Chris Morgan's Gay Games VII diary: 6 July 2006

Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan shared his experience at Gay Games VII in Chicago in 2006.

Thursday 6th to Thursday 13th July, Acclimatising:

I've already been in Chicago for a whole week, acclimatising and adjusting my body clock. Training is going well. Quad's gym in Boys Town is an amazing facility, with a great atmosphere and equipment for bodybuilders and power lifters.

I'm already calling upon valuable experience gained at the World Championships in Atlanta in 2004, and so far things are looking good. My body clock has turned around nicely and my energy levels are highly reasonable.

Earlier in the week... I attended the offices of Chicago 2006 and witnessed first hand the commitment of the Gay Games staff and volunteers. The whole place was buzzing with excitement, everyone is working extremely hard to deliver the Games on time.

To see these wheels in motion is truly ... inspirational.

Saudi Arabia does the bare minimum to allow IOC to save face on religious discrimination against women

Dalma Rushdi Malhas, human fig leaf

From the BBC, news that Saudi Arabia may deign to respect international law and the Olympic Charter by allowing women (or rather, one woman) to compete in the Olympics. 

We note that the token woman is likely to be equestrian Dalma Rushdi Malhas, who competed in the first Youth Olympics, not as part of the Saudi Arabian team, but at the invitation of the IOC, and at her own expense. 

Note also that women remain in effect excluded from sport, and that only a very few sports could ever be open to women due to Islamist repression with regard to dress and access to public spaces.

We also note that the Saudis themselves explain that they were force to make this "concession" to the Olympic Charter only due to pressure and controversy, which is something to remember when the objective allies of repressive regimes call for quiet diplomacy rather than public action. The only reason the IOC was "negotiating" with the Saudis (and just why should an organization be negotiating to have its rules respected?) was because outside groups, including the FGG, have repeatedly called on the IOC to respect its own charter.

We fear that this token participation will allow the IOC to claim "victory", and that the exclusion of women from sport in Saudi Arabia and other Islamist countries will continue unabated, and that the calls for religion-based interference with the practice of sport, including the effective requirement for the hijab to be worn by women athletes, will only grow stronger.

Saudi Arabia is to allow its women athletes to compete in the Olympics for the first time.

Officials say the country's Olympic Committee will "oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify".

The decision will end recent speculation as to whether the entire Saudi team could have been disqualified on grounds of gender discrimination.

The public participation of women in sport is still fiercely opposed by many Saudi religious conservatives.

There is almost no public tradition of women participating in sport in the country.

Saudi officials say that with the Games now just a few weeks away, the only female competitor at Olympic standard is showjumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas.

But they added that there may be scope for others to compete and that if successful they would be dressed "to preserve their dignity".

In practice this is likely to mean modest, loose-fitting garments and "a sports hijab", a scarf covering the hair but not the face.

For the desert kingdom, the decision to allow women to compete in the Olympics is a huge step, overturning deep-rooted opposition from those opposed to any public role for women.

As recently as April, the indications were that Saudi Arabia's rulers would accede to the sensitivities of the religious conservatives and maintain the ban on allowing women to take part.

But for the past six weeks there have been intense, behind-the-scenes discussions led by King Abdullah, who has long been pushing for women to play a more active role in Saudi society.
'Subtle reform'

In secret meetings in Jeddah, officials say a consensus was reached in mid-June between the king, the crown prince, the foreign minister, the leading religious cleric, the grand mufti and others, to overturn the ban.

An announcement was ready to be made but then had to be delayed as the country marked the sudden death of Crown Prince Nayef.

"It's very sensitive," a senior Saudi official told the BBC. "King Abdullah is trying to initiate reform in a subtle way, by finding the right balance between going too fast or too slow.

"For example, he allowed the participation of women in the Shura council [an advisory body] so the Olympic decision is part of an ongoing process, it's not isolated."

The official acknowledged that to refuse to let women take part would have looked bad on the international stage.

"Partly because of the mounting criticism we woke up and realised we had to deal with this. We believe Saudi society will accept this," the official said.

