Soccer added to Sin City Shootout

We just added Soccer for the 2013 Sin City Shootout Sports Festival!

This brings the total to 8 different LGBT sports taking place.

The West Hollywood Soccer Club will be the sports coordinator for soccer.

Check back September 1st to register and get all the information on your sport.

www.sincityshootout.com/

Outsports' red carpet interviews: Rob Gronkowski and Cedrick Ceballos

Outsports' Cyd Zeigler Jr went to the ESPY's, the awards of cable sports network ESPN, where he did some great interviews. Here are snippets of two of them:

American football player Rob Gronkowski
I was taken aback a bit when Gronkowski stepped away from me upon hearing I was “with Outsports, we call it ESPN for homos.” The man who had quickly become one of my favorite athletes on my favorite team was about to be the first pro athlete to refuse an interview with me about gay issues in the NFL.

[...]

“How would you feel if one of your teammates on the Patriots came out of the closet this season?”

This time he didn’t pause.

“If that’s how they are, that’s how they are,” Gronkowski said. “I mean, we’re teammates so, as long as he’s being a good teammate and being respectful and everything, that’s cool.”

And with that, Gronkowski added his name to the growing list of professional athletes who would welcome a gay teammate. Because of the way we treat celebrities in our culture, it nearly didn’t happen. As a fan of the player and his team, I was proud he got past his fears of the potential backlash and gave me a minute of his time.


And...

Former professional basketball player Cedric Ceballos
Former NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos told Outsports he played with a gay teammate in college and looks forward to a day when homophobia is in our distant past. We caught up with Ceballos at the ESPY Awards on July 11, where the former Cal State Fullerton star told us about his gay former teammate and roommate.

There's lot more of each interview, so make sure you read them in full!

19 August 2012 / Night OUT at the Mystics women's basketball match

News from Team DC:



Night OUT at the Mystics
Sunday, August 19 at 4 PM vs the Chicago Sky

Women's basketball at the Verizon Center where it will be nice and cool!  Also a great opportunity to bring your kids and let them experience pro basketball up close.  We are working to arrange a great pre and post-game events near the Verizon Center, so stay tuned for that.  You can get your tickets starting tomorrow (Friday) at the link on the Team DC website at www.teamdc.org.  The promo code is nightout.  Groups of 20 or more should contact Brent Minor at brent@teamdc.org.

Auf Deutsch / Video report from 2009 Duessel Cup basketball tournament

Yannick from Entre2Basket, Paris is the featured interview from gay news site DBNA back in 2009.

Pride Games add sailing, basketball, cycling, and multi-terrain 5K run

Pride Sports Manchester keep adding events to the 2012 Pride Games

Ride With Pride: 14 July 2012

Last year’s inaugural Pride Ride in the stunning Peak District saw some amazing riding: everyone had a brilliant time! So don’t miss out on the 2012 ride along the beautiful lanes of the Cheshire Plains, with the odd hill still. Not as much like Switzerland as last year, maybe, but you’ll nevertheless get the chance to tackle Alderley Edge’s Swiss Hill on this classic ride.
Register now for the 60 mile or the 60 km route, both are fantastic. On the day we’ll give you a detailed route map, we’ll check your bike out and carry out any minor repair or fine-tuning needed ready for the 10am start. Once again we’ll have back-up on the ride in the form of Al and Patrick from BikeRight!
And if you’ve any queries before the ride just contact Al or Patrick on 061 230 7007 or email mountainbiking@bikeright.co.uk.

Register HERE.

Basketball taster: 17 July 2012

The Slam Dunkin' Divas, Manchester's one and only women's LGBT Basketball Club, are inviting their
male friends for a mixed taster session! Last year's taster was a big success, and we are hoping the
basketball fanatic guys out there will join us for a fun night of basketball. So whether you're an absolute
beginner, a Michael Jordan, or you're returning to the sport after many years, this is the session for you.
Our qualified coaches will be leading the two hour session, feel free to email at slamdunkindivas@googlemail.com us with any questions you may have.

Register HERE.

Multi-terrain 5K Run: 21 July 2012

As part of Manchester Pride Games, Manchester Frontrunners are organising a 5km multi terrain run in Chorlton Water Park. This one lap course starts at the scenic Chorlton water park, and will take you along the Mersey River and down country lanes, with a few hills and stiles thrown in along the way to keep it interesting.

Manchester Frontrunners is proud to be a friendly club, and this race is open to all. No matter what your running ability our team will be there to cheer you along all the way round. There shall be prizes for the top three men and women finishers.

Register HERE.

Sailing: 21 July 2012

Are you a sailor? Fancy trying it? LGBT and want to meet people?
As part of the Pride Games, we are offering: a sailing taster session and an improvers session. Both sessions will be run simultaneously so choose which one you'd like to attend and register above.

