More Cleveland-area mayors join call for marriage equality

Gary Norton, mayor of East Cleveland, and Mike Summers, mayor of Lakewood, have joined other area leaders among the "Mayors for the Freedom to Marry". From the Freedom to Marry website:

We're excited to announce the launch of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, a bipartisan coalition of 75+ Mayors who pledge to support marriage for gay and lesbian couples! You may have first heard about this impressive coalition of Mayors a few days ago when the Wall Street Journal broke the story that Mayors of some of America's largest cities were joining together to support the freedom to marry.

The coalition will officially launch this morning at 10am, as Freedom to Marry and a handful of notable Mayors host a press conference at the 80th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C. Participants at today's press conference include: Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles; Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diegol Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston; Mayor Annise Parker of Houston; Mayor Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma; Marc Solomon, our National Campaign Director here at Freedom to Marry; and Tom Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director.

Mayors for the Freedom to Marry includes mayors from cities and towns—large and small—with diverse geographic, ethnic and political backgrounds. The list includes the mayors of America’s four largest cities—Michael Bloomberg of New York, Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, and Annise Parker of Houston. It also includes mayors from cities including Juneau, Alaska; Des Moines, Iowa; Bloomington, Indiana; and Lewiston, Maine, where the freedom to marry may go to the ballot in 2012. You can click here to view the full list of Mayors.

Cleveland-area beers on the US top-100 list

Great Cleveland has earned no fewer than three spots on the top-100 best beers list put out by Draft Magazine:

BUCKEYE BEER ENGINE | Lakewood, Ohio

This tried-and-true tavern gets better with age: The 200-plus beer list has grown in diversity (a zwickelbier on cask!), a sign this old haunt isn’t past its prime. A topnotch burger menu keeps things interesting with wacky specials like the Xmas Dinner: a patty piled high with ham and sweet potatoes. 15315 Madison Ave., buckeyebeerengine.com

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LA CAVE DU VIN | Cleveland Heights, Ohio

This dark basement beer bar’s a stop on every brewer’s itinerary, so the taps are always spilling limited editions and rarities. Cellarmasters, take note: La Cave’s got an impressive vintage list that runs deep; visit often to make sure you’re there when the management decides to dip into the archives. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., lacaveduvin.com

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MCNULTY’S BIER MARKT | Cleveland, Ohio

Belgian and Belgian-inspired brews remain the focus of this sleek, bare-bulbed bar, but the 20 taps also serve to test-drive beers from owner Sam McNulty’s Market Garden Brewery across the street. The crowd’s young and cool, the bottle list is long, and the prices are on point: $24 for a 10-beer sampler? Yes, please. 1948 W. 25th St., bier-markt.com

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PLUS... BEER-BAR CHAINS: Aside from huge beer lists at 14 locations throughout Ohio, Winking Lizard Tavern’s (winkinglizard.com) claim to fame is its World Tour of Beers; drink 100 brews from the chosen 250 and earn the coveted World Tour jacket.

Washington DC dancers prepare for Cleveland 2014

Lambda DanceSport DC team is featured in the Washington Blade in an article by Kevin Majoros. The dancers perform and compete in Dancesport. The article can be read on the Washington Blade web site.

Click here to read the article titled "May I have this dance?".

Vote for logo for UK Charter against homophobia in sport

Logo competition

On 23 November 2011, Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone launched a competition for sports clubs, fans and players across the country to design a logo for the Charter and mark their support for the campaign.

The first stage closed on 18 January 2012, and we were delighted to have received nearly 70 entries, most of them from young people.

Rugby union star and competition judge Ben Cohen has shortlisted the top six entries, and you can now pick the winning logo by voting online for your favourite design.

Vote now!

Simply go to our Facebook page (Opens in a new window) and 'like' your favourite logo. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can also vote on Ben Cohen's website (Opens in a new window) .

Voting closes on Monday 20 February at midday. Votes will then be counted, and the logo with the highest number of votes will go to a professional design team before a final unveiling in March.

More information is available in the competition leaflet and terms and conditions.

Roger Brigham on the Sin City Shootout

Roger Brigham reports on last month's Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas in his Bay Area Reporter column:

Las Vegas is the most improbable of cities. Plopped down in the midst of a vast desert plain with horizons rimmed by forbidding mountains, it emerges into view on our descent as a Dali-esque fantasy – a kind of Pee-wee Herman's Big Acid Adventure meets Disneyland on Steroids.

I had the chance to fly to Vegas last weekend for the fifth annual Sin City Shootout, which in half a decade has expanded from a modest softball tournament to a thriving multi-sport sports festival. This year's edition, which drew almost 4,000 athletes, included softball, basketball, wrestling, and bodybuilding.

"Tennis had to back out at the last minute but is going to promote early for 2013," said Eric Ryan, Sin City tournament director. "All of the sports said with a full year to now promote for 2013 and build the hype with this year's athletes they expect a larger athlete pool next year. Softball had 163 teams, which is a record for any LGBT softball event in the world."