Gender testing and the Olympics: a look back at Play the Game conference with leaders on the issue

Find the Play the Game 2011 website with more information, photos, video, program, etc. HERE.

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With the Olympics fast approaching, the issue of gender in sport is again in the news. A great article in the Toronto Star looks at the current situation in an article entitled "Policing feminity", which gives a good idea of the tenor of the issue, developed in a follow-up in Jezebel.



A highly contested discussion at last year's Play the Game conference in Cologne was about intersex athletes and gender verification in sport. A leading voice in the Olympic Movement, Arne Ljungqvist, presented the evolution of testing, an evolution disputed by Georg M. Facius and Bruce Kidd.

At the one hour mark, FGG delegate Marc Naimark asks why the policy developed by Dr Ljungqvist excludes the notion of male hyperandrogenism: why is excessive natural levels of testosterone an unfair advantage for women, but not for men? Are there no limits to male testosterone? The more the better, as long as it's "natural"? Ljungqvist replied: "Androgens are not a problem with males. We have two categories: male and female." Meaning, I suppose, that testosterone = male, although men and women each need and naturally produce "male" and "female" hormones.

A rugby novice joins Germany's first gay-friendly rugby club

From the blog of Dale Phurrough:

I joined Berlin Bruisers – Germany’s first gay rugby club

Rugby. It seems that I have joined the Berlin Bruisers; Germany’s first gay rugby club. We had the club’s first meetup last night. Yes, we are creating the club from the start. Join us!

Being in a rugby club excites and surprises me both. I’m excited to play a challenging game with a bunch of soon to be friends. I’m surprised in myself to be taking up a new aggressively athletic sport at 42. But like my wise Aunt said, “Do it while you’re young. ‘Cuz when you old, you’re tired and hurt.” My friend Trinity (a natural athlete, coach of several sports, and DJ) told me I shall learn to love the burn. I’m going to remember that and repeat it over and over while having fun on the pitch.

Dave Egan tells us that for the moment, the group is made up of expats, but they welcome any Germans who would like to join in. He also says that although the still small group includes only men, women are very welcome. Berliners and visitors can meet them as they march in the Christopher Street Day parade on 23 June.

Join their Facebook group HERE.

View the video of their first training session below:

FGG Honorary Life Member speaks at Stanford University

Campus Pride is the only national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in the USA for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students.

In conjunction with Compete Media, Campus Pride recently announced awards for ten US universities recognizing their athletic departments for being most supportive of gay and lesbian athletes. Among those is Stanford University.

Derek Liecty, an Honorary Life Member of the Federation of Gay Games and a winner of the Tom Waddell Award, is a graduated of Stanford (class of 1954), where he was the (of course closeted) captain of the varsity soccer team.

Derek Liecty (photo Joanne Sanders)

He was invited to the award ceremony at Stanford on 7 June 2012, where he spoke to the fifty out Stanford athletes who were in attendance. He described how emotional it was to have lived so long and finally see his university embracing gay and lesbian athletes. "This is something that would never have happened sixty years ago," Liecty said.

HERE.

For the first time, men to be involved in Olympic victory ceremonies... but only in certain roles

I read a few stories about the announcement by LOCOG, the host committee for the London Olympics, that for the first time men would be involved in medal ceremonies.

Here's the start of the LOCOG press release:

London 2012 Victory Ceremonies podiums, ceremonial costumes, make-up and flowers revealed

The official London 2012 Victory Ceremonies podiums, ceremonial costumes, make-up and flowers have been revealed today. These components will be used across 805 Victory Ceremonies taking place in over 30 London 2012 venues.
Taking place soon after a medal event finishes, the design of the Victory Ceremonies has been created to be an exciting celebration of the achievements of every medal-winning athlete.
The unique design of the royal purple podiums and costumes has been created by students at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. The students have worked with London 2012 over the last eight months to create and develop the designs.
When designing the podiums, the team of students - Gaetano Ling, Hong-Yeul Eom, Luc Fusaro, Heegun Koo and Yan Lu - used dynamic lines representing the energy that the Games and athletes represent. 40 podiums will be used across all the Victory Ceremonies and approximately 4,400 medal-winning athletes will stand on them to celebrate their success formally.
The ceremonial costumes will be worn by Games Maker volunteers in athlete and presenter escort roles and flower and medal bearer roles.

