and Arabs, while you’re at it?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

Games for gay people? Why not Games for Jews and Arabs, while you’re at it?

• The Maccabiah Games, intended for Jews around the world, have been held since 1932
• The Pan Arab Games have been held since 1953

We are all familiar with sports events on geographical lines. But there are many sports events that cater to other kinds of communities.

• Political, like the Commonwealth Games or the Games of the Small States of Europe
• Ethnic, like the Maccabiah
• Linguistic, like the Francophone Games or the Lusophony Games
• Professional, like the World Police and Fire Games or the Military Games or the World Medical and Health Games
• Age, like the World Masters Games or the Children’s Games
• Disability status, like the Special Olympics or Paralympic Games

IGLFA statement on Major League Soccer homophobic slur

FGG member organization IGLFA has issued the following statement on the incident described below:

The International Gay Lesbian Football Association does not condone the remarks made by Colin Clarke. We are sad that blatant homophobic language would be used by a professional athlete today. We appreciate the quick response by the Houston Dynamo's organization and Major League Soccer (MLS). We also accept the apology by Colin Clarke and hope that this immediate reaction will help to educate other players that language such as this will not be tolerated.

---

From MLSoccer.com:


NEW YORK — Houston Dynamo winger Colin Clark could face potential disciplinary action from Major League Soccer for an incident with a ball boy during the team's game in Seattle on Friday night.

In the seventh minute of the Dynamo's 2-0 loss to the Sounders, field-side broadcast microphones picked up Clark using a homophobic slur toward a ball boy after he wasn't issued a new ball as quickly as he wanted on a throw-in situation. Clark is seen and heard on video picking up the ball, directing his comments toward the ball boy, and then throwing the ball back into play.

Clark later apologized via his Twitter feed for the incident, but the league will look into the matter and decide if he'll face any discipline for the incident.

Keep reading HERE.

29 March 2012 / Run with a top athlete after Gay Games 9 screening at Cleveland International Film Festival

Join filmmakers and Kenyan runner Robert Kigen on an easy 2-3 mile run from Tower City through The Flats following the screening of Where Dreams Don't Fade, GG9's community-sponsored film at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

The film, which screens March 27, 28, and 29, is an intimate portrait on the lives and motivation behind Kenya’s runners.

Enjoy a casual run and a chance to talk about the film while running with one of Kenya's next top athletes. The run will occur following a question and answer session after the 12:05 pm screening of the film on March 29.

More info HERE.

UK Sports Charter logo has Gay Games connections

After a public contest, the official logo of the UK Charter against homophobia in sport has been chosen. The FGG is proud of the Gay Games connection and congratulates Suran Dickson on inspiring the winning design! Here's the article from the UK LGBT History Month website: 

The New Sports Charter Logo is now out and proud and you can see it below. The Sports Charter commits signatories to work to rid sport of discrimination and abuse against LGB&T people. It has received remarkable support from the sporting world receiving over 3,300 signatures, including from all Premier League, Championship, League 1 and League 2 football clubs and all Rugby Football League super league teams. To see a full list of signatories click here.

The winning logo was designed by a very talented 10-year-old girl from Hungerford Primary School who beat 70 others to the prize in a competition judged by rugby union star and Sports Charter champion Ben Cohen who has recently set up anti-bullying charity, the StandUp Foundation. He shortlisted the top six entries which were then put to a public vote on Ben Cohen’s website.

The inspiration for the winning design came when Suran Dickson, a Gay Games triple gold medallist and founder of anti-bullying charity,Diversity Role Models visited the school and spoke about how important it was for everyone, no matter who they are, to be able to go for gold.

All the children from years five and six (aged nine to 11) at Hungerford Primary School took part in the competition. Two other pupils from the school came second and fourth. The remaining runners up were from Nottingham and Reading. The winner and runners up received prizes donated by the Football Association, the Football League, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Rugby Football League and Ben Cohen.

Cleveland Play House launches "nightOut" theater events

Thanks to Vision Video for this:
Cleveland Play House's new nightOUT! program is a chance to spark a conversation—and maybe more—at CPH! A rotating series of Happy Hours, after parties and more give the LGBT community and friends a chance to have a drink (or 2...), mix and mingle with their casts and other interesting people like you in cool downtown spaces, AND see Cleveland's premiere contemporary professional theatre-- all for 1 special price!