The real star throughout the weekend was Vegas itself. There are no opening and closing ceremonies at the Sin City Shootout: just lots of playing on and off the field.

"My favorite highlight was at the Sunday closing party at RPM at Tropicana," Ryan said. "I got there two hours early to make sure everything was in place, ready to go. An hour before the doors opened, people were lining up. Once the doors actually opened a little after 9 p.m., the line was halfway through the hotel casino for an hour straight."

Fired lesbian soccer coach Lisa Howe to head Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce

News of Lisa Howe, fired as soccer coach from Nashville's Belmont College after coming out(h/t Helen Carroll):

The woman who sparked a local and national debate on workplace discrimination and helped change a private school’s discrimination policy has been hired as the first ever executive director of the Nashville GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) Chamber of Commerce.

Lisa Howe, a former soccer coach at Belmont University, was vaulted into the national spotlight after she came out at Belmont to share with her team that her partner, Wendy Holleman, was due to have a baby. A week later she left her job. Initially the school announced Howe’s resignation. A day later, Belmont changed its tune, saying the two parties reached a mutual agreement to end Howe’s employment there.

Soon after, amid much controversy, Belmont President Bob Fisher announced the school had added sexual orientation to its discrimination policy. There was also a push for a Metro Nashville ordinance that would require any company or business that contracted with Metro government — including Belmont — to have in place an antidiscrimination policy that includes gays and lesbians. The bill ultimately passed, but the state legislature and Gov. Bill Haslam overturned it.

“Lisa Howe knows first-hand how it is to come out in the work place and suffer discrimination because of sexual orientation,” said Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce President Michael Fluck. “After a national search we are pleased to announce that she is the first ever full time executive director for the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce. She has a passion for workplace equality that can’t be matched and is the perfect fit as our new executive director.”

Fluck said Howe not only had the management skills to run the chamber, but her qualities as a former coach would prove invaluable in moving the NGLBTCC forward.

“In her six years at Belmont, Howe turned a losing team into Atlantic Sun Conference champions and was named conference Coach of the Year in 2009,” Fluck said.

Howe said that she knew this was the right position when she saw it advertised. After her separation with Belmont, she said she knew she wanted to be an advocate for work place equality.

“The Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce executive director position was the perfect job to fulfill my goals and vision,” she said.

Howe started her new job on Feb. 1. Her responsibilities include oversight and management of day-to-day operations; membership recruitment and retention; corporate partnership development; calendar development; recruitment and oversight of volunteers and the development and execution of an annual fundraiser.

Since the Belmont incident Howe has spoken to dozens of media outlets about being a gay Christian, coming out, and equality.

A look back at San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band at the SF mayoral inauguration

Heidi Beeler looks back in the Bay Tmes at her participation with the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, a member of FGG member organization LGBA, in the recent inauguration of the city's new mayor:


On Sunday, January 8, we musicians from the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed for the inauguration of Mayor Ed Lee, sworn in that day as the 43rd mayor of San Francisco by Diane Feinstein. The band was one of many local performers to provide entertainment, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Girls and Boys Choruses of San Francisco, Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association, World Arts West, Beach Blanket Babylon and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. It was a symbolic nod to our city’s diversity, and a fitting gesture from Mayor Lee, whose inaugural speech emphasized the need to come together with civility.

There’s nothing quite like playing in the City Hall rotunda. You take your place at the top of the Grand Staircase, dwarfed by neoclassical carvings. And when you play, the music ricochets around the marble halls and columns, circling the inside of the enormous dome until you find you’re accompanying your own echo in a room almost as old as the City itself. The inauguration was attended by every living mayor of San Francisco – Diane Feinstein, Art Agnos, Frank Jordan, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, even George Moscone’s widow, Gina – and by national and state officials including Nancy Pelosi, Mark Leno, Kamala Harris, Tom Ammiano. In that setting before that audience, it felt like the music echoed back through history. The effect was haunting.

Kile Ozier has said "It Gets Better" to over 1000 viewers!

Kile Ozier's It Gets Better video was the first one we posted over a year ago, near the start of the campaign.

This video has just reached 1000 views. Thanks to Kile for reaching out to so many people! How about you?

Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

21 April 2012 / Elaios holds 7th Juegos del Cierzo

A message from FGG member organization Elaios:

From LGTB sports club Elaios we invite you to take part in the new edition of Cierzo Games that will take place from 21 to 23 of April 2012 in Zaragoza, Spain.

The 7th Cierzo Games intend to reach a record participation, at both national and international levels, although we can assure the even will not lose its familiar character and its personal treatment that have become its pattern. It wants to become a more even event, with an increase of female athletes and a wider sports offer.

This year we will continue trying harder to make it an attractive event for everyone, with the ability to surprise and attract. As biggest innovations this year we will have:

- New GLTA tennis tournaments for doubles. After the success of its first edition last year, and overseen by the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance, in 2012 Zaragoza will become Spain’s third city along with Madrid and Barcelona to host such an event and the only one exclusively for doubles.