Other news reports said that for the first time men would be involved in victory ceremonies, which was great to hear. But some of these reports (and not just those from the Daily Mail) said that the roles would be segregated. This surprised me, and since the press releases from LOCOG weren't clear (for example this press release about make-up design, which says: "The make-up which will be worn by all the athlete and presenter escorts and medal and flower bearers", which implies that either women are in all roles, or men will be wearing make-up), so I asked the press service of LOCOG for clarification. 

They (promptly) responded: "The team is mixed and will be seen in the presentation very much as a team. The members of the team have 3 specific roles: the roles of leading the party (as presenter escort and athlete escort) are females, and the role of carrying the tray which holds the medal and flowers (flower and medal bearer) is male - a traditionally more decorative role. The medal and flower bearer leaves the party after the presentation has been made, whilst the female presenter escort and female athlete escort remain with the party for their exit from the presentation in front of the fans in the stadiums."

Why make an effort for equality, inclusion and parity by admitting that these ceremonial duties are not reserved for "decorative" females (good news), only to segregate the various roles according to gender?

In a context where the gender of Olympic volunteers has been an issue (for example the refusal of Iran to accept that the volunteer sign bearer at past opening ceremonies be a woman), LOCOG should show true equality and parity. This is definitely a good news/bad news kind of story.

-- Marc Naimark

Outreach to Latin American academics in San Francisco

Left to right: Derek Liecty, Yasmin Portales, Doug Litwin

On 25 May 2012, FGG Honorary Life Member Derek Liecty and FGG Officer of Marketing Doug Litwin attended part of the 2012 conference of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) held in San Francisco.

An organization of more than 7,000 members, 45% of whom reside outside the United States, LASA brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors, across the globe. Their mission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate.

Armed with FGG and Gay Games 9 materials, Derek and Doug were hoping to meet Mariela Castro, the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education in Havana and an activist for LGBT rights in Cuba. She also happens to be the daughter of Cuban president Raúl Castro and the niece of former president Fidel Castro. Her group campaigns for effective AIDS prevention as well as recognition and acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality, transvestism, and transsexual human rights. 

While Ms. Castro had appeared at other events in town, she was not in attendance at the 25 May reception. Seizing the moment, Derek and Doug attended a “Human Sexualities” reception for LASA members during which they met numerous interesting individuals from such places as Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and numerous US universities. Among those was Yasmin Portales from Cuba (see photo), a well-known Marxist feminist blogger. Since Yasmin knows Mariela Castro, she offered to pass along the FGG and Gay Games 9 materials to the President’s daughter, with the goal is to ensure the participation of Cuban athletes and artists in Gay Games 9 in 2014.

Statement from the Federation of Gay Games on 2018 event

In the last few days, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has heard from several parties about the cessation of discussions for a single global quadrennial sport and culture event (IQE) in 2018. We know that our friends from GLISA International have heard similar complaints.

As we have stated before, the FGG, mandated by our member organizations, remains committed to the goal of a single quadrennial event. Although the process launched in 2010 did not succeed, we believe a single event can happen, and will work to make it happen. We repeat our thanks to those involved who devoted a great deal of time and effort to move this project forward.

We have invited GLISA International to discuss ways to be part of our Gay Games X event, and to begin talks on a merger of our organizations as the best way to achieve the goal of 1QE.

As always, we invite all interested parties to join the FGG to be part of this ongoing process. Join the organizations involved to make your voice heard louder. Work as volunteers on our committees to shape future Gay Games.

