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, April 30, 2012

14 September 2012 / Team Muenchen Gay and Lesbian SportFestival 2012

Munich’s gay and lesbians sports club invites you to join our Gay and Lesbian Summer Sport Festival 2012. You should already start to save the weekend for September 14-16, 2012. Registrations and further information will follow shortly.

We offer tournaments in
badminton (2 days),
bowling,
soccer ( 7 by 7 and women only!) ,
handball,
sport climbing,
sport shooting,
table-tennis,
volleyball (women),
volleyball (men),
as well as workshops for
Aerobic and Yoga.

SAVE THE DATE Sept. 14th to 16th, 2012 - We are looking forward to see you in Munich.

Visit our website www.teammuenchen.de, or send any questions to info@teammuenchen.de

5 May 2012 / HRC Cleveland Cinco de Mayo Bowling for Equality



Join HRC for Cleveland's Bowling For Equality
Saturday, May 5

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
VIP Party! Signature cocktails, photo ops, and DJ Carly Mesnick spinning tunes
7:00 - 11:00 p.m.
General Admission
11:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
After Party! Prizes to be awarded at our official After Party at Wonder Bar!

The Corner Alley
Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio

Ticket Prices:
VIP Individuals - $75
VIP Lane of 6 - $390
General Individuals - $25
General Lane of 6 - $120
Party Only (non-bowlers) - $10


Keep those balls a rolling, pick up those strikes and spares
Keep those balls a rolling, wipe away all of your cares
Keep those balls a rolling, that's where your friends will be
Keep those balls a rolling, Come Support HRC!


Please join HRC for The Cinco DeMayo Bowling for Equality Event!


Wave 1: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (VIP or General Admission)
Wave 2: 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. (VIP or General Admission)
Wave 3: 10:00 - 11:00 p.m. (VIP or General Admission)

Info HERE.

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus "Coffee Concert" teaser


Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus will be presenting a Coffee Concert at the 2012 GALA Choruses festival in Denver.

All info HERE.

En français / Reportage dans la presse régionale sur le meeting GaySportMed

Lu dans La Provence :

Athlétisme : Ils courent pour la tolérance
Publié le jeudi 26 avril 2012 à 11H29

Seul club gay à Marseille, les Frontrunners organisent leur premier meeting samedi.

Giampiero est italien. Directeur de recherche en physique des particules au CNRS, il a passé quasiment la moitié de sa vie aux États-Unis. Deux décennies durant lesquelles ce fringant quadragénaire a sillonné la Californie, se posant longuement à San Francisco. SF, ou "The City by the Bay", fief d'Harvey Milk, homme politique américain défenseur de la cause homosexuelle, assassiné à l'automne 1978. SF, ou "Frisco", emblème de l'ouverture, où l'une des plus importantes communautés gays au monde est regroupée dans le district du Castro. SF, berceau du premier club Frontrunners, né en 1974.

Frontrunners... Qu'es aco ? "C'est un mouvement sportif international LGBT qui regroupe une centaine de clubs", répond le Transalpin, installé dans la cité phocéenne depuis quatre ans. LGBT... OK, mais ça veut dire quoi ? "Lesbiennes, gays, bisexuels, transgenres", décrypte Giampiero Mancinelli, responsable de la section athlétisme des Frontrunners Marseille, association multisports créée en décembre 2002.

Ces jours-ci, l'Italien est sur le qui-vive. Car son club, le seul de ce type dans la ville, propose son premier meeting, samedi, à Luminy : le GaySportMed, inscrit au calendrier officiel de la Ligue de Provence. Myriam Lamare, championne du monde de boxe et conseillère régionale Paca déléguée à la lutte contre les discriminations, en sera la marraine.

Un aboutissement pour les membres du team qui se retrouvent chaque mardi, à 20 h, devant l'entrée Prado du Parc Borély. "C'est un début, ce ne sera certainement pas parfait", prévient toutefois Pierre Huguet, 35 ans, professeur d'histoire en lycée professionnel et trésorier des Frontrunners. Qu'importe. L'organisation d'une telle manifestation est surtout symbolique.

"Un moyen de sortir de l'isolement"

Soixante inscriptions ont déjà été enregistrées. Deux coureurs viendront de Londres. La journée ne sera pas uniquement réservée aux homosexuels puisque la compétition est "mixte", donc également ouverte aux hétéros. "Ils sont les bienvenus, ce serait grotesque de ne pas les accepter, souligne le jeune enseignant.Au début, le mouvement était confidentiel, mais depuis 2010, il s'est structuré. Nous avons plusieurs objectifs : d'abord, faire du sport, évidemment. Mais c'est aussi un moyen de sortir de l'isolement social, d'intégrer un groupe.Je suis parti à Glasgow il y a deux ans pour une mission, je ne connaissais personne. Un club Frontrunners venait de se monter là-bas. Je l'ai contacté, ça m'a ainsi donné l'occasion de rencontrer des gens."

Le mouvement permet aussi à quelques-uns de ses licenciés de "sortir du placard", dixit Huguet. "Certains n'ont pas fait leur coming-out auprès de leurs proches, signale-t-il. Avec nous, ils se sentent eux-mêmes, ils sont libérés."

"Les réseaux sociaux nous aident"

70 membres, 500 sympathisants : le phénomène prend de l'ampleur à Marseille. "L'un de nos principaux objectifs est de combattre les discriminations", lance Stéphane Colonna, leur président."Nous ne sommes pas communautaristes, ni sectaristes, poursuivent les dirigeants de l'association. Il y a simplement un peu de militantisme." Le sport permet en effet aux membres du club de véhiculer une autre image du monde LGBT. Loin, très loin des clichés. Compréhension, estime, ouverture : voilà leurs maîtres-mots.

