UEFA executive at LGBT Euro 2012 party

From Gay Star News:

A UEFA chief has emphasized the organizations commitment to tackling homophobia at a gay reception hosted in the Ukraine.

He was joined by soccer fans from France, Spain, Portugal and Austria at the party hosted by British lesbian activist Claire Dimyon where he met members of the LGBT community in Donetsk.

Together they toasted gay pride and Ukrainian Constitution Day, which is on 28 June, at the party last night (26 June).

Patrick Gasser, who heads UEFA’s football and social responsibility unit, said: ‘I am here to confirm our commitment to oppose all forms of discrimination, all homophobia and all racism. I am delighted to participate in the special celebration of pride.’
Keep reading HERE.

Olympic footballer Megan Rapinoe comes out

From Out Magazine:


Megan Rapinoe is learning to be comfortable in the spotlight. She’s got to be; it’s enthusiasts who keep soccer alive.

“We need fans; we need people to watch our games,” she says. “I don’t think it happens like it does in male sports, just because we’re playing. We do a good job of opening up and having our fans know us. But there’s a line we don’t cross, because then they will dive in.”

Some fans already have. Who can blame them? Rapinoe -- also a member of the U.S. women’s national team and a midfielder for the Seattle Sounders Women -- is one of the most well-known women’s soccer players in the world. So it’s no wonder she’s inspired some enthusiastic fans—like the German guy who tattooed her likeness on the back of his calf.

“That was strange—really strange,” she says. “I’m cute, but I’m not that cute.”

With her unmistakable shock of bleached-blond hair and upbeat personality, Rapinoe inspired legions of devotees last year after making her first World Cup appearance as a midfielder on the U.S. women’s team. She had a key role in the team’s heart-pounding wins and instigated an unforgettable moment when she grabbed a microphone and sang “Born in the U.S.A.” to the crowd.

Keep reading HERE.

London swimmers to swim the Channel for charity

The swim has been postponed due to bad weather, but the plan is still on! 

Out To Swim members will swim from Dover to Calais to raise money for Central London Samaritans

24 June 2012 | By Joe Morgan in Gay Star News:

A gay and lesbian relay team will be swimming the 21 miles of the English Channel for charity this week.
Six members of British club Out To Swim will plunge into the 14 degree waters off the coast of England, swimming one by one for an hour at a time, before reaching Calais in France.

They will be doing this task in the aim of raising money for the Central London Samaritans, a charity that provides confidential emotional support for anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair, which can lead to suicide.

All experienced swimmers, the six gay men and women have trained for months to be able to withstand the ice cold temperatures and marathon distance.

Keep reading HERE.

7 July 2012 / Team up to fight AIDS with the Washington Nationals

News from Team DC:

Team Up to Fight AIDS with the Washington Nationals
Saturday, July 7

To help recognize the return of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to Washington, Whitman-Walker Health is working with the Quilt organizers to bring panels of the Quilt to Nationals Park when the Nationals take on the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, July 7 at 4:05 PM. You can get your tickets online HERE. Each ticket sold will include a $5 donation to the AIDS Memorial Quilt and Whitman-Walker Health. We urge you to purchase your tickets TODAY to ensure that the Quilt can be displayed!

Blake Skjellerup cycles from Melbourne to Sydney

(It's a long trip!)

Remember that Gay Games Ambassador Blake Skjellerup is seeking your support for his training for the 2014 Olympics! And a share of your donation goes to the Canterbury [Christchurch, NZ] Earthquake Children’s Trust.

DONATE HERE: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/blakeskjellerrupforgold
blakeskjellerup.com

13 June 2013 / IGLFA Euro Cup 2013 to be hosted in Dublin

After this year's edition in Budapest at the EuroGames, the IGLFA Euro Cup heads to Dublin for 2013, hosted by the Dublin Devils and the Dublin Phoenix Tigers.

Euro Cup 2013 is a featured partner event: thanks for your support for Gay Games 9!

euro2013dublin.com
www.dublindevilsfc.com

As we prepare for our 30th anniversary, a look back at our 25th

RealJock.com did a great slide show of Gay Games  photos on the occasion of our 25th anniversary celebreations in 2007.

Find them HERE.

Remember to save the date for the 30th anniversary: 20-21 October 2012, Los Angeles!

Gender equality and the 2012 Olympic Games

From the website of the International Working Group on Women and Sport, which also considers the discrimination facing men in synchronized swimming and rythmic gymnastics:

This year’s Olympic Games in London are heralded as the most gender equal in Olympic history and mark some significant achievements in terms of gender equality such as increases in women’s participation and parity of sport disciplines. Despite these encouraging developments, the shadow of gender inequality still lingers over the XXX Olympiad.