- Return of swimming to Cierzo Games. It was first included in 2010 with 70 swimmers. This time the swimming competition is restored, it will be authorized by Federacion Aragonesa de Natacion (Aragonese swimming federation) and there will be new categories of competitions (up to 400 mts.)

- Heavy bet for women’s sports. Elaios, as a club that is engaged to women’s visibility in sports, wants to continue promoting equal Cierzo Games. That is why this year there will be an exclusively sport for women (basket), female competition in volley and the possibility to take part in the rest of the competitions.

- More shared activities. We make a big bet for recreational and social activities where sportsmen and sportswomen from different disciplines can interact between each other. For this purpose a whole welcome program, parties, brunch and dinner in wide spaces have been scheduled so they can simultaneously accept participants from all sports (volley, basket, tennis and swimming).

Inscription time is open and will close the 5 of April 2012, being that date the last one to pay the fees.

As hosting club we are full of hope and mood and we will work hard to get the best results. We expect to count on your presence and see you coming to live the best edition of Cierzo games along with all the other competitors and Elaios!

INFO

Auf Deutsch / DFB würdigt Kampf gegen Homophobie

From 11freunde.de, news of the presentation by the German Football Federation of its volunteer prize to Carsten Stock, the leader of the Hamburger LGBT sports club Startschuss:

Der Deutschen Fußball-Bund (DFB) hat den Hamburger Carsten Stock mit dem DFB-Ehrenamtspreis 2011 ausgezeichnet und würdigt damit den Kampf gegen Homophobie.
DFB - DFB würdigt Kampf gegen Homophobie

Frankfurt/Main - Der Deutschen Fußball-Bund (DFB) hat den Hamburger Carsten Stock mit dem DFB-Ehrenamtspreis 2011 ausgezeichnet und würdigt damit den Kampf gegen Homophobie. Der 42-jährige Stock engagiert sich bereits seit 2004 im schwul-lesbischen Sportverein Startschuss SLSV gegen die Diskriminierung Homosexueller. Wie der Hamburger Fußballverband HFV mitteilte, hat sich Stock "um die soziale und internationale Integration des Vereins verdient gemacht".

"Im Fußball hat sich viel bewegt. Eine solche Ehrung für ein Engagement in einem schwul-lesbischen Sportverein wäre noch vor ein paar Jahren undenkbar gewesen", sagte Stock. Es sei gelungen, in Hamburg Berührungsängste abzubauen: "Auch wenn die Diskriminierung nicht vollständig überwunden ist: Wir sind mittlerweile in dieser Stadt angekommen."

Team Hamburg at Gay Games VIII

Stock initiierte zahlreiche Werbeaktionen, die humorvoll die Klischees von Schwulen und Fußball überwunden hätten. Stock organisiert außerdem seit 2005 das "StartschussMasters", ein Hallenturnier für schwule Fußballer, das sich zu einem der größten seiner Art in Deutschland entwickelt hat und Jahr für Jahr auch zahlreiche Teams aus dem Ausland nach Hamburg lockt.

Grundsätzlich nahm Stock bei diesem sensiblen Thema auch die Klubs mit in die Pflicht. "Es gibt Spieler, die keine Probleme haben und offen schwul in ihrem Verein Fußball spielen können, andere haben aber immer noch Angst, sich in dem sehr Macho-geprägten Umfeld des Fußballs zu outen. Alleine der Mut, zu sich selbst zu stehen, reicht hier nicht aus. Auch die Vereine und Verbände sind gefragt, von sich aus offener mit dem Thema umzugehen und ein entsprechendes Klima zu schaffen", sagte Stock.

Anti-semitism and homophobia: partners in crime

Hungary's far-right (to say things moderately) Jobbik party, the third largest party in the country's parliament, has made the news in recent days, with its leader claiming that the upcoming Eurogames were a sign of the Apocalypse, and its foreign affairs spokesman denying the Holocaust and claiming that Israeli businesses in Hungary represented a threat to the country. 






The Federation of Gay Games remains fully committed to supporting the EuroGames and the forces for an open and democratic Hungary.

Here is the Jobbik statement on the Eurogames:


Statement of Jobbik (Movement for a Better Hungary) on EuroGames 2012
translated by Marcell Balogh

We must stop the Fag Olympics!

The Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) faction of the General Assembly of Budapest was shocked to learn the fact that Budapest is being pressured from abroad as well to organize the anti-Christian hate orgy called “Gay Olympics.”* Mayor István Tarlós was right to reject the request of the (lady)governor-mayor of Berlin, in which (s)he** referred to a promise made by failed city leader Gábor Demszky and asked for Tarlós’s support of the so-called “Gay Olympics” to be held in Budapest.

The Jobbik faction of the General Assembly vigorously asks Mayor Tarlós to immediately close the back doors that this exhibitionist parade, which discriminates against heterosexuals, could take advantage of***; and to immediately start an investigation into whether the event’s organizers have signed any contracts to use state- or city-owned sports or other types of facilities. If so, Mayor Tarlós shall order immediate termination of those contracts. It is outrageous that during the 2012 London Olympics Budapest is stuck with the “Gay Olympics.” This event must be stopped because it is not about sport, but about flooding the city with several thousands of homosexuals.