We also take this opportunity to thank the many groups that have expressed an interest in bidding for Gay Games X. We strongly believe that the Gay Games have demonstrated over the past three decades their contribution to progress for LGBT equality. Bidders and hosts are key players in making this happen. We know that all those truly devoted to the cause of LGBT sport and culture will support these bidders and the host of Gay Games X selected at our AGA in Cleveland, Ohio in late 2013, and of course join us in Cleveland+Akron from 9-16 August 2014 for Gay Games 9, for which registration has just opened.

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FGG press release on end of negotiations HERE.

Information for bidding on Gay Games X: 2018.gaygames.org

Registration for Gay Games 9: www.gg9cle.com

Friends of LGBT sport in new French cabinet

Jean-Marc Ayrault

As expected, Valérie Fourneyron, mayor of Rouen, a sister city of Cleveland, host of Gay Games 9, has been named minister for sport in the new government of Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault. Just last week, Mme Fourneyron invited FGG member organization FSGL to represent the field of sport at an event for the International Day Against Homophobia held in Rouen. Mme Fourneyron arrives with a great deal of experience in sport, as a physician specialized in sports medicine who has worked for several French sports federations.

Another friendly face is that of Dominique Bertinotti, mayor of the 4th Arrondissement of Paris. If you've attended the TIP Paris International Tournament or the FSGL Forum, you've been a guest of Mme Bertinotti, who has welcomed the FSGL to use the district's facilities, whether the town hall and its plaza, or the Espace des Blancs Manteaux. Mme Bertinotti will be leaving the town hall to take on the role of junior minister in charge of family policy.

As for the new Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault has a well-deserved reputation as an ally for LGBT people, in his former roles of mayor of Nantes and as an MP.

On the whole, a more promising state of affairs for LGBT people in France, and in particular for LGBT sport.

FGG, along with IGLFA and Football v Homophobia, present letter to Brazilian and Russian Ambassadors

Today the French Olympic Committee hosted at its headquarters the 17th annual strategic conferences of the IRIS think tank. The theme of the conferences was "The strategic stakes for sport" (program HERE).

Originally the Brazilian and Russian ambassadors to France were to speak during the session devoted to "competition for the organization of world-class sports competitions". The FGG wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to call on these countries to respect human rights for all and to ensure that homophobia not spoil the events they'll be hosting (each country will be hosting both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games). Our primary concern of course is Russia.

We were joined by FGG member organization International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, and by Football v Homophobia (read below). The goal was to have Marc Naimark, FGG vice president for external affairs, present these letters by hand to the ambassadors (who were in fact replaced by embassy advisors).

During the session, another participant raised the question of human rights in host countries. We expected a denial of any problems from the Russian embassy, but the response was particularly grotesque, along the lines of "Human rights? We don't respect human rights in Russia? I am totally confused by your question!" The response from the Brazilian representative was hardly better: "We have had enough of certain countries who think they can teach us lessons, who treat us as natives who they need to civilize." And all day long, the organizer of the event, Pascal Boniface, head of IRIS, treated with the greatest contempt any criticism of host countries on human rights grounds. But this is hardly surprising when you learn that Mr Boniface often works as a consultant in the Gulf, and often visits Qatar.(And we'll note in passing that of the 19 moderators and speakers, a grand total of 1 was a woman, former health and sports minister Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin.)

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You are speaking today at a conference on sport hosted by the French Olympic Committee. You are participating as representatives of your countries, which will soon be hosting major international sports events: the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2014, and Russia in 2018, with the Winter Olympics hosted in Sochi in 2014 and the Summer Games in Rio in 2016.

These events must promote the universal values of sport, and in particular the principles of the Olympic Charter which declares that “any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement”.

As LGBT sports organizations, we are concerned by the way in which LGBT athletes, trainers, journalists, officials, volunteers, spectators and fans will be treated at your events. The case of Russia is particularly worrying, given the progression of institutional homophobia in the country, the refusal of a project for a Pride House in Sochi, and a climate of violence and threats.

Everyone must be able to participate in sport, and all the more so for sports events that are supposed to unite people in universal human values.

This is why we are asking you to communicate to the political and sporting authorities of your countries our call for sports events that are open, welcoming, and safe for all, and in particular for LGBT participants, and to offer our assistance to make this so.