"Il n'y a pas que l'athlétisme", renchérit Colonna. Natation, volley, football, roller... De nombreuses activités sont proposées. "Grâce aux réseaux sociaux comme Facebook, nous arrivons de mieux en mieux à communiquer et nous faire connaître", rajoute Giampiero Mancinelli. Une nouvelle marche vers la reconnaissance pour les Frontrunners.

Le GaySportMed à Luminy

"Contre les discriminations, faisons du sport ensemble", voilà la devise du GaySportMed, première compétition des Frontrunners Marseille, organisée samedi à partir de 10h au stade de Luminy. Au programme : 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 1 500 m, saut en longueur, triple saut, lancer du poids, javelot, 5 000 m, 4 x 200 m "relais de l'intégration". La manifestation est ouverte à tous.

Renseignements : www.frontrunnersmarseille.fr, www.gaysportmed.com

Les rendez-vous hebdomadaires :


- Course à pied : le mardi près du parc Borély.

- Natation : le samedi à la piscine Saint-Charles.

- Athlétisme : le jeudi, le vendredi et le dimanche au stade Jean-Bouin.

- Volley-ball : le lundi, au Lycée Brochier, et le dimanche sur le campus de Luminy.

- Football : le samedi sur la plage du Prado.

- Roller: le mercredi et le dimanche à Borély.

Videos from last month's Cleveland marriage equality rally


A huge rally took place in Cleveland on 24 March 2012 for marriage equality. You can now view all of Vision Video's coverage of the event HERE.

Coming events: International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics


12th Annual Tsunami de Mayo Tournament
San Francisco, CA, USA
Date: May 4-5, 2012
Website: www.tsunamipolo.org
Registration Close Date: April 15, 2012
Information:
Join us for the 12th Annual Tsunami Water Polo tournament at Campolindo High School in Moraga, California on May 4-5th.Email ktcosgrove11@gmail.com or inherentvirtue@yahoo.com for more info.


TIP Paris International Tournament
Paris, France
Date: May 25 – 28, 2012
Website: http://www.paris-tournament.com/
Registration Close Date: April 20, 2012
Information:




Paris Aquatique organizes the swimming and synchronized swimming competitions for the famous “Paris International Tournament“ (Tournoi International de Paris –TIP- in French) that will be held Friday 25th May through Monday 28th May 2012.

The 2 competitions occur on Saturday and Sunday, the swim event is organized in a 25 meters pool, with electronic timing and separate warm up pool. You can run 5 events and take part to as many relays as you can for only 30€. Synchro registration is of similar price.

On Sunday evening, the famous TIP Party will close magnificently the events with a night of fun and music in one of best Paris’s nightclubs.


2012 IGLA Championships
Reykjavic, Iceland
Date: May 30 – June 2, 2012
Website: www.igla2012.org
Registration Close Date: TBA
Information:
We look forward to welcoming you to the 2012 IGLA championships in Reykjavík Iceland. We proudly invite you to the coolest capital in world for fantastic championships from 30th of May to 2nd of June.Experience unique nature and enjoy local hospitality as well as a top standard competition on the roof of the world. Prepare yourself for a new experience in our fantastic geothermal pools and some serious fun and activities lined up for the championship.


Holedrive IV
New York City, NY, USA
Date: August 17-19, 2012
Website: http://www.tnya.org/polo/
Registration Close Date: TBA
Information:
TNYA will be hosting their fourth annual water polo tournament in August rather than May this year due to IGLA happening in May. More details to follow…


LA Blades gay hockey club says "You Can Play"

The Los Angeles Blades gay ice hockey club have made this "You Can Play" video.


Visit the You Can Play website HERE.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Follow Jen on her blog as she trains to compete in Powerlifting at Gay Games 9

Jen is a young athlete who's training to compete in Powerlifting at Gay Games 9. You can follow her progress on her blog "pretty butch lifts".

Are you training for Gay Games 9? Let us know so we can share your story! And if you've got a blog we're happy to feature it on our blogroll.

Just write to us at blog@gaygames.org.

University of North Carolina discusses progress in the fight against homophobia in sport

From Inside Higher Ed,  a report on a panel held last weekend in Chapel Hill (h/t Lindsay England):

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- College athletics is gradually becoming more inclusive for gay students. But if athletes are ever able to participate openly without fear of discrimination, it will require coaches and administrators to foster a holistically welcoming environment, from initial meetings with recruits to the halftime pep talks in the locker room.

"If" is the operative word.

On Saturday, here at the annual meeting of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's College Sport Research Institute, a panel of gay athletes, administrators and researchers agreed that this progress is imminent. But they differed on how quickly it can happen.

Keep reading HERE.

29 May 2012 / IGLA Annual Meeting in Reykjavik

IGLA ANNUAL MEETING
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
4:30pm in PDT
Aquatics Center Meeting Room, Sundlaugavegi 30, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland

A personal appeal to register for Eurogames 2012

A message from Jan Froehlich, secretary general of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation: 

Dear friends,

After having spent another weekend in Budapest I feel the need to address you in order to share my impressions:

I met an extremely motivated, young, and gender-balanced organization team. I saw a charming city of artists, intellectuals, and felt a liberal atmosphere. I spent a full day walking around the city with a t-shirt stating that I belong to a "lesbian & gay" association. According to press reports, I should be dead by now, but in reality nobody cared.

Whatever happens, in two months our community will write history by celebrating EuroGames for the the first time in an Eastern European country. So far, around 2.000 athletes have registered. My biggest worry is, that some of us will miss the chance to be part of it. I call all of you who haven't register yet:  think again! Don't leave our young friends from Budapest alone! Be part of a historic moment! Register for EuroGames 2012! You won't regret it.

Jan

Nine Day / 9 great culinary delights in Cleveland+Akron

It's 29 April, so it's "Nine Day" on the Gay Games blog!