FAQ / Why isn't my sport on the program for the Gay Games?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

Sports programs at Gay Games are proposed by potential hosts, based on a list of sports developed by the FGG.

These include "core sports", a certain number of which are required for bidders, and "additional sports", which are automatically approved for possible inclusion in a sports program. Bidders can also propose new sports not yet on either list (for example, rodeo, which will be on the program for the first time at Gay Games 9 in 2014).

For the list of current sports, as well as sports for which an interest has already been expressed, visit our website HERE.

The best way to get a sport on the program for the Gay Games is to approach bidders for the next edition. And the best way to get a bidder to include your sport is to be organized. We can help sports for which there is no international LGBT sports organization. If you are interested, write us HERE.

TIP Paris Intenational Tournament update

The TIP Paris International Tournament currently has registrations from 868 competitors from 20 countries.

Be a part of this experience! Register at www.paris-tournament.com.


New this year, the Sports Village!

Paris International Tournament is welcoming you at its Sports Village in the very centre of Paris!

The Sports Village is a meeting point for all the athletes, their friends and all those that take interest into Paris International Tournament.

The Village will provide you with many information about the Tournament and you will find there too many events into which you could enter if you wish.
Come and have a drink with us at the Apéri'TIP on Saturday, May 26th from 07:00 p.m. to 09h30 p.m. !
Events and socials at the Sports Village

Permanent stands:

• information centre on the Tournament and all the Tournament's events
• the TIP goodies shop
• information centre on GLBT resources and disease prevention
• our sponsors and partners stands

Refreshments:

• snacks and drinks selling
• friendly space where you will be able to have a sit and chat up with friends
• video broadcasting of previous TIP editions and other sporting events

Entertainment and activities:

• sport workshops: such as yoga, swedish gym, tai-chi-chuansports demonstrations
• debates
• And our Apéri'Tip : a moment to share a drink with all the athletes, on Saturday, May 26th from 7:00 p.m!

A ballroom dancing event will take place on Sunday : it is a free access event, come numerous!

The Sports Village is exactly at the same place than the Welcoming Evening:
Espace des Blancs-Manteaux
48 rue Vieille du Temple
75004 PARIS
Metro : Saint-Paul or Hôtel-de-Ville (line 1).

Usual suspects insist on their right to discriminate

Delegates from Muslim and African countries part of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation walked out of the UN Human Rights Council’s historic hearing on LGBT equality earlier this month. Many of these same countries have used their influence to send their own sexist policies on the football pitch by pushing for rule changes to allow the discriminatory hijab to be worn as part of football kit. Discrimination against women and LGBT people is unacceptable, wherever it takes place.

En français / Sport U traite de l'homophobie dans le sport et de l'initiative du ministère du sport

L'émission "Sport U" sur Ma chaîne étudiante a traité de l'homophobie dans le sport. Présentation des actions du comité contre les discriminations dans le sport, auquel participe notre membre FSGL, vidéos destinées aux éducateurs sportifs (dont le making-off a été diffusé en avant première au colloque organisé par la FSGL en décembre 2011).

FAQ / Why Gay Games?

From our series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 


2006 Tom Waddell Award winner Derek Liecty once responded to the question "Why Gay Games?" with the following statement:
This is a question the Federation gets all the time. It is difficult for a straight athlete, whether male or female, to fully understand the atmosphere and pressure that a closeted gay or lesbian athlete feels when trying to compete or participate in a “straight competition.”

The pervasive discrimination and putdowns of gays and lesbians in the locker room and on the field of play, along with "faggot" jokes and "sissy boy" remarks, to say nothing of the discrimination in access to sports because of being openly gay or lesbian, has had a negative residual impact on countless men and women for decades.

So the Gay Games provide a venue where gay and lesbian athletes can gather and compete in an atmosphere which is free of this discrimination.

The Games are also about breaking down stereotypes and showing the world that gays and lesbians can compete on a level playing field with everyone else. We have had World Records broken at the Gay Games. But the Games also have a need to provide what our founder 1968 Olympic Decathlete Tom Waddell could not find in the Olympic Games, that is, a place where one could participate in a sport regardless of ability, feel welcomed and included and where the goal is simply to do one’s personal best.