En français / La FGG, avec l'IGLFA et Football v Homophobia, interpelle les ambassadeurs russe et brésilien sur l'homophobie

Aujourd'hui s'est tenu au siège du Comité national olympique et sportif français les 17èmes conférences stratégiques annuelles de l'Institut de recherches internationales et stratégiques (IRIS) sur "Les enjeux stratégiques du sport" (programme ICI). 

A l'origine, les ambassadeurs du Brésil et de la Russie devaient intervenir lors de la séance sur "la concurrence sur l'organisation de compétitions sportives mondialisées". Voulant profiter de l'occasion pour interpeller les autorités de ces pays par rapport à nos préoccupations relatives aux effets de l'homophobie lors de la tenue de la Coupe du monde et les JO dans leurs pays (en fait, on se soucie surtout de l'homophobie dans la Russie), la FGG se proposait d'écrire un appel à ces pays à respecter les droits de tous, et de faire en sorte que l'homophobie soit exclue de ces manifestations.

On a été rejoint par l'International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, membre de la FGG, et Football v Homophobia dans cet appel (lire ci dessous). Le but était de profiter de la présence de Marc Naimark, vice-président de la FGG chargé des affaires extérieures, pour remettre en main propre cette lettre aux deux ambassadeurs, remplacés de fait par de hauts conseillers de leurs ambassades.

Lors de la session, un autre participant a évoqué la question du respect des droits de l'homme. On s'attendait à un déni de la part de l'ambassade russe, mais la réponse s'est avérée particulièrement éhontée. En gros : "Droits de l'homme ? On ne respecterait pas les droits de l'homme en Russie ? Je suis très surpris par cette question !" La réponse de l'ambassade brésilienne n'était guère meilleure. En gros : "On en a assez de certains pays qui se permettent de donner des leçons, nous traitant d'indigènes qu'il faut civiliser." Et tout le long de la journée, l'organisateur de la journée, Pascal Boniface, directeur de l'IRIS, a traité avec le plus grand mépris toute critique des pays hôtes de manifestations sportives au nom des droits de l'homme. En fait, lorsqu'on apprend qu'il consulte souvent pour les pays du Golfe, qu'il a beaucoup travaillé au Qatar, une telle attitude n'est pas vraiment étonnante.(On remarquera que dans la journée qu'il a organisée, sur les 19 intervenants, 1 seule était une femme, à savoir Roselyne Bachelot.)

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Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, Monsieur le Ministre conseiller,


Aujourd'hui vous intervenez lors d’une manifestation sur le sport tenu au Comité national olympique et sportif français. Vous parlez en tant que représentants de vos pays qui reçoivent bientôt de grandes manifestations sportives internationales : la coupe du monde FIFA et les Jeux olympiques. En effet, le Brésil reçoit la coupe du monde en 2014, la Russie en 2018, alors que les jeux d'hiver se tiendront à Sochi en 2014 et les jeux d'été à Rio en 2016.


Ces manifestations doivent véhiculer les valeurs universelles du sport, et notamment des principes de la Charte olympique qui déclare que « toute forme de discrimination à l’égard d’un pays ou d’une personne fondée sur des considérations de race, de religion, de politique, de sexe ou autres est incompatible avec l’appartenance au Mouvement olympique. »


En tant qu'organisations issues de la communauté lesbienne, gaie, bi et trans (LGBT), nous sommes préoccupées par l'accueil des hommes et des femmes sportifs, cadres sportifs, presse, officiels, bénévoles, journalistes, ou spectateurs et supporters LGBT lors de ces manifestations. Le cas de la Russie est particulièrement inquiétant, étant donné la progression de l'homophobie institutionnelle dans ce pays, le refus d'un projet de Pride House à Sochi, et un climat de violences et menaces.


Tous doivent pouvoir participer au sport, encore plus lorsqu'il s'agit de manifestations censées rassembler le monde entier autour de valeurs universelles humanistes.