So whether you're a complete Beginner, Improver, Ellen MacArthur or fancy coming as a social member...come and join us! We are the The Sailing and Cruising Association...! (Gay Sailing)
Come for the day - meet us to find out more, have a sail (if you fancy) and a pint..!

Register HERE. Find out more on our Facebook page - HERE

Out WNBA player to play on US Olympic team

From the Advocate (h/t Outsports):

Minnesota lynx basketball star Seimone Augustus is, by all means, a homebody, but something told her to go out to a Minneapolis bar one night. After a few moments of quietly nursing a drink, she locked eyes with someone across the room. But this 6-foot-tall guard, the toast of Louisiana State University’s basketball program, a number 1 WNBA draft pick, and an Olympian, was too shy to even muster up a simple “hello.”

Fortunately, fate didn’t allow these two ships to pass in the night, and five years after their first date at a local Six Flags theme park, Augustus is getting married—to a woman. She says her future nuptials with LaTaya Varner encouraged her to come out publicly as a lesbian, and the two are planning a summer wedding. Not this summer, though. The 28-year-old is concentrating on finishing her season in the Russian women’s basketball league, a two-peat of the WNBA league title, and bringing home the gold this summer from the London Olympics.

Keep reading HERE.

In italiano / Sport e omosessualità, Boga sfida i tabù

From Sky Italia, a report on Boga Basket from Bologna, Italy:

L’apertura di Cesare Prandelli, la chiusura di Antonio Di Natale: l’omosessualità, e soprattutto l’opportunità di fare outing, nel calcio sono un tabù, molto più che in altri sport. E in Italia molto più che negli altri Paesi. Eppure, da noi, una squadra calcistica dichiaratamente gay esiste. Di più: esiste una polisportiva omosessuale, Bogasport di Bologna, che dopo le parole del ct ha deciso di applaudire quello che è “un piccolo passo avanti, perché il ct prende atto di un aspetto che rappresenta la normalità e lo abbiamo voluto rimarcare”, raccontano Vittorio Gaetano e Paola Antoniella, due dei responsabili della polisportiva. Boga sta per “Bologna gay”, appunto: una associazione affiliata alla Aics - che, su spinta del Boga, ha aperto la sezione Gaycs - e alla quale possono iscriversi tutti, gay e non: “Da noi vengono e si associano anche eterosessuali, senza nessun problema, siamo aperti a tutti. Ci accomunano però alcuni principi e un’identità gay o gay friendly, non matrici politiche. Soprattutto rappresentiamo un luogo ‘protetto’ in cui fare sport senza autoghettizzarsi. Qui abbiamo argomenti in comune, ma siamo un’associazione sportiva come tutte: lo sport è sport, le regole quelle sono, dunque…”

Tre anni fa, quando venne fondata la squadra di basket, il sostegno dato all’associazione dal presidente della Virtus Pallacanestro Claudio Sabatini mise il Boga Basket sotto i riflettori. La polisportiva, che aveva cominciato l’attività nel 2004 con la costituzione di una squadra di pallavolo, da allora è cresciuta: oggi può contare su oltre un centinaio di associati per cinque sezioni sportive, perché a volley e pallacanestro si sono aggiunti tennis, calcio e, buon ultimo, il ciclismo. “All’inizio dell’attività - racconta Gaetano - chi non conosceva la nostra realtà durante i tornei nemmeno si accorgeva dell’associazione o di cosa significasse ‘Boga’. Poi il nome ha preso a girare e la popolarità che ci ha dato il basket, dal sostegno della Virtus a quello di Dino Meneghin ha cominciato a farci identificare. Se prima partecipavamo soprattutto al circuito dei tornei lgbt, specie in quelli internazionali come gli Eurogay games o le Olimpiadi gay, ora siamo attivi anche nei tornei locali a diversi livelli, quelli Uisp e Csi per esempio. Omofobia? Magari la battuta facile c’è, ma problemi in questo senso non ne abbiamo mai avuti. Magari anche perché Bologna è una sorta di isola felice”.


Keep reading HERE.

When a male athlete has a physical advantage, he's gifted; when a woman athlete has a physical advantage, she's a man?

Brittney Griner is dominating college basketball, success which is generating some inappropriate attacks and comments about her gender. Here's the take of columnist Ray Ratto:

I think we may be looking at this Brittney Griner thing all wrong. Not the playing thing -- that we got all right. She's a hell of a player, maybe unlike any other player in the history of women's basketball.

But the insulting, offensive and retrograde remarks about her gender -- I think we may be going about her defense all wrong by using persuasion and gentle chiding. We may want to simplify our argument to its essentials, to wit:

If you think Brittney Griner is something other than what she purports to be -- that is, a woman -- then you are an idiot and a coward.