Cleveland and Akron and all of Northeast Ohio are looking forward to welcoming the world for Gay Games 9 in 2014.

Here are 9 very special places to enjoy some Cleveland culinary specialties when you come to the world's largest sport and culture festival open to all:

1) Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company, which is comprised of a brewery and brewpub, was the first microbrewery in the state of Ohio and today remains Ohio's most celebrated and award-winning brewer of lagers and ales. The brewery has a strong ties to the local community and showcases this commitment by naming each of its beers after local historical events, people and places. While there, visitors should head to the Brewpub where guests of all ages can enjoy a memorable dining experience from start to finish, including their famous brats and pierogi.

Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Avenue
Cleveland OH 44113
Phone: 216.771.4404

2) Corky and Lenny's
Corky & Lenny's has earned its stellar reputation in the deli business, having served the region for more than 55 years. The deli's famous, rib-sticking overstuffed sandwiches and classic "mish mash" matzah ball soup are Cleveland institutions and menu favorites of the restaurant's many regulars.

Corky & Lenny's
27091 Chagrin Blvd.
Woodmere OH 44122
Phone: 216.464.3838
A landmark destination in the deli business for 55 years. Offering full service dining, take-out and catering for all occasions.

3) The Leopard
Located inside the beautifully appointed Bertram Hotel, this elegant, upscale restaurant features the ultimate in fine dining with a focus on international dishes, seasonal influences and the freshest ingredients. The restaurant also offers a chef table so you can dine while watching the chef prepare your meal. In 2003 (and for every year after that), AAA honored The Leopard with its prestigious 4-Diamond Award, a distinction it shares today with only four other restaurants in northern Ohio.  

The Leopard
The Bertram Hotel & Conference Center
600 N. Aurora Road
Aurora OH 44202
Phone: 330.562.2111
The ultimate in fine dining, exceptional cuisine and an elegant atmosphere perfect for both social and business occasions. The menu features international dishes with seasonal influences and the MORE >> 

4) Melt Bar + Grilled
Grilled cheese is a favorite to all, old and young. But this isn't your typical piece of American cheese slapped between two slices of white bread. Melt features more than 20 different takes on the original all with their own unique twist. Try a "Parmageddon" stuffed with onions, kraut and a potato and cheese pierogi.

Melt Bar and Grilled
14718 Detroit Rd.
Lakewood OH 44107
Phone: 216.226.3699
  
13463 Cedar Road
Cleveland Heights OH 44118
Phone: 216.965.0988

5) Tommy's Restaurant
Head to Tommy's for a burger and milkshake. While the menu has stayed the same since it opened in 1972 (with items named after longtime customers), Tommy's is now in a much bigger venue and is always filled with customers - vegetarians, vegans, meat-eaters, health-conscious and the just plain hungry. Visitors can't miss one of Tommy's award-winning milkshakes.

Tommy's
1824 Coventry Road
Cleveland Heights OH 44118
Phone: 216.321.7757
Always filled with customers, vegetarians, vegans, meat-eaters, health-conscious and the just plain hungry. Whatever category you fall into, we will take care of you.

6) b. a. Sweetie Candies
From wax lips to PEZ dispensers to gourmet jellybeans, this amazing candy store has every delight for every sweet tooth. You have to see it to believe it.

Sweetie Candy Company
7480 Brookpark Rd.
Cleveland OH 44129
Phone: 216.739.2244
Largest variety of candy anywhere. From old time favorites to the new kid's crazes. 21,000 square feet stacked to the ceiling. A MUST SEE ! !

7) Lola Bistro


Lola Bistro

2051 East 4th Street
Cleveland OH 44113
Phone: 216.621.5652
Nationally recognized chef Michael Symon's reincarnation of Lola Bistro. An American bistro with midwestern twists and turns using only locally grown and raised organic meats and produce.


8) Prosperity Social Club

Prosperity Social Club

1109 Starkweather Ave.
Cleveland OH 44113
Phone: 216.937.1938
1938 Tavern - a true Cleveland experience. Eclectic clientele with an unpretentious vibe. Upscale bar food, late-night dining, live music, patio, jukebox, bowling machine, comfortable atmosphere.



9) B Sport, Crocker Park

B Spot Crocker Park

20 Main Street
Westlake OH 44145
Phone: 440.471.8270
Iron Chef Michael Symon's rock and roll burger joint is all things "B." Burgers, brats, beer, bologna and bourbon, and the famous "Polish Boy". Taking roots from the region's rich African American culture, the Polish Boy is a truly unique sandwich. It all starts with a grilled Polish kielbasa in a thick, white sausage roll. Next comes a layer of tender, pulled pork followed by a coating of barbeque sauce. The sandwich is then topped with French fries and crowned with a mound of crunchy coleslaw. It goes without saying, but this colossal concoction is best enjoyed with a fork.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Profile of out coach Kirk Walker in Compete Magazine

Compete Magazine profiles member of the Equality Coaching Alliance Kirk Walker:

Coach of the Women's Softball Program at Oregon State University for the last 18 years, according to the school, "Walker reigns as Oregon State's all-time winningest softball coach...."

He's not only an NCAA Coach at a PAC-12 school, he has also been a coach with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), the 2004 Olympic USA

National Softball Team, the USA Elite Team for three summers, he's presented at a number of clinics and camps, been involved in publishing and video projects, and even been a co-owner of a softball school.

And what makes the story of this NCAA Division I coach all the more remarkable is that he is openly gay. To read the full story of how he came out, how he continues to serve as part of a larger support system, and how his parenting style has been influenced by his coaching experience, visit our website.

Find the profile in Compete Magazine HERE.