C'est ainsi que nous vous prions de transmettre aux responsables politiques et sportifs de votre pays notre appel pour des manifestations sportives ouvertes, accueillantes, et sûres pour tous, et en particulier pour les participants LGBT, ainsi que notre proposition de collaborer pour ce faire.


En vous remerciant de votre attention, veuillez agréer, Messieurs les Ambassadeurs, l'expression de notre très haute considération.

As we approach London 2012, more opportunities to hear from Greg Louganis

The Federation of Gay Games is pleased an honored to have among our Ambassadors one of the greatest athletes in history, Greg Louganis, widely recognized as the greatest diver ever.

His sport receives more attention in an Olympic year than it does in the non-Olympic years combined, and we are delighted to see and hear Greg Louganis called on by the media to share his insights on this great sport.

When Greg speaks, it's also an opportunity to learn of the challenges of living with HIV, and of the progress made since he was forced to hide his status to compete in the Seoul Olympics. The restrictions he faced there were not the exception: the US only withdrew its HIV ban under the current Obama administration, and athletes, staff, and fans who need to travel to Qatar to the 2022 World Cup still risk exclusion.

As we work to pull down these barriers to participation and inclusion, let's enjoy this opportunity to see more of Greg Louganis, an outstanding athlete and human being, and thank him again for his service as a Gay Games Ambassador.

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Outcome of French elections good news for LGBT people and for LGBT athletes in particular

Yesterday's second round of presidential elections saw the victory of François Hollande over Nicolas Sarkozy.

For LGBT people in general this is good news, as Hollande is committed to full equality, while his opponent outgoing president Sarkozy remained firmly against marriage equality and rights for same-sex parents.

For LGBT sport, it's also good news. We recall Sarkozy's nomination of the homophobic and misogynistic judo champion David Douillet as minister of sports, whose chief of staff was so prompt to refuse official recognition for FGG member organization FSGL (even before the FSGL had actually applied for it!).

While the minister preceding Douillet, Chantal Jouanno, had been an advocate for the fight against homophobia in sport, her efforts had not been supported by Sarkozy, who was reported to have replied that there could not be homophobia in sport, because his good friend the president of a leading rugby club had chosen the color pink for the jerseys of his players.

During the campaign, Sarkozy received the support of highly paid professional athletes, fearful of higher tax rates on the extremly wealthy proposed by Hollande. In the meantime, Hollande's spokeswoman for sport, Valérie Fourneyron (seen here on the right), brought together a broad-based group of grassroot athletes to support a campaign focused on sport for all.

Hollande stated: "Sport is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Playing sport means savings for the healthcare system. We must offer people of all ages organized sports activities to promote well-being." "Sport will have a major role in my administration. First in the educational system with increased importance given to sports education.In addtion, we will focus on sports as a preventive measure, to fight against health risks including obesity and cardiovascular disease. Finally, with the launch of a partnership between the national government and local authorities, because they are the ones that invest the most in sport today. We want to ensure regularity in financing of sport and the increased particpiation of the private sector in providing sports facilities on a local level."

Hollande has also declared that in his administration, the minister for sport would be a senior minister, rather than a junior minister lower on the ladder of authority. A name being mentioned for this position is Valérie Fourneyron herself. She is eminently qualified, having worked all her life in sports medicine, often for national sports federations. She is gay friendly, as proven by her invitation to the FSGL to speak in locally in this month's program for the international day against homophobia. And a bonus for the Gay Games, she is the major of Rouen, the sister city of Cleveland, host of Gay Games 9 in 2014.

Much depends on the outcome of next month's legislative elections, but the prospects for LGBT sport are much brighter today than they were yesterday.

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.

Esera Tuaolo reports on his talk at Grinnell College

As we posted HERE, Gay Games Ambassador spoke at Grinnell College on 12 April. Here's his very enthusiastic report on the event:

ALOHA!!!
I must say to all my peeps that in my 9 years of motivational/educational speaking, Grinnell College is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. I'm not taking anything away from the other 80-plus schools that I spoken at, but I really enjoyed my time at Grinnell College. From the faculty, to the students, to the beauty of the campus, it was absolutely amazing. The school's culture of equality regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. was what impressed me the most. You don't find that in many schools around the country and Grinnell students should be immensely proud of it. I am happy I got to experience for a day what Grinnell students experience for years.