There. That wasn't so hard to read, was it?

But here I am taking her word on faith, and there's always the possibility of being wrong, so let's adjust our earlier assessment of her critics thus:

Unless you are a licensed gynecologist with access to her medical records or have examined her yourself, you don't get to express a stupid opinion about her, because you know nothing. So shut the hell up.

And why are we taking what seems to be a stand against free speech and for broad-based reader abuse in the matter of slandering the Baylor center?

Simple. Because we live in troubled times, and we cannot afford to luxuriate in ignorant calumnies for our own amusement. Every minute someone wants to make some sort of clever remark about her as something other than a bona fide woman is a minute we cannot get back, and we've wasted more than enough time on it as it is.

I mean, this "she must not be a real woman if she can play like that" is one of the oldest canards in the book, and is a reminder that people who don't like women's sports can never be content with, "Well, it's not my cup of tea, but you go ahead and enjoy it if you like."


Keep reading HERE.

Cody Roundball Classic on this weekend in Chicago!

Best of luck to everyone involved in the Cody Roundball Classic this weekend in Chicago!

Paris tournaments first day of play

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This Easter weekend's two major tournaments in Paris began with a bang. After last night's welcome parties, play began today in three gymnasiums for the Ladies Euro Volley, and at the beautiful student sport center for the  Entre2Basket's 20th anniversary tournament.

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6 April 2012 / A big sports weekend in Paris

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Two major tournaments will take place this week in Paris. While it's too late to register, you can still participate as a spectator, and of course attend the great parties planned!


Entre2Basket is celebrating their 20th anniversary with an international basketball tournament.

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And ContrePied welcomes the 2012 Ladies Euro Volley!

John Amaechi on CNN on role as Special Olympics Ambassador

In this CNN Sport interview on breaking stereotypes in sport and promoting respect and inclusion, Special Olympics Ambassador and former NBA star John Amaechi, says: "As a person who played professional sport for a lot of my life, I saw sport through jaded eyes, I saw it as a job, something that was incredibly painful frankly to be involved in physically, and then I get to be involved in Special Olympics and you suddenly see sports as it should be".

Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association on Chicago Gay TV

"Score" on Gay Chicago TV looks at the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association men's basketball league. A great look at CMSA, a member of FGG member organization Team Chicago.

View HERE.

Audio / John Amaechi promotes initiative to have disabled athletes play with others

John Amaechi is a Gay Games Ambassador, but he's also an ambassador for the Special Olympics in the UK:

 NBA Star and Special Olympics GB's ambassador John Amaechi was interviewed on BBC London radio Breakfast Show [listen below].

He talked about Unified Sports, an inclusive programme where athletes with learning disabilities practise and play together on the same teams with people without learning disabilities. Read more: HERE.


More from Branding Magazine:

Special Olympics GB is Great Britain’s largest sports training and competition program which transforms the lives of young people and adults with learning disabilities through the power of sport.

The Unified Sports is run by the charity Special Olympics GB and supported by Coca‑Cola Great Britain. It will run in Great Britain as a series of coaching and competitive sports of all types throughout sport centres, clubs and communities all over the country.

Former NBA star John Amaechi OBE a Special Olympics GB ambassador and England Commonwealth Games medallist, visited Tower Hamlets College in East London to take part in the first Unified Basketball session of this initiative.

John said, “Unified Sports programmes will play a valuable role in breaking down the barriers to sport that exist for people with learning disabilities enabling them to compete in popular sports on the same team as those without learning disabilities; and in an environment that promotes equality and inclusion. With such a great range of sports to choose from now everyone can get involved. As we’ve shown here today, it can be a lot of fun.”

The growth of the Unified Sports program this year forms part of the long-term partnership between Coca‑Cola Great Britain and Special Olympics GB, which aims to make a range of sports more accessible for people with learning disabilities, empowering them and their families to take an active and more confident role in their communities.

Karen Wallin, CEO Special Olympics said:“With such an exciting year of sport ahead, young people around the country are being inspired to take up new sports, but for the 1.2million people in the UK with learning disabilities it’s not always easy to take part as they can often encounter exclusion and discrimination. The model of Unified Sports – bringing together athletes with and without learning disabilities – has been proven to overcome these difficulties and promote social inclusion. With many team sports to choose from, the Unified Sports programme will offer fun and fitness for thousands more people.”

Tower Hamlets College was chosen as the venue for the launch because of its commitment to disability sports. Last year the College launched the FE Special Games, a disability sports tournament, which was sponsored by Special Olympics GB.

14 January 2012 / Team DC Night Out at the Wizards basketball game

Night OUT at the Wizards vs. the Philadelphia 76ers
January 14, 2012, 7PM Verizon Center

Tickets are only $20 and available at Nellie's Sports Bar or HERE.