The aggressive multicultural power demonstration called “Gay Olympics” is problematic for the Jobbik party for several reasons. Firstly, because the leader of the capital city of a country which has a close relationship with Hungary ignores the fact that the twenty-year-long social-liberal occupation of Budapest is over.**** Secondly, the Jobbik faction of the General Assembly finds it unacceptable that the streets of Budapest are to be flooded with visual deviance and aggressive promotion of diversity; since not only perverted amateur athletes would be pouring in from around the world, but also their fans.

Thirdly, Jobbik would not like Budapest to turn into a police- and barricade-city again, since securing the event would divert tremendous police forces from providing public safety.***** The normal majority of the society rightfully rejects the public display of homosexuality which can be qualified as deviance. Jobbik is also aware that the majority of the Hungarian society voices its opinion not against the existence of gays, but against their demonstrative and provocative exhibitionism; and it would be hard to hold back those who will perhaps express their revulsion against homosexuals in a more radical way.

The Jobbik faction of the General Assembly will use all legal means and opportunities to thwart the dream of the former mayor and stop Budapest from turning into Demszky’s homolulu this summer!

János Czeglédi, Budapest city representative of Jobbik

Released by the Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik).

*The real name of the event is EuroGames.
**The press release purposely refers to Klaus Wowereit as possibly woman.
***In reality EuroGames has an anti-discrimination policy; straight players are welcome to participate.
**** Demszky was Budapest’s mayor for twenty years, partly in a liberal-socialist coalition. He did not seek re-election and Tarlós succeeded him in October 2010.
***** Reference to previous Gay Pride Parades, when entire streets had to be fenced off and hundreds of police officers had to be mobilized to control violent counter protestors, some of whom were organized by Jobbik.

19 February 2012 / Football v Homophobia

A message from the Justin Campaign:

On February 19th 2010, The Justin Campaign launched “Football v Homophobia” – An international day opposing homophobia in football. The intention of this initiative is to provide an opportunity for individuals, communities and teams the world over to communicate their disapproval of homophobia in the game and celebrate its diverse following under the banner of Football v Homophobia. Last year, supporters of the initiative in the UK united with fans in North America, Canada, Spain and other countries for the first event.

The initiative is now about to enjoy its third year! Its growth and success is testament to all those who have supported and contributed to its development. The Justin Campaign very much hope that you enjoyed the day and we thank you for your support for the day this year. Football v Homophobia has been a great success thanks to you and it significantly impacts upon how LGBT people are perceived and treated in football. And remember you don’t have to be a football fan or a sports group to back the campaign! Impacting on homophobia in football will communicate a zero tolerance attitude to homophobia, in any shape or form, across the world.

Info HERE.

19 February 2012 / En español / Dia international contra la homofobia en el futbol

DÍA INTERNACIONAL CONTRA LA HOMOFOBIA EN EL FÚTBOL--
TORNEO FÚTBOL SALA FEMENINO CONTRA LA HOMOFOBIA EN EL FÚTBOL

Listen to Jack Mackenroth "Poz I Am" interview with Gay Games Ambassador Greg Louganis

From the radio program Poz I Am on BlogTalkRadio:

This Sunday February 5th at 9pm EST our friend Jack Mackenroth spoke with Olympic Gold Medalist and Gay Games Ambassador Greg Louganis. Openly gay and HIV-positive Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis wants to show off his moves on ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ next season. Louganis fans have created a Facebook campaign to ABC to extend an invitation to Louganis, and the campaign is getting some attention.

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Listen to internet radio with POZIAM RADIO on Blog Talk Radio

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Greg is a five time World Champion and holds 47 National Championship titles. At the Pan Am Games, he earned six Gold Medals, and in 1985, he was awarded the Sullivan Award as the “Nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete.”However, what most people remember about Greg is that he went on to win Olympic Gold at the 1988 Games despite striking the back of his head on the springboard during the preliminaries. He attempted a reverse 2½ somersault pike in the ninth round of the prelims, and he hit his head on the board and fell into the water. Thirty-five minutes later, after receiving stitches to his scalp wound, he resumed diving. The following day, he hit all 11 dives and easily won the Olympic Gold Medal. After he tested positive for HIV in 1988,he recounted his story in a best-selling book Breaking the Surface. The book spent five weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. His story was also documented in the 1996 Showtime movie Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story with Mario Lopez playing the lead and Louganis narrating.

Greg has worn many hats, Actor, Dancer, Olympian, Diver, Dog Trainer, Speaker, AIDS Activist, Equality and Diversity Activist, and yes he would love to be on Dancing With The Stars in honor of his Mom’s memory, Frances Louganis, “My Mom would have loved to see me on that show” says Greg.