What really impressed me the most was that the athletic department took the time to meet with me one-on-one to discuss some possible ways to make a difference with their student athletes. In my nine years of speaking only five schools have done that. During that meeting one question stood out: "What can we as coaches and faculty do to eliminate HATE?" My answer was simple: not be afraid to talk about homophobia or be afraid of the word "gay"!!!!!! . They need to make sure that athletes and students know that using words like "gay", "fag", "queer", "dyke", or "homo" in a negative connotation will not be tolerated in the locker room or in any other plac over which coaches/faculty have control. Hate in any form is just wrong! 

Thanks to the people at Grinnell who made it possible for me to come, and thanks to the 300+ amazing students that made my presentation a success.

FSGL refused official recognition

After receiving great encouragement from former minister of sport Roselyne Bachelot and secretary of state for sport Rama Yade, FGG member organization FSGL began a long and difficult process of applying for recognition as an official national sport federation. This would have given the national LGBT sport federation a more favorable position as a partner of other national sports federations, and access to technical and financial resources to develop the activities of the federation and its member clubs.

A major reform of the Federations statutes and bylaws was made via a series of general assemblies. Special rules on doping, on health, on officiating, etc. were developed to comply with ministry requirements.

After a meeting with the ministry's legal department to better understand the formal application process, and before officially submitting any documentation, the FSLG was surprised to receive a refusal (for an application that had yet to be filed) from the minister's office, stating that even if all requirements were met, the FSGL did not qualify because it is not a sports federation (!), news that will come as a great surprise to the thousands of affiliated members who thought that when they were playing volleyball, racing in a swim meet, or playing in a tennis tournament that they were practicing sport.

One might have thought that the current minister for sport David Douillet, who though of the same party as previous more welcoming ministers Bachelot, Yade and Jouano, known for his homophobia and misogyny, would have taken a bit more care in dealing with this sensitive matter.

In a few weeks, whatever the outcome of the elections, the occupants of the various ministries are likely to change, and it can be hoped that the new minister for sport will at the very least give the FSGL the chance to file an application.

More in French in this article from Têtu.

Sofia, Bulgaria site of Federation of Gay Games 2012 Annual General Assembly

The Federation of Gay Games has announced that Sofia, Bulgaria, will host the Federation's 2012 Annual General Assembly (AGA) on August 19-21 in partnership with member organisation Tangra Sport. The FGG board will meet on the 18th and 22nd.

Federation Co-President Emy Ritt explained that “In a year when the challenges for LGBT people in Eastern Europe are manifest in the opposition of certain people to events like the 2012 EuroGames in Budapest, we want to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the region. And of course, Sofia is a beautiful city, and one of the most gayfriendly places in the region.”

Fellow Co-President Kurt Dahl added that the choice of Bulgaria fits well with the ambitions of Cleveland Special Events Corporation (CSEC), the host organisation for Gay Games 9 in 2014, to make the most of the ties between Eastern Europeans and the immigrant communities in Cleveland and Akron to promote Eastern European participation in Gay Games 9. “In addition to the large Polish, Ukrainian, and Slovakian communities in Cleveland, there are many Clevelanders of Balkan origin, and they're looking forward to welcome their cousins to Northeast Ohio in 2014.”

Peter Moews, founder of Tangra Sport, the Federation's local partner for the AGA (and Federation member organisation), is pleased to welcome the Federation for its first event in Eastern Europe. “We were delighted to be approached by the Federation to help organize this meeting, and are looking forward to welcoming delegates from around the world to Sofia. We will work to use this event as an opportunity to showcase the growing LGBT sports movement in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe, and to communicate to our fellow sportspeople the challenges of organising and developing events and organizations here.”