25 May 2012 / Auf Deutsch / VI. internationalen schwul-lesbischen Badmintonturnier von Vorspiel Badminton / Berlin International Badminton Tournament

INFO HERE. (English below)

Willkommen zum VI. internationalen schwul-lesbischen Badmintonturnier von Vorspiel Badminton vom 25.–29. Mai 2012 in Berlin! Hier der vorläufige Turnierablauf; weitere Details werden noch folgen. Wie bei den vergangenen Malen wird es wieder drei Spieltage geben. Bei Anmeldung für zwei Disziplinen habt Ihr einen freien Berlin-Tag für Sightseeing und andere Aktivitäten, der Abschiedsbrunch findet am Dienstag statt.

Programm

Freitag, 25.05.12, 18-24 Uhr:
- Registrierung
Adresse: Axel Hotel, Lietzenburger Straße, 13/15, 10789 Berlin

Samstag, 26.05.12, 9-18 Uhr:
- Turnier-Tag 1
Adresse: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
Alle Mixed Doppel
Herren Einzel A und B+

Pfingstsonntag, 27.05.12, 9-20 Uhr:
- Turnier-Tag 2
Adresse: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
Alle Damen Doppel
Herren Einzel B-, C+ und C-
- Frauenabend

Pfingstmontag, 28.05.2012, 9-20 Uhr:
- Turnier-Tag 3
Adresse: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
Damen Einzel B-, C+ und C-
Alle Herren Doppel
- Abschlussparty ab 22 Uhr

Dienstag, 29.05.12, 10:30-15 Uhr:
- Abschiedsbrunch

Der detaillierte Turnierplan wird im Programmheft bekannt gegeben.

Details

Disziplinen: Einzel / Doppel / Mixed
Jede Teilnehmerin und jeder Teilnehmer kann an zwei Disziplinen teilnehmen.

Spielklassen: A / B+ / B- / C+ / C-
Die Spielklassen können je nach Zahl der jeweiligen Anmeldungen in den Disziplinen zusammengelegt werden.

Teilnahmegebühren: Im Preis enthalten sind natürlich der Brunch, die Party, Lunchpaket an den Wettkampftagen, Feder- bzw. Plastikbälle, Turnier-T-shirt und einiges mehr!

Bei Bezahlung ab 01.03.12:
Spielerinnen/Spieler: 65 €
Begleitung: 50 €

Welcome to the VI. International Gay & Lesbian Badminton Tournament by Vorspiel Badminton, May 25–29, 2012 in Berlin! Below is the preliminary programme, more details will follow. Please note that competitions will be held on 3 days. If you register for the maximum of 2 events, you will have one free day to discover Berlin. The farewell brunch is on Tuesday.

Programme

Friday, May 25 18:00h-24:00h:
- Registration
Address: Axel Hotel, Lietzenburger Straße, 13/15, 10789 Berlin

Saturday, May 26 9:00h-18:00h:
- Tournament day 1
Address: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
All mixed doubles
Men singles A and B+
- Grand Prix viewing 19:00h open end

Sunday, May 27 9:00h-20:00h:
- Tournament day 2
Address: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
All women doubles
Men singles B-, C+ and C-
- Women's Night

Monday, May 28 9:00h-20:00h:
- Tournament day 3
Address: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Am Falkplatz,10437 Berlin
Women singles B-, C+ and C-
All men doubles
- Player's Party 22:00h open end

Tuesday, May 29 10:30h-15:00h:
Farewell Brunch

Subject to change. The detailed competitions schedule will be published in the tournament brochure, available at registration.

Details

Events: Singles / Doubles / Mixed
Each participant may register for one or a combination of two competitions.

Competiton Levels: A / B+ / B- / C+ / C-
Some levels might be pooled, depending on the number of registrations for each event.

Registration Fees: Price includes party & brunch tickets, packed lunch on competition days, shuttlecocks, tournament T-shirt and more!

Payment after February 29, 2012:
Players: 65 € · Company: 50 €

View Ohio State University panel on homophobia in sports

A post from Pete Olsen's Wide Rights blog on the recent event at Ohio State University (see our previous blog post HERE):

On Monday, April 16, I was proud to be involved in a panel discussion at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law on the subject of “Homophobia in sports and developments in policies at the institutional level.”
The two panelists were phenomenal: Professor Erin Buzuvis, from the Western New England University School of Law (and co-founder of the Title IX Blog), and Brian Kitts, a co-founder of You Can Play.
The event was well attended by law students, faculty, and alumni.

For those that were unable to attend, the event was recorded and the video is now available online.  I parsed the video into segments based on the topic of discussion for your convenience.

You can view the entire event (just over an hour) with one simple click by viewing this YouTube playlist or you can watch individual segments based on the subject you’re interested in by viewing the embedded videos below.

01 – Introductory Remarks (8:47)
02 – Gender Norms, Masculinity, and Homophobia (9:26)
03 – Homophobia in the Pros (5:14)
04 – ‘Negative Recruiting’: is it still a problem? (8:05)
05 – NFL/MLB/NBA protection for sexual orientation (3:48)
06 – Title IX: Does it protect LGBT athletes? (3:07)
07 – Importance of straight allies in sports (6:00)
08 – NCAA’s new policy for transgender athletes (5:29)
09 – The Media: leading the way or lagging behind? (5:51)
10 – How can coaches become better allies? (2:20)
11 – Support network for pro athletes to come out? (2:03)

Male cheerleaders told to be less gay

From Slate.com:

On the afternoon of March 28, Kyle Gadke was busy with a private cheerleading lesson. When his student took a water break, the 26-year-old, Illinois-based coach looked at his phone and saw an email from the U.S. All Star Federation. The message was about a series of changes to the rules of competitive cheerleading that would take effect next season. Gadke scanned the note quickly, then kept working until late in the evening. By the time he got home, he’d received a torrent of voicemails, texts, and Facebook messages. The new USASF rules included an “image etiquette” guideline that Gadke, who is gay, hadn’t noticed on his first read-through. Under the header “minimize the negative,” the document said, “Males—minimize exaggerated or theatrical movements.”