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LZ Granderson on the progress made by the NFL

LZ Granderson writes in his ESPN column on the progress made by the NFL in the field of homophobia:

It's been about 10 years since former NFL lineman Esera Tuaolo told HBO's "Real Sports" that he was gay. A lot has changed in the game since then.

Back then Tuaolo, who played in Super Bowl XXXIII, said he stayed in hiding for fear he could lose his career. Today, the owners of both the New York Giants and New England Patriots have publicly come out in support of marriage equality.
[+] EnlargeDavid Kopay, Esera Tuaolo
Gregg DeGuire/WireImageDavid Kopay, left was the first former NFL player to come out. Esera Tuaolo was the third.

Back then one-time teammate Sterling Sharpe, in reaction to Tuaolo's news, said an openly gay player wouldn't make it to his next game. Today, Section 1 of the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement reads: "No Discrimination: There will be no discrimination in any form against any player by the Management Council, any Club or by the NFLPA [NFL Players Association] because of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or activity or lack of activity on behalf of the NFLPA."

Over the years I have used my space on this website to chastise the sports world for dragging its collective feet when it comes to the topic of gays and lesbians in sports. But just as I have criticized boldly in the past, I also need to boldly applaud the progress made, particularly in the NFL.

Shortly after the lockout was lifted and the CBA ratified, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said: "We certainly believe, speaking for the Players Association, that we have a tremendous social and cultural impact. We definitely understand the effect that we have on society and culture, and we feel we have a responsibility to have very high standards. With something like discrimination of any kind, we just want to make sure we are a symbol for good."

Gay Games 9 promo in Akron

A message from Christopher Rogers about a Gay Games 9 promo in Akron this weekend:


We had brought close to 30 'Gay Games 9' T-shirts to the "Interbelt Nite Club" in Akron last night, and we did not anticipate that they would disappear so soon. And the cheers from the crowd as Ashley Adams spoke about the Games was fantastic. We'll be back with more T-shirts real soon, and we will let you know when - Thank you everyone for your support!

23 May 2012 / Sailor Moonz welcomes you to IGBO 2012

Final IGBO from Ty Whitfield on Vimeo.

Find more about IGBO 2012 bowling HERE.

A bowling romance

Sport is about far more than performance. It's first and foremost a social activity, and that's a big reason LGBT sports clubs and events exist. Here's a great example of the power of sport to bring people together from Jeff Kagan in Next magazine:

Matt Graham likes his balls heavy. Of course, we’re talking about bowling—get your mind out of the gutter! In 13 years of bowling, Graham has bowled nine perfect games (that’s 12 strikes in a row, earning a score of 300), and he’s had dozens of games above 290.

With such high scores, many bowlers decide to compete in national tournaments, so two years ago Matt went to Columbus, Ohio, to play in the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) Annual Tournament over Memorial Day Weekend. He didn’t bowl as well as he had hoped, but he picked up more than a spare in the hospitality suite after the games. Matt recalls, “I was hanging out with other fellow bowlers and friends when I saw a guy dressed in black enter our circle. He was smiling from ear to ear because he had bowled a 279 earlier in the day.”

Keep reading HERE.

Top British football league teams sign anti-homophobia charter

From the PinkNews:

The twenty football clubs which make up the Premier League have signed the Sports Charter aiming to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.

The Sports Charter was launched in June 2011 at 10 Downing Street when Chief Executive Richard Scudamore signed on behalf of the Premier League.

All 20 Premier League clubs have now signed the Charter individually, the League said today.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League said: “We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment with each of our clubs signing the Charter.

“The Premier League and our member clubs believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background.

“When the Sports Charter to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport was launched in June 2011 the Premier League signed it and we are pleased to re-affirm our commitment to it today with each of our clubs signing it individually.”

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone added: “Nearly 3,000 individuals and clubs have already signed up and I’m delighted that Premier League clubs have taken a stand by signing the Charter too.

“It sends a really strong signal when clubs in the best league in the world say enough is enough.”

The Charter is made up of four points:

- We believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background.
- We believe that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity. Sport teaches individuals how to strive and succeed, how to cope with success and disappointment, and brings people together with a common goal.
- We are committed to making these values a reality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We will work together, and individually, to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia.
- We will make football a welcome place for everyone – for those participating in the sport, those attending matches and for those working or volunteering in it. We will work with all these groups to ensure they have a voice, and to challenge unacceptable behaviour.

Keep reading HERE.

San Francisco Track and Field Club presents awards

A message from FGG member San Francisco Track and Field Club:.

At the end of the year celebration, the Club acknowledged and presented awards to three exceptional members of the Club. Please join us in congratulating the fantastic three: Andrew Bundy, Chris Goodwin, and Allen Eggman (from left to right pictured below).

2011 Award of Excellence
Chris earned Award of Excellence for his superb performances on the track in 2011, as well as his contributions to the team as the Board Secretary and the unofficial coach. In 2011, Chris competed in Senior Games, World Masters Athletics Championships, and Pride Meet. Despite such a busy schedule, he remained healthy and injury-free, and produced great results in the competition. In addition, he showed very firm commitment to the team, coming to the practice practically every Sunday and led the team with dynamic stretching exercise and sprint training program. His service on the Board as Secretary allowed the Board to conduct its business smoothly and effectively.