It is a very empowering experience for a gay and lesbian athlete to come into a stadium with 10,000 others and say, “Wow! I really am not alone in the world.” The Games are truly at the forefront in the fight for gay and lesbian emancipation and integration.

Hera Björk to perform at IGLA 2012 closing party

A message from the hosts of the 2012 IGLA annual championships in Reykjavik:

Our one and only international POP DIVA Hera Björk is confirmed to perform at IGLA Reykjavík closing party on June 2nd! The Eurovision sensation did a Gay USA tour last year and has many fans all over the world. She is very excited to join the party and promises some nasty dance numbers! Check out her website: www.herabjork.com

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performs "It Gets Better" song

Via Towleroad:

Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz and Dan Savage recently joined forces to turn segments of the Savage-created "It Gets Better" project into a sweeping emotional song encapsulating all the emotions that go with coming out and staying out in an at-times confrontational world.

In writing TESTIMONY, Stephen Schwartz collaborated with Dan Savage, creator of the groundbreaking "It Gets Better Project." Schwartz has set the heartfelt words from the "It Gets Better" videos to music, weaving them into a breathtaking, emotional new masterpiece that speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place.

TESTIMONY was recorded and engineered by Leslie Ann Jones, the legendary multi Grammy award-winning Director of Music Recording at Skywalker Sound. Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus under the direction of Dr. Timothy Seelig.

The song is performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, a member of FGG member organization Gala Choruses.

View it below, and visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

---

---

Slate.com sports podcast crowdsources the nuttiest gay sport chestnut

From Slate.com:

On this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin talk with Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski about a new effort to curtail homophobia in hockey. Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke, who launched the NHL’s “You Can Play” campaign, told Wyshynski he believes an NHL player will come out within the next two years. If Burke is right, that would be a major milestone. While MLB’s Billy Bean, the NBA’s John Amaechi, the NFL’s David Kopay, and others have revealed their sexual orientations after their careers were over, no male athlete in the four major North American pro sports has come out while he was still an active player.

Which leads us to the question: When do you think the first active MLB, NBA, NFL, or NHL player will come out? We’d also like you to guess which sport—baseball, basketball, football, or hockey—that pro athlete will play.


Vote HERE, if you must.

Em portugues / State governor meets with representatives of Brazil's National Diversity Games

From the official website of the governor of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso del Sul on a meeting with the governor and representatives of FGG member organization CDG Brasil on the preparation of Brazil's first National Diversity Games later this year.

Campo Grande (MS) - O governador André Pucinelli recebeu na manhã desta quinta-feira (22) a visita do Comitê Desportivo GLS Brasileiro e do diretor-presidente da Fundação do Desporto e Lazer de Mato Grosso do Sul (Fundesporte), Flávio Britto. A reunião abordou a realização dos 1º Jogos Nacionais da Diversidade LGBT, nos dias 14 a 18 de novembro, em Campo Grande.

photo Edemir Rodrigues

Durante a visita, o comitê entregou ao governador o documento que oficializa a realização dos Jogos e o seu cronograma com as modalidades esportivas. “Ao recebermos o Comitê Desportivo, reforçamos novamente o apoio total que o governo do Estado oferece para um evento deste porte”, destacou o governador André Pucinelli. De acordo com a Fundesporte, a expectativa é reunir mais de 1300 atletas de todos os Estados brasileiros durante a competição. As equipes vão competir em diversas modalidades esportivas como atletismo, handebol, futebol, voleibol e natação.

Para o presidente do Comitê Desportivo GLS, Érico dos Santos, o apoio do governo do Estado não se limita apenas à divulgação esportiva, mas também à promoção da igualdade e quebra de paradigmas. “A realização dos 1º Jogos Nacionais da Diversidade LGBT, o primeiro na América Latina, mostra que Campo Grande e o Governo do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul estão engajados em promover a igualdade e a quebra dos preconceitos. Este apoio é fundamental para a quebra de paradigmas não só no esporte, mas em outras áreas”, destacou o presidente. Segundo Érico, Campo Grande foi a cidade que mais apresentou comprometimento com a realização do evento, à exemplo do torneio regional de vôlei realizado em abril do ano passado. “A escolha do local foi feita entre três cidades, e Campo Grande foi eleita por ter apresentado um comprometimento maior, além de oferecer uma boa estrutura e localização”, disse Érico.