This weekend, as teams from around the world convene at Orlando’s Walt Disney World for the world championships of competitive cheerleading, controversy will compete with choreography for the cheer world’s attention. Reaction to nearly every aspect of the March rule changes has been negative. Some think that restrictions on acrobatics—“Consecutive bounding, twisting skills are not allowed”—will limit competition. Others feel that restrictions on hair-bow size—“Bows should not be excessive in size (acceptable bows are generally no more than 3” in width) and shouldn’t be a distraction to the performance. Bows should be worn in a manner to minimize risk for the participants”—are needlessly draconian. A change.org petition has been circulating that asks for the rules to be revoked. It has close to 7,000 signatures. [Sign the petition HERE.]


That petition may not be necessary. On April 5, many of the rules were revised—standing double fulls are still banned in tumbling passes, but standing fulls are OK—and the original documents from March were removed from the USASF site. In addition to rewriting some of its guidelines, the USASF rules committee also issued a letter explaining that the image policy had been meant to address “the unflattering media stories that have focused on how our sport is presenting its athletes, particularly those in the younger age groups.” Still, there was no direct explanation for the guideline about male theatricality.

A bunch of cheerleaders who are upset about an image policy—a document devoted to such topics as skirt length and appropriate makeup usage—aren’t likely to be taken seriously outside the sport’s community. But one upset cheerleader is trying to change that. Kyle Gadke has taken the matter to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

At first, Gadke didn’t know how widespread the outrage was. “I thought it was discriminatory, but I thought maybe it was one of those things where I was just too close to the issue,” he says. On March 29 he went on Fierce Board, an online cheer forum where participants “shimmy” instead of liking a post. “I feel like this is a sugar-coated way to say ‘We don’t want the guys to look gay!’ ” Gadke wrote. “Am I being defensive and reading too much into this?”

The response on Fierce Board was pretty much unanimous: No, he wasn’t reading too much into it. One young, gay poster, who reminded readers of recent cases of young cheerleaders committing suicide, explained that the cheerleading mat was the only place he could be his real self. “No societal images to uphold, no fear of embarrassment because you shimmied really damn hard after landing your pass for the first time in competition, nothing, and yet the USASF dares to try and take that away?” he wrote.

It’s a sentiment Gadke can understand. The cheerleading coach grew up in a rural Iowa town where he didn’t feel comfortable coming out of the closet. “During the day, there’d be name-calling, the typical high-school drama that goes along with picking on a male cheerleader,” he says. “But there was a safe haven in all-star cheer. Cheer provides that environment where it’s OK to have different types of personalities.” Gadke knows coaches who’ve housed teenagers whose parents would not accept them, and teenagers who are out at their gyms but not to their families. For many young men who’ve found comfort in competitive cheer, the admonition that they “minimize exaggerated or theatrical movements” felt like an unprovoked attack from a world where they’d always found support.

Keep reading HERE.

Video from Liverpool FC "Football v Homophobia" event

Liverpool Football Club opened its facilities to host a 5-a-side tournament with local teams, bringing together straight and LGBT players.

View the video HERE.

31 May 2012 /.Interested in being part of a gay rugby team in Berlin?

An interesting Facebook event:

May 31
A Gay Rugby Team in Berlin?

Friends,

We are exploring the possibility of starting a gay rugby team in Berlin.

Please invite EVERYONE and ANYONE you know in Berlin who might be interested so that we can start to gauge interest levels.

And please say you are "GOING" if you would indeed be interested in training / playing.

Guys, this is NOT the final page or group, this is an exploratory event to find out if there is enough interest. A group or fanpage or both will follow at a later date. :)

Thanks!

Dave & Luke

Friday, April 27, 2012

En français / 9 June 2012 / Week-end de lutte chez Paris Lutte / Wrestling weekend in Paris

(A message from Paris Lutte, a member of FGG member organizations FSGL and WWB. English version below)

Chers lutteurs de France, d'Europe et du monde,

Nous avons le plaisir de vous faire part de notre événement de cette saison sportive, le WEEK-END LUTTE de PARIS LUTTE, les 9 et 10 juin 2012.

Ce stage ouvert à tous se déroulera sur notre lieu d'entraînement habituel à Bagnolet, une grande salle de combat de trois tapis, à dix minutes de marche d'une station du métro parisien. Il consistera en deux séances d'après-midi de trois heures chacune (donc plutôt longues), commençant à 13h45 le samedi 9 juin. Notez bien que cette manifestation n'est pas un tournoi arbitré : le programme comprendra de la gym, des techniques de lutte libre olympique et des jeux compétitifs. Vous pourrez venir en tenue de lutte régulière ou seulement en T-shirt, short et chaussettes (tout cela propre bien sûr !) Notre entraîneur gay-friendly est issu d'une équipe championne nationale.

Il n'y a pas de frais d'inscription. Vous remplirez simplement le formulaire habituel de décharge en arrivant. Le samedi soir un dîner est prévu (soit un pique-nique si le temps le permet, soit un restaurant) et votre participation sera votre quote-part des dépenses effectives (20-25 euros maxi).

Nous apprécions grandement une inscription à l'avance (même de la part des membres réguliers du club) pour aider à l'organisation. Répondez à ce mail en précisant SVP :
- Vos nom, âge et lieu de résidence
- Quel(s) jour(s) vous comptez assister au stage (samedi et/ou dimanche)
- Votre niveau d'aisance approximatif en lutte libre olympique et dans d'autres styles de lutte le cas échéant (débutant complet, débutant, confirmé, de longue date, expert)
- Les langues que vous parlez couramment (nous pourrons vous demander d'aider des non-francophones à suivre les instructions de l'entraîneur)
- Si vous souhaitez être hébergé par un membre du club (en application du principe "premier arrivé, premier servi"), en précisant de quelles nuits vous avez besoin (vendredi, samedi, dimanche ?)
- Si vous comptez participer au dîner de groupe le samedi
- Si un brunch de groupe le dimanche matin vous intéresse (déclaration d'intention qui ne vous engage pas, les détails suivront).