For the third time in history, the Olympic Games will be hosted by London, having hosted the Games previously in 1908 and 1948. In 1908 male athletes outnumbered female athletes 53 to 1. In 1948 the ratio had decreased to 10 to 1. The number of men and women participating in the 2012 Olympic Games approaches parity, though men will still outnumber women by 1,114, according to projections (for more comparisons between the three Games hosted by London, see http://to.ly/echK). Nevertheless, IOC President Jacque Rogge deserves appraise for actively promoted equal participation by men and women during his term of office. (See also http://to.ly/ecDG)

Another significant milestone towards female participation is the possibility that every team attending the 2012 London Games might include at least one female competitor for the first time ever. Women made their Olympic debut in 1900 at the Paris Summer Olympic Games at which only 21 female athletes competed. Only two decades ago, 35 NOCs sent male-only teams to Barcelona. By 2012 only three nations – all Muslim countries ruled by monarchies – have yet to send a woman to compete at the Olympic or Paralympic Games: Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia. This stands to change as Qatar plans to send three female Olympic competitors to London and Brunei has pledged to send one woman to the Olympic Games. After initially issuing a statement that women would not be allowed to compete under the kingdom’s flag at this or future Games, Saudi Arabia recently amended its decision by stating:

Continue reading HERE.

Gotham Girls Roller Derby league

From the NYC Pride Guide, a story on the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league:

The league is made up of four home teams which play within the league (the Bronx Gridlock, Brooklyn Bombshells, Manhattan Mayhem, and Queens of Pain) and two competition teams (the Wall Street Traitors and the Gotham Girls All-Stars, compiled of league skaters from all four home teams). In 2011 the Gotham Girls won the WFTDA Championship, making them the top league in the world.
[...]
GGRD is committed to fostering serious competition on a national and international level, developing amateur athletes for competition, and promoting the physical and mental strength and independent spirit of female athletes. And they are damn entertaining! Every year there are rookies and veterans to root for. You may even become a fan of your favorite teams “Jeerleader” squad, the leagues version of cheerleaders.

Sean Smith on making mainstream sport a little more LGBT

Win Chesson, Scott Jordan, David Spires and Sean Smith
after a relay at IGLA Championships in Iceland. 
(Photo Courtesy of Onesimo Demira).

From an interesting post by Our Group's Sean Smith, just back from IGLA 2012 in Reykjavik:

If gay athletes, including those at the elite level, don’t exist then how can you explain the popularity of LGBT sports organizations? They exist all over the world in different forms. I’ve been a critic in the past of the segmented LGBT category of sports competitions until I had the experience of competing in some. I have had the opportunity to compete at the OutGames in 2006, the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatic (IGLA) world championships in 2009 and most recently the IGLA world championships in Reykjavík, Iceland in May.

Obviously the Iceland competition I recently took part in is not the most competitive meet I’ve been to, but why was it so fulfilling? I asked some athletes that are in Omaha right now for US Olympic Trials and were also at IGLA in Iceland three weeks ago why they felt it was important enough to go to that meet. Their answer was simple. “It’s fun, it gives me a sense of community, and I love competing with my teammates!”

For me the unique ingredient to swimming at an IGLA meet is being able to feel whole and authentic. There is no segmented athlete self that is policing each action to cover or pass as safe or straight. All of my effort can go in to swimming and to enjoying the social aspects of the meet. I’ll admit, the social aspects which are obviously a much bigger piece of the experience these days.

Read in full HERE.

First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon

San Francisco – 2 July 2012

CONTACT:
Federation of Gay Games: Dennis Sneyers; dsneyers@gaygames.org


First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon
Five expressions of interest to date ahead of 15 July deadline


With less than two weeks to the first deadline in the process for bidding for Gay Games X, five expressions of interest have already been received by the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG). The organizations cover three continents, with groups in Orlando, Rio de Janeiro, Limerick, London, and Paris indicating they are pursuing a bid. The deadline for submission of RFI (request for information) documents is 15 July, with a first review of potential bidders to be complete by the end of this month.

Gay Games X will take place in 2018, with the site selection vote taking place in 2013 in Cleveland, the host city of Gay Games 9 in August 2014 (www.gg9cle.com).

FGG Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) explains: “This is the first time we have used an RFI. We added this step mainly because we wanted to give every chance for a joint event in 2018 to be managed by the FGG and GLISA. This would have had an impact on our primary bid document, the RFP (request for proposal). While we finalize that RFP document, in order to allow bidding organizations time to start their work, we provided an RFI that outlines the main features of the event and the information for which we’ll be asking.”

FGG co-president Kurt Dahl (Chicago) expressed his pleasure at the response so far: “We will know which cities are truly interested in a few more days, but the groups already expressing an interest offer a great choice. We urge any cities considering a bid to submit the RFI document on time, so as to remain in consideration. Time is running out to express interest in hosting the largest international sports and culture festival in the world open to all.”