Outstanding Contribution
For years, Allen was our sole source of fundraising, organizing garage sales, beer busts, a booth at (the now defunct) Harrison Bear Fair, food service at Lazy Bear, etc.. He also stepped forward to encourage, support and coach us in field events. We have a team full of decathletes because of Allen's dedication and skill at showing people how to pole vault, high jump, throw the discus, the shot and the javelin. On top of all that, he's an amazing athlete and a great inspiration to the team with his all-around track and field skills. He was our first ever Gay Games gold medal decathlete and because of him our team will have many more in Gay Games to come.

Outstanding Contribution
Andy's achievements on the track are also legendary and inspirational. But it was through his persistence and drive that we are the team we are today: He got us to become a non-profit organization, which led us to form a Board, and then to get money-making booths at SF Gay Pride and Folsom Street Fair. He organized and followed through with establishing and continuing to run the Pride Meet which now attracts athletes, gay and straight, from around the world. He's gotten us fundraisers at the Lookout and has lead the team as Board President several times. Through his leadership skills, we have become such a formidable track Club, both on the track and financially speaking.

Big congratulations to Chris, Allen and Andy. We look forward to seeing you on and off the track (and field) in the new season!

Our thoughts with Alan Lessik

On behalf of the board and assembly of the FGG, we express our condolences to our treasurer Alan Lessik on the death of his partner René Valdès.

3 February 2012 / Gay curling in Vancouver

From the Vancouver Courier, a story on gay curling, in the spotlight this weekend at the Canadian Gay Curling Championships:

On one of eight ice sheets at the Vancouver Curling Club, Andrew Bass is taking a lesson from veteran curler Mark Bailey. The handsome younger man crouches in the hack, grips a stone and nearly keeps his balance as he pushes ahead and slides forward.

It's the first time they will be competing with the same rink (this is their first time on the ice together) and Bailey, his cheeks flushed after an hour in the cavernous ice shed, will be the team's skip and throw the crucial last two rocks each end. New to the team, he's stepping in for his son who is busy helping organize a national tournament schedule for Vancouver this weekend. The Bailey rink will be competing in the recreational bonspiel.

"I'm looking forward to taking over his team and hopefully coming out on top," said Bailey, showing the competitive edge of his playfulness. Now he's teaching Bass, his son's partner, how to improve his game in preparation for the Canadian Gay Curling Championships hosted Feb. 3 to 5 by the Pacific Rim Curling League, one of the largest leagues in the province with 220 gay, lesbian and trans members.

[...]

John Boychuk, the past president of Vancouver Pride and former chairperson of the 2011 Vancouver Outgames, said sport provides a vital social network that can contribute to an individual's self-esteem and sense of self. A large-scale tournament encourages pride and challenges stereotypes.

"First off, when you take a look at what sport does for individuals who are out or coming out, it gives them a sense of being part of a team. Second off, for individuals who think sport is not for the gay and lesbian community, this shows a variety of abilities and shows that your average, everyday person who plays sport also plays the same sports as the straight community," Boychuk said.

Keep reading HERE.

21 April 2012 / Los 7º Juegos del Cierzo

Desde el Club Deportivo LGTB Elaios te invitamos a participar en la nueva edición de los Juegos del Cierzo que tendrá lugar los días 20, 21 y 22 de abril de 2012 en Zaragoza.

Los 7º Juegos del Cierzo aspiran a contar con una participación record, tanto nacional como extranjera; sin embargo, os aseguramos que el evento no perderá el carácter familiar y el trato personalizado que lo caracteriza. También pretende ser un evento más paritario, con un incremento de la participación femenina, y con una mayor oferta deportiva.

Este año seguimos esforzándonos por generar un evento atractivo para todas y todos y con capacidad para sorprender y atraer. Como principales novedades para este año cabe destacar:

- Nuevo Torneo GLTA de Tenis en la modalidad de dobles. Tras el éxito de acogida del pasado torneo de tenis, supervisado por la Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance, en 2012 Zaragoza se convertirá en la tercera ciudad de España, junto a Madrid y Barcelona, con un torneo GLTA, y el único en la modalidad exclusiva de dobles.

- Reincoporación de la Natación a los Juegos del Cierzo. En 2010 se incluyó por primera vez la modalidad de natación en los Juegos del Cierzo, con una participación de 70 nadadoras y nadadores. En esta ocasión recuperamos el torneo de natación, que contará de nuevo con la sanción de la Federación Aragonesa de Natación y una novedosa oferta de pruebas (hasta 400 metros).

- Apuesta firme por el deporte femenino. Elaios, como club comprometido con la visibilidad de la mujer en el deporte, quiere seguir promoviendo unos Juegos del Cierzo igualitarios. Por ello, este año ofrecemos una modalidad deportiva exclusivamente femenina (Baloncesto), modalidad femenina en el torneo de voleibol y garantía de la posibilidad de participación femenina en el resto de competiciones.

