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.

Monday, March 26, 2012

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.

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