Federation Secretary Sean Fitzgerald noted that the 2012 AGA will be the last opportunity for new members to be eligible for the next cycle of selection of the next host of the Gay Games “Federation bylaws give great consideration to the responsibility of choosing the host of the Gay Games. In accordance with our license agreement, the next site selection meeting will take place in 2013 in Cleveland. Only full members that have attended that meeting and the previous AGA in Sofia, or that have attended two of the last four AGAs, can exercise a vote on site selection.”

FSGL extraordinary general assembly approves new initiatives

Christelle Foucault, president of the FSGL, presenting projects for 2012-2013 (photo Marc Naimark)

After the annual general assembly held in late 2011, the Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne (FSGL), the French national LGBT sports federation, held an extraordinary general assembly on 25 February 2012, hosted by the city hall of the 19th Arrondissement.

Among the points on the agenda were a series of modifications and additions to the federation's bylaws and rules, aimed at bringing the federation into compliance with the requirements of nationally recognized affinity federations. Such federations, like national sports federations (French tennis federation, French football federation, etc.) benefit from a variety of measures and programs run by the ministry of sport, and become in integral part of the national sport system. The project is moving forward, with a first meeting held with the legal department of the ministry to review the status of the (very complex) application file.

Among the other initiatives approved was to join the Agence pour l'éducation par le sport (APELS), a public-private entity that finances and supports programs for social progress via sport. FSLG member clubs are invited to apply so as to support and share the various projects they carry out.

While planning for an expanded TIP Paris International Tournament continues apace, with the creation of a sports village open during the entire tournament, the FSGL hasn't forgotten 2013, which will be the 10th anniversary of the multisport tournament. Among the initiatives imagined is a concerted effort to open the tournament to disabled athletes, in partnership with the French disabled sport federation.

(photo Cyril Leroy)

Also planned for 2012-2013 is the creation of a "respect award", in collaboration with other partners involved in the ministry of sport's programs against discrimination in sport, and a series of events organized by associations and government authorities throughout France to fight homophobia, in particular in and by sport. A high point will be the FSGL's participation in the upcoming "Sport and HIV" event at the headquarters of the French National Olympic Committee.

After the election of a new deputy treasurer and a new first male vice president (FSGL bylaws require that the president and first vice president not be of the same gender), the Assembly closed with a vote to back a bid for Gay Games X in 2018.

Panteres Grogues board member elected to board of Catalan Tennis Federation

A message from FGG member organization Panteres Grogues:

For the first time, the Federació Catalana de Tenis (FCT or Catalan Tennis Federation) will have on its board an out gay man, Manel Gines, a board member of FGG member organization Panteres Grogues in Barcelona. Manel is the treasurer of Panteres Grogues, and the coordinator of tennis within the multisport club.

He joins the board of FCT as part of a slate of candidates led by Joan Navarro, a childhood friend of Manel.

Their victory is a big shake-up for the federation, after a difficult election against outgoing president Francesc Orriols. The new team won by 110 to 104 in a run-off vote after a tied first round of voting.

A concrete hope for Panteres Grogues is for more favorable terms for renting tennis venues for their annual PantereSports multisport tournament, which will next be organized in September 2012. More important is the new possibility for developing projects within the FCT to fight homophobia in sport. The new team in place will be a much more interesting partner for such actions.

Sport in Spain is highly decentralized, and the autonomous region of Catalonia has full responsibility for sport. All sports clubs in the region are member of the Catalan federation for their sport, with some also being members of the Spanish national federation.

The FGG sends its best wishes to Manel in his new duties, with our hopes for a fruitful exchange between LGBT and mainstream sports bodies.

CDG Brasil leader visits Los Angeles

Shamey, left and Jeferson, right, with Jeferson's host in LA center

Jeferson Sousa, vice president of CDG Brasil, the national LGBT sports organization for Brazil, the hosts of the 1st Brazilian National Diversity Games later this year, is on a tour of the USA. While in Los Angeles, he met up with Shamey Cramer, FGG Officer for Ceremonies, where the growth of LGBT sport in Latin America was on the agenda.

See our posts on CDG Brasil HERE.