N.B. : pour un trajet facile entre votre hôtel et le lieu de stage, choisissez un hôtel près d'une station de la ligne 11 du métro. Pour toute autre information d'hôtellerie et de voyage, veuillez consulter les divers guides de Paris disponibles en ligne.

A réception de votre message d'inscription, vous recevrez une confirmation et :
- des instructions et plans pour trouver le lieu d'entraînement,
- de l'information sur les nouveaux T-shirts Paris Lutte que vous pouvez commander (en vous y prenant suffisamment à l'avance) pour retrait sur place.

Bien cordialement, et dans l'attente de nous retrouver sur le tapis,
Pour le CA de Paris Lutte,
Daniel, Secrétaire
http://www.paris-lutte.org/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=194748938437
Mobile club : +33 (0)6 62 36 14 14


Dear wrestlers of France, Europe and the world,

We are pleased to announce our event of this sports season, the WRESTLING WEEKEND of PARIS LUTTE on June 9-10, 2012.

This camp, open to all, will take place at our regular training grounds in Bagnolet, a large combat hall with three mats, within walking distance of a parisian metro station. It will consist in two afternoon sessions of three hours each (i.e. fairly long), beginning on Saturday June 9 at 13:45. Please note that the event isn't a refereed tournament: the program will include gym, olympic freestyle techniques and competitive games. You may come with regular wrestling gear or just a T-shirt, shorts and socks (all clean, of course!) Our gay-friendly coach comes from a national champion team.

There is no registration fee. You will simply fill in the usual waiver form upon arrival. On Saturday night a dinner is planned (either a picnic, weather permitting, or a restaurant) and your contribution will be your share of the actual expenses (max. 20-25 euros).

We highly appreciate advance registration to help us with the organization. Please reply to this mail, stating:
- Your name, age and place of residence
- On what day(s) you will attend the camp (Saturday and/or Sunday)
- Your approximate skill level in olympic freestyle wrestling and other styles if applicable (absolute beginner, beginner, confirmed, long-time, expert)
- The languages which you speak fluently (some mutual help may be needed to follow the coaching instructions in French)
- Whether you wish to be hosted by one of our regular members (on a "first come, first served" basis), specifying what nights you need (Friday, Saturday, Sunday ?)
- Whether you will attend the group dinner on Saturday
- Whether you're interested in a group brunch on Sunday (non-binding declaration of intent, details will follow).

Note: for easy transportation between your hotel and the camp site, select a hotel near a station of the metro line 11. For any other hotel and travel information, please refer to the various Paris guides available online.

Upon reception of your registration message, you will get a confirmation and:
- Instructions and maps for finding the camp site,
- Information on the new Paris Lutte T-shirts which you may order (with sufficient lead time) and collect upon arrival.

With our best regards, and looking forward to meeting up on the mat,
For the Admin Council of Paris Lutte,
Daniel, Secretary
http://www.paris-lutte.org/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=194748938437
Club cell phone: +33 (0)6 62 36 14 14

14 September 2012 / 2012 PanterEsports multisport tournament

More info on the Panteres Grogues PanterEsports multisport tournament (Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, 10K Run, Squash, Yoga, Tai-Chi) HERE.

Auf Deutsch / 16 June 2012 / Last days to register for Vorspiel squash tournament in Berlin!

Nur noch drei Tage bis zum Anmeldeschluss:
Wer noch beim Vorspiel-Squashturnier am 16.06.2012 teilnehmen möchte, der sollte sich sputen. Am 30.4. endet die Registrierung.
Weitere Infos unter www.squash2012.vorspiel-berlin.de.

Only 3 days left until deadline of registration:
If you wanna participate at the Vorspiel-Squash-Tournament on June 16th you have to hurry. Registration ends on April 30th. More information atwww.squash2012.vorspiel-berlin.de

20 May 2012 / KZN LGBT Recreation participating in Durban walk/run race

FGG member KZN LGBT Recreation will once again participate in the Big Walk on 20 May.
The event includes 5km, 10km, 15km & 20km

Entry closes on 30 April!!


28 April 2012 / Good to go for tomorrow's Bear Soccer Tournament in Milan

The trophies are ready for tomorrow's ICONS Italia Bear Soccer Tournament in Milan!

Info HERE

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Moscow ‘Weekend Against Homophobia’ for LGBT football

A message from Football Against Racism in Europe:

Teams from Russia, Ukraine and Poland participated in an LGBT tournament in Moscow at the weekend (7/8 April) in a rare display of open LGBT activity in a country where gay people often face threats and exclusion.

9 teams in Moscow
The tournament, organised by Krylia football club, the Planet Romeo Foundation and the Russian LGBT Sports Federation, saw nine teams from St. Petersburg, Kiev and Warsaw joining their Moscow hosts at the Dinamo Moscow indoor stadium.

The winner of the tournament was a mixed team from Krylia Moscow who defeated team Infinity in the final. Warsaw side Chrząszczyki, affiliated to the FARE Eastern European lead partner the Never Again Association, made the journey to Moscow but finished in 7th place.

Warsaw 2013
After the tournament all players and organisers came together for a social event. As with Ukraine for the first edition of the tournament, the event was an occasion to meet LGBT football teams from Russia and from Ukraine and to share experiences of initiatives to counter homophobia in Russia, Ukraine and in Poland.