NBA adds sexual orientation discrimination protection to new contract

A press release from the (US) National Basketball Association (via RealGM.com and Outsports:

The NBA Board of Governors has ratified a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement, enabling training camps and the free agency period for the 2011-12 season to begin on Fri., Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. ET. As previously announced, the NBA will begin its 66th season on Christmas Day.

“I am pleased to announce that we have concluded the collective bargaining process and have reached an agreement that addresses many significant issues that were challenges to our league,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “This collective bargaining agreement will help us move toward a better business model, a more competitive league and better alignment between compensation and performance.”

[...]

- The NBA’s drug testing program has been strengthened to include up to two offseason tests for performance-enhancing drugs per year, increased penalties for performance-enhancing drugs and blood testing for HGH once the test is validated by a neutral panel of scientific experts.

- Veteran NBA players can be assigned to their team’s NBA D-League affiliate for rehabilitation assignments with the players’ consent. Beginning in 2012-13, players in their first three seasons in the NBA may be assigned to the D-League an unlimited number of times each year.

- The NBA and NBPA will create a committee to discuss issues related to the NBA Draft and NBA D-League, including Draft eligibility rules and rules related to the assignment of NBA players to the D-League.

- Non-discrimination language was added into the agreement that protects players from discrimination, including based on sexual orientation.

- Term of the contract is 10 years, with both the NBA and NBPA holding the ability to opt out after the sixth year.

6 April 2012 / Entre 2 Basket celebrates its 20th anniversary with Easter tournament

Entre 2 Basket, a member club of FGG member organization FSGL, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a tournament this Easter.

Please join our tournament to celebrate this anniversary.
PARIS April 6-9, 2012

ENTRE2BASKET organizes the largest gay and lesbian basketball tournament since the Gay Games in Cologne. Around 25 teams are awaited for in Paris!

We’ve been working hard for over a year now to prepare these 4 days of sport and fun to celebrate our 20th anniversary and make sure you have an unforgettable time!
In the past we have organized large tournements with European and American teams participating. In 2012 we want to renew with that tradition. Mark your calenders and let’s meet in Paris April 6th through 9th.

Take a look at our dreamy program and come face the 6 teams from Paris (men and women) for 50 euros (60 euros after January 15th 2012).

MARK YOUR CALENDERS

Friday April 6th Welcome! Greetings of the players at the Eagle Bar, Paris

Saturday April 7th Competition! (Jean Sarrailh Sports Complex with 4 official courts)

Sunday April 8th Competition and finals
Big Dance Party (at the Divan Du Monde in Pigalle, near Montmartre)

Monday April 9th Brunch (Secret location for now)

50 euros all inclusive
Registration + breakfast and lunch during the 2 days of competition + Saturday dance party are offered at the incredible price of 50 euros.
Free housing will be guaranteed for the 4 nights of the tournement to anyone asking, on a first-come first-serve basis.
How to register?

Enrollment is just a few clicks away on our website www.entre2basket.org

Compete looks at new sexual orientatio protections in US pro sports contracts

Ty Nolan has a great look in Compete  at the latest news on recent advances in US pro sport.


Ah, the drama behind the scenes of NBA and MLB contracts. I've written an extensive article on how the major sports franchises are dealing with sexual orientation in their new contract negotiations. At the time I had to send the article to the publisher, I had not heard back from the MLB. I included the fact the San Francisco Giants became the first MLB team to offer domestic partnerships and protections for LGBT employees because San Francisco had passed legislations any company doing business with the City had to reflect their values on equality.

Now I can bring you "the rest of the story." The good news after the NFL recently made headlines for protecting gay players the--MLB has added sexual orientation as a protected class in terms of employment. One of the most vocal advocates for equal opportunity employment has been Rafael McDonnell, the Communications and Advocacy Manager for Resource Center Dallas, the city's Gay and Lesbian Center. After reading about the NFL inclusionary CBA language, he contacted both the NBA and the MLB to see if they would include the changes as well. I'm including a detailed time line of his experiences as well as one of the letters he received in response.

Keep reading HERE.

Outsports roundup

A look at some recent stories from that fount of LGBT sport news, Outsports:

A story from the Windy City Times about the marriage of out pro bowler Scott Norton.

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American Samoa’s Johnny ‘Jayieh’ Saelua is reportedly the first openly transgender player in World Cup football history.

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New York Post columnist Lenn Robbins has a great column slamming St. John’s University college basketball fans for their use of gay slurs during last weekend’s game against the University of Arizona.

11 November 2011 / 8th International Basketball Tournament in Berlin

The weekend in which Vorspiel SSL Berlin celebrates its 25th anniversary, they are also holding their 8th International Basketball tournament for men, and invite all European Teams to come to Berlin for an exciting weekend in November full of sport and interesting encounters!