- Más actividades transversales. Queremos apostar fuerte por las actividades lúdico-sociales en la que deportistas de diferentes disciplinas se relacionen entre sí. Para ello, se ha diseñado un completo programa de acogidas, fiestas, brunch y cena, en amplios espacios que permitirá acoger a participantes de todas las disciplinas (voley, baloncesto, tenis y natación) simultáneamente.

El periodo de inscripciones está abierto y finalizará al 5 de Abril de 2012, siendo este día el último hábil para efectuar el pago de la inscripción.

Como club anfitrión, estamos llenos de ilusión y de ánimo y trabajaremos a fondo para lograr el mejor de los resultados. Esperamos contar con tú presencia y que vengas a vivir junto a Elaios y el resto de participantes la mejor edición de los Juegos del Cierzo!!


INFO

Cuotas de inscripción:

Pack Básico Acompañantes: (Welcome Pack, Recepción, Fiesta Bienvenida, Cena Sábado en un Restaurante de la Ciudad y Fiesta Sábado Noche) por 30 euros.
Pack Básico Deportistas: (Welcome Pack, Recepción, Fiesta Bienvenida, Competición deportiva) por 40 euros
Pack Deportistas + Fiesta: (Welcome Pack, Recepción, Fiesta Bienvenida, Competición deportiva y Fiesta Sábado Noche) por 45 euros
Pack Cena incluida Deportistas: (Welcome Pack, Recepción, Fiesta Bienvenida, Competición deportiva, Cena Sábado en un Restaurante de la Ciudad y Fiesta Sábado Noche) por 60 euros
Brunch del Domingo: 10 euros.
Pago Posterior al 5 de Marzo: +10 euros.


Descuentos de Renfe:

El Club Deportivo Elaios ha conseguido para todos los participantes de los VII Juegos del Cierzo descuentos en los viajes de tren a Zaragoza durante los dias 20 y 22 de Abril de un 30% en alta Velocidad, cercanias y media distancia convencional. Los interesados en esta oferta debeis poneros en contacto con elaios@elaios.org y solicitarlo, una vez comprobado que estais inscritos en el Torneo se os enviará un Bono via correo electrónico con el que podreis disponer de estos descuentos.

UK football players group launches homophobia initiative

From the Daily Mail, news of an initiative of the UK's Professional Footballers Association, the trade union for soccer players:

The PFA will send a poster out to all 92 Premier League and Football League clubs to raise awareness of homophobia in the game.

The union has been working with leading figures in the game for the past few months to tackle the issue and will send out the poster to try to create a 'so what?' culture around homosexuality in football and reassure a gay footballer that he will have support from his club, team-mates and the wider public if he does choose to come out.

The poster shows two shirts in a locker room – one with No 7 Gay and the other with No 11 Straight – written on it, with the words ‘When you are part of a team you are never on your own – we are all winners. Football is committed to tackling homophobia’.

The poster has the official backing of the FA, Premier League, Football League, League Managers’ Association and the Kick It Out campaign.

Following the poster, an educational DVD on the subject featuring prominent gay sportsmen and women - including Gareth Thomas, Martina Navratilova ans Swedish footballer Anton Hysen - will be distributed. All 92 clubs have also agreed to sign the government's charter for homophobia and transphobia within sport.

Keep reading HERE.

Anton Hysén interview in Gay4Soccer

From an interview with out footballer Anton Hysén on Gay4Soccer.com:


Anton Hysén wants to play in Major League Soccer.

Born in Liverpool and currently playing in Sweden’s Division 1 for Utsiktens BK, Hysén fell in love with the United States while in college, attending North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount. While the small school is in NCAA’s Third Division and didn’t provide much exposure to soccer in the States, Hysén nonetheless grew to greatly enjoy his time in America as well as the Americans he encountered, and ventures back as often as is possible.

Noting “I like everywhere; it’s still America,” where he plays isn’t much of an issue, he just wants to play professionally in one of the great cities in a country where he has come to enjoy his time. To him living and playing in America “would be an amazing feeling,” a feeling he’s had since his time in North Carolina.

Hysén knows full well that if he plays in Major League Soccer there is the strong possibility he would be the first out gay man to play in a major American professional sport’s top division. Coming out to the media last spring, he finds it sad that no man here has come out while playing a team sport professionally. He enters into the possibility of being the first proudly and boldly, also knowing full well that there is the potential he will face homophobia at some point in his American career.

Keep reading HERE.

21 February 2012 / Pride Sports sponsors panel with Nottingham Ball Bois and Kick It Out

Kick-it-out is a national organisation which campaigns against racism and homophobia in football. Every year, to coincide with LGBT History Month, they hold a panel event focussing on homophobia in the game, in conjunction with FGG member organization Pride Sports, the UK's LGBT sports development and equity organisation, and with the support of the FA.