The next event in 2013 will be hosted by Chrząszczyki in Warsaw.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

More on Brandon McCarthy's slam on "kiss cam" homophobia

From the San Francisco Chronicle, more on Brandon McCarthy's response to the "kiss cam" at Major League Baseball games. The "kiss cam" is a camera shot of a (heterosexual) couple among the spectators that is shown on the stadium's big video screens, with messages urging the couple to kiss on camera. For "comedy", the "kiss cam" may also be used with two presumably straight men. It is never used for same-sex couples, even at team's LGBT games. McCarthy of the Oakland Athletics team tweeted his disgust with the practice while viewing a recent game.

For a lot of athletes, Twitter has been a forum for hazardous indiscretion. Last week, the A's Brandon McCarthy made the best of the social network's 140-character allotment. After a game in Anaheim, the pitcher tweeted: "They put two guys on the 'Kiss Cam' tonight. What hilarity!! (by hilarity I mean offensive homophobia). Enough with this stupid trend."

[...]

The wisdom of this 28-year-old's tweet shouldn't elude MLB and other leagues that indulge in "Kiss Cam" cheesiness. A couple of years ago, a group of gay fans in St. Louis publicly expressed their discomfort about an NFL game in which the camera homed in on two apparently straight men, and the two made disgusted faces over the suggestion that they kiss.

McCarthy pointed out the joke is usually telegraphed by placing the two guys at the end of the routine. There is no way it's an attempt to include gay and lesbian couples in the frivolity of "Kiss Cam."  "There's that stupid, little comedic value of it if you don't really think about what it implies," he said Tuesday. "It kind of got old on that level. Then I actually started thinking about why we were supposed to be laughing, and it bugged me."

McCarthy considers it incongruous for MLB teams to sponsor "It Gets Better" antihate campaigns and not banish this brand of humor. "The whole thing bugs me on a non-homophobic level, because it's awkward," he said. "... I just hate it."

[...]

Read in full HERE.

Early registration for Eurogames ends 30 April!

You can register for EuroGames 2012 Budapest and pay the lower price until Monday! As you know, the sooner you pay your fee the cheaper it is, so don't forget: from 1st May the resigtration fee is going to rise with 20 Euros!! If you have already paid, then convince all your friends to register and pay too!

Fees until 30th April:
EGLSF members: 85 Euros
Non-EGLSF members: 100 Euros
Visitors: 39 Euros
You can check the benefits of each registration on the link below:
eurogamesbudapest.hu/prices

Please also find the attached schedule of all the events (sports, parties, conferences, exhibitions, etc) to see that we are offering you an exceptionally colorful couple of days!

Make sure your place is booked at the awesome EuroGames Budapest, and tell your friends, too, not to miss this great opportunity!

There are two ways of paying the fees: by transfer or via PayPal
If you wish to use PayPal, you just simply need to click on the yellow "Donate" button on our website and then on the following page you need to write "Registration fee" in the Purpose field. The registration's handling fee is 1.5 EUR here, please include that in your payment.
Transfer details:
IBAN number: HU63 54900055-46500014-00000000
SWIFT / BIC code: SIKLHUHH (Please double check!)
Recipient: FRIGO Egyesület (It is important to mention!)
Financial institution's name: TAKARÉK Szövetkezeti Hitelintézet
Financial institution's address: 1134 Budapest, Váci út 45.

The registration's handling fee is 1.5 EUR, please include that in your transaction.

Download the program of sports, culture, conferences and other events HERE.

19 May 2012 / Team DC casino night

Spring Casino Night - Saturday, May 19
Poker, Blackjack and Craps are back! Join members of local LGBT sports teams on Saturday, May 19 from 8 PM - Midnight at Buffalo Billiards (1330 19th Street, NW) and win some nice Raffle Prizes and have some fun. Proceeds are split between the clubs dealing that night and get $100 chips for $10 or $250 in chips for only $20. (Next Casino Night won't be until November 10!)

Coming same-sex dance competitions

Visit ESSDA's events page for upcoming competitions in Europe and North America. See it HERE.







Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Report on Team DC's SportsFest

A message from Team DC:


SportsFest a hit!

Over 400 people joined us on April 12 for the Third Annual SportsFest. Our thanks to all who attended as well as the 33 participating clubs and organizations. There was something there for everyone....I mean how often do you see a triathlete cycling a stationery bike in a furniture showroom?

Special thanks to Room and Board (1840 14th Street, NW) for once again hosting everyone. If you have never been to their 4 story showroom, then go and browse and tell em Team DC sent you!

And thanks to Nellie's Sports Bar and Miller Lite Beer for hosting the bar that night. Nothing says fun like athletes enjoying a Vodka Bar surrounded by beautiful furniture. A good time was had by all.

View photos from the Washington Blade HERE.

Patrick Burke interview on You Can Play and more

An interview in The Hockey News with Patrick Burke on You Can Play and the coming out NHL player:

For less than a year, Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke, son of Leafs GM Brian Burke and brother of the late Brendan Burke, has been working with professional hockey players on the You Can Play Project, founded in Brendan’s memory and tasked to ensure equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation. Yet he’s already convinced the hockey world will have its first openly gay professional player in the very near future.

“Within the next two years, I predict we’ll have an openly gay National Hockey League player,” Patrick Burke said. “That is my personal belief and numerous people, including people within the charity, disagree with me completely. It’s my opinion only, but I think I’m right.

Keep reading HERE.

Congratulations to Brian Sims, future Pennsylvania state representative

Our warmest congratulations to Gay Games Ambassador Brian Sims, who won the Democratic primary for a seat from Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The official election isn't until November, but Brian is running unopposed.

Brian will be the first gay member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but his campaign went far beyond equality issues. We wish him good luck in his service to the people of Pennsylvania.