Nottingham Ball Bois are pleased to have been approached to host the event this year. The event will take place in the Nottingham Trent University's Newton Building in the city centre on 21 February 2012.

Guests and registration details to be announced shortly.

Follow the news on Facebook HERE.

Hlengiwe Buthelezi flies the colors of the FGG at New Orleans conference

TOGS delegate to the FGG Hlengiwe Buthelezi from Durban, South Africa participated last month at the 2012 National African-American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS held in New Orleans. Hlengiwe's club in Durban, KZN LGBT Recreation, engages in ongoing HIV/AIDS education and prevention actions for men and women, and while in New Orleans she was able to exchange with leaders from around the USA and from other countries on the need for a strong engagement to fight against AIDS in communities with particular needs.

While at the conference, Hlengiwe wore with pride her FGG clothing, and spoke of the Gay Games and the role of LGBT sport with other participants in the conference. Thanks to Hlengiwe!

Hlengiwe with a delegate from Cleveland

GLSEN's "Think Before You Speak" at the Superbowl

Our friends at GLSEN Change the Game will see the public service announcement produced with the NBA shown at this weekend's Superbowl:

At Super Bowl XLVI, 70,000 spectators plus a parking lot full of 80,000 fans will see our ThinkB4YouSpeak PSAs, on the big screen outside the stadium. That's 800,000 impressions over the course of the day.

1 August 2012 / Unity Football Cup in Stockholm

A message from FGG member IGLFA:

From 1-5 August 2012, during Stockholm Pride, the LGBT team Stockholm Snipers IF together with the straight team Råsunda FC are hosting a football tournament 1-5/8 2012. LGBT teams from all over Europe are invited to join mainstream teams from Stockholm.

The aim is to build bridges between the communities andto create unity. The Swedish FA and Stockholms FA are supporting the tournament. The event will include a 7-a-side and a 11-a-side tournament with up to 9 teams in each. The venue for the tournament is Skytteholms IP in Solna. More information will follow as soon as possible.

Follow the news on Facebook HERE.

Outsports on new effort from the first out US professional team sport athlete

Outsports corrects an error, and shares a new message for allies in the fight against homophobia in sport:

Andrew Goldstein, America’s first out pro team-sport athlete, issues a challenge
Jan 25th, 2012
by Cyd Zeigler jr..

When we put together our list of the 100 most important moments in LGBT sports history, we knew we’d probably overlook something. Maybe an Austrian hurdler came out in the Eighties, or some Slovakian soccer player had said something horribly homophobic and damaging. And we may have missed something like that. But I was incredibly embarrassed when I realized we missed a story that we had written about extensively, and that I personally feel is a deeply important moment in our history.

Many people, gay and straight, wonder when we will have the first openly gay professional team-sport athlete in America. The truth is, we’ve already had him.

Andrew Goldstein was openly gay when the Boston Cannons drafted him in the 2005 Major League Lacrosse draft. While many athletes claim an out athlete will lose his position on the team if he comes out, Goldstein was selected by a team that knew perfectly well he was gay.

[...]

With his professional sports-playing days behind him, Goldstein has turned to amateur gay athletics. It’s not easy finding a lacrosse game in Los Angeles, so he’s returned to ice hockey. He played with the Los Angeles Blades for several years; He won a gold medal in ice hockey playing with a Toronto-based team at the 2010 Gay Games.

Goldstein has also found a home with the GForce hockey team. The team was started years ago by Glenn Witman as a challenge to a straight local all-star team during Aspen Gay Ski Week. GForce still represents gay athletes while playing in mainstream tournaments, but it’s become a larger advocacy organization. Recently the group has spoken to the American Hockey Coaches Association, the University of Toronto and the University of Denver.

It was a trip to Boston, to speak to high school and college athletes on behalf of GForce, that most struck Goldstein. The mini tour included a forum with athletes and coaches from Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern; Also on tap was a speech at the Northfield Mt. Hermon School, which sends more athletes to the Ivy League than any other (video of that speech is below).

While Goldstein had been a part of preaching-to-the-choir panel discussions, these audiences were filled with students, athletes and coaches from across the spectrum on the issue. Legendary college hockey coaches like Jerry York and Jack Parker sat with their teams and listened as Goldstein and other GForce members talked about the stinging power of gay slurs, among other issues.

“They were listening to us and asking questions about, ‘what do I do if an athlete comes out to me’ or ‘what should I be doing to change things’?” Goldstein said. “I’ve been part of these forums where you feel the people going are the people interested in changing homophobia in sports. But going right to these athletic teams and their coaches and having them ask questions…and they ask honest questions like, ‘are these gay athletes looking at us in the shower?’ Speaking to the athletes themselves is the biggest impact we can have instead of going to a panel that’s going to self-select the people who are interested in hearing about it.”

Now Goldstein is on a mission to recruit more athletes to push these tough conversations with athletes and coaches. His new challenge to gay athletes and allies is simple: Coming out isn’t enough anymore, you’ve got to get in the trenches, talk to more coaches, athletes an administrators and affect real change.

[...]

Read in full HERE.