6 September 2012 / 2012 PanterEsports tennis tournament

More info on the Panteres Grogues PanterEsports tennis tournament HERE.

En español / The "kiss" that horrified Mexico


From El Diario, a report on the "scandal" provoked by a fake kiss on a Mexican football pitch. The Mexican federation's disciplinary commission has decided to take no action to punish these reprehensible criminals, but urges Club America to prevent such inappropriate behavior in the future, and is considering rules changes to prevent
can not be allowed to give that image to the public , to the fans, children, we can not take as a good example.

Este contenido ha sido publicado originalmente por Diario EL COMERCIO en la siguiente dirección: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=fr&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.elcomercio.com/deportes/futbol/Christian_Benitez-America-Mexico_0_688131231.html&usg=ALkJrhiwo6NCS0-WmOfWcMmOrgP9fDwhkg. Si está pensando en hacer uso del mismo, por favor, cite la fuente y haga un enlace hacia la nota original de donde usted ha tomado este contenido. ElComercio.com
At the end of the article, note the reaction Trigay, a member of FGG member organization IGLFA, condemning the response of the federation..

Tomado de Diario El Universal, de México, GDA 12:57 Martes 24/04/2012 Un organismo abrió una investigación a partir del caso de los futbolistas del América, Christian Benítez y Matías Vuoso, que celebraron un gol con un beso simulado El Consejo Nacional para prevenir la Discriminación (Conapred) abrió una investigación a partir del caso de los futbolistas del América, Christian Benítez y Matías Vuoso, luego de recibir dos quejas, de las cuales se guardará el anonimato, a reserva de que estas partes decidan darlo a conocer públicamente. Lo anterior a partir de las declaraciones del presidente de la Comisión Disciplinaria de la Federación Mexicana de Futbol, Alfonso Sabater, quien recomendó al club de Coapa evitar dichas celebraciones, como la que hicieron los referidos futbolistas, en la que fingían darse un beso en la boca. La investigación del Conapred ya ha tomado su curso y próximamente se sabrá a dónde llega el asunto. No es la primera ocasión en la que el Conapred investiga en el futbol mexicano: en Pumas, jugadores como Marco Palacios y Darío Verón estuvieron en la mira por insultos racistas contra Felipe Baloy, de Santos. Asimismo, Rogelio Chávez, también acudió a declarar por supuestamente llamar 'simio de m...' a Darwin Quintero.


Además, la Comisión Disciplinaria de la Federación Mexicana de Futbol enviará una recomendación al América para que eviten festejos "polémicos" como sucedió el fin de semana pasado, cuando los delanteros Christian Benítez y Matías Vuoso estuvieron cerca de darse un beso en la boca, y solo se interpuso la mano del atacante ecuatoriano. Alfonso Sabater, presidente de dicho organismo, no descartó la posibilidad de que se pueda reglamentar para el próximo año futbolístico y, con documentos en la mano, se pueda sancionar de presentarse en el futuro: "No se puede permitir que den esa imagen al público, a la afición, a los niños, no lo podemos tomar como un buen ejemplo". Añade: "Antes había festejos que se subían a la alambrada, ahora ya no se dejan, se quitaban la camiseta y ahora no. Acuérdense que ya tuvimos alguna cosa en el pasado con Cuauhtémoc Blanco y la forma en que alguna vez festejó, aquella seña". Sobre la posibilidad de sancionar al Toro Vuoso por exagerar durante la jugada de penalti ante Puebla, Sabater señaló que sí hubo un contacto y no hay elementos para impedirle jugar el fin de semana: "Nosotros vemos que hay un choque del portero con él, no finge y la decisión del árbitro fue correcta al marcar un penalti". Molesto por las declaraciones de Sabater, el técnico del América, Miguel Herrera, responde: "La verdad es que ni he visto el festejo, te soy sincero. No sé ni qué hicieron, pero me parece que el señor Sabater tiene otras cosas más importantes que hacer, que estar dando recomendaciones, porque si vamos a estar en eso, entonces yo creo que el club América le va a hacer varias a él".

Luego, El Piojo Herrera precisa: "Creo que si el festejo es algo malo tendrá razón, pero no creo que la recomendación venga del señor Sabater. Obviamente va a ir directamente de la directiva y de mi persona. Primero voy a ver qué hicieron. Si no es bueno y no se ve bien, vendrá de la directiva, del Club América y del cuerpo técnico, buscando ser mesurados y que los festejos vayan en causa de celebrar una anotación sin malinterpretarse de otra cosa". Fomento a la intolerancia Una vez conocida la "recomendación" por parte de la Disciplinaria al América por el festejo del beso entre Matías Vuoso y Christian Benítez, el Tri Gay lo condena por ser una muestra de discriminación. "Esa recomendación es un mal ejemplo para la niñez y la sociedad, que pongan en entredicho y fomenta la discriminación, el estigma y la homofobia que se vive en el país. A lo único que ayuda es a promover la intolerancia", afirma el capitán de dicho conjunto, Andoni Bello.


El futbolista representante de la diversidad sexual dice que él y su equipo ya están analizando realizar un reclamo a la Comisión Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminación (Conapred). "Sí, ahorita ya estamos viendo cómo vamos a reaccionar ante estas actitudes, porque nos sentimos con un compromiso social y prepararemos con nuestro equipo y la gente que nos apoya cómo vamos a reaccionar ante esta situación", avisa. Además, reprueba que sean los representantes de la justicia del futbol mexicano "quienes promuevan este tipo de actitudes homofóbicas".

23 June 2012 / Stonewall Sails Regatta in New York

GLORY announces an event from Knickerbocker Sailing Association:

Stonewall Sails Regatta, New York — Saturday, June 23 at 1:30am at Hudson River Community Sailing Boathouse, West Street @ 26th Street (Next to Frying Pan Lighthouse)...


ksa-nyc.org