Sneyers spoke of the key events that would follow the RFI review: “Bidders will receive our Request For Proposal (RFP), and later, a series of appendices that complete the document, including the Red Books for Sport, Culture and Ceremonies. These documents provide detailed guidelines, recommendations, and requirements for the components of Gay Games X. We invite members of these organizations to join us at our Annual General Assembly 19-22 August in Sofia, Bulgaria where we will hold an information session. Early in 2013, bidders will submit their bid documents describing their plans for Gay Games X, with short-listed bidders receiving visits from FGG site inspectors in August. And of course, the big moment will come towards the end of 2013 when the FGG member organizations will meet in Cleveland to choose the host for Gay Games X.”

RFI documents and background information may be found online at 2018.gaygames.org.

*******

About The Federation of Gay Games: The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event’s founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 – 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 – 7,300 participants), New York (1994 – 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 – 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 – 11,000 participants), Chicago (2006 – 11,700 participants), and Cologne, Germany (2010 – 9,500 participants). Gay Games 9 will take place in Cleveland + Akron Ohio USA 9 – 16 August 2014. Visit www.2014GayGamesCleveland.com for more information.

“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany, and Australia.

Our thoughts are with Brent Nicholson Earle

Our thoughts are with Brent Nicholson Earle, a hero of the Gay Games movement, who is currently hospitalized in New York City after a heart attack.

His Wikiepedia entry:

Brent Nicholson Earle (born 21 January 1951) was an early activist in the effort to promote awareness and prevent the spread of AIDS, notable for his long-distance runs to support his cause and raise money for AIDS service organizations.

People Magazine named Earle one of its "20 individuals who shaped the 80's." His first major run, in 1986-87, the American Run for the End of AIDS (A.R.E.A.), started and ended in New York City, covering 9,000 miles around the perimeter of the United States. His second, in 1990, went from San Francisco to Vancouver, the site of Gay Games III. His third, in 1994, this time leading a seven-person team and using roller skates, went from San Francisco to New York, site of Gay Games IV. He was also active with ACT UP and was made an Honorary Life Member of the Federation of Gay Games. In 2010 he was named as the winner of the Tom Waddell Award, the highest honor of the Federation of the Gay Games. He also created the International Rainbow Memorial Run, which carries a rainbow flag from San Francisco around the world to the city hosting the current Gay Games. It promotes both AIDS and breast cancer prevention.


In his professional life, he worked in New York City as an actor, writer, stage manager, lecturer, archivist, photographer, optical designer, curator and art gallery administrator.

He was born in Niagara Falls, New York, and grew up in nearby Lockport. As of 2011, he is still an AIDS activist in New York City.

Learn more about Brent HERE.

Youth in Sport video on homophobia in sport

We posted an announcement of this session held in conjunction with EuroGames 2012 in Budapest. Here' a product from the young people involved:

ENGSO Youth Study Session Campaign - "The Runner" - Challenge Homophobia In Sport

Young Europeans who participated in the study session Youth Sport speaks out on TabooPhobia - Developing a youth campaign to challenge homophobia.

Check us out at www.facebook.com/equalityinsports

Olympic torchbearers: Vincent Jackson

David Meek and Vincent Jackson
(photo Nicole Rugman)

We're looking again at LGBT Olympic torchbearers and their nomination stories:

Vincent Jackson from London, age 26
Carrying the Flame through Cardiff
Carrying the Flame on 25 May 2012


Vincent's nomination story
I'm an active member of our LGBT group. I'm new to it but for the karaoke evening we organised recently I managed all the costs meeting with the catering staff, facilities and the karaoke people to make sure we made as much money for UNICEF as possible. While doing this, I silmataneously organised and managed our bar for the whole night. Additionally, I took a major part in ensuring that a vast amount of Visa employess (not necessarily member's of the LGBT) went along and had a good time. This event raised an impressive £2,500 on the night but we have only just begun. As an out and proud member of London's LGBT community I would feel honored to be able to run in front of the world carrying the Olympic torch on behalf of Visa. The freedoms that both men and woman enjoy in the UK are a great privilege and should be celebrated on a global scale where people aren't as lucky as I am.

Boston's Northeastern University athletics say "You Can Play"

Northeastern University student-athletes and administrators join together in support of the You Can Play project, in the fight for respect in sports. Watch their You Can Play video below.

Some more photos from Trevor Burchick bearing torch

Here are some photos from Trevor's run. Thanks to Lou Englefield.


Trevor Burchick of Salford, age 51
Carrying the Flame through Stockport
Carrying the Flame on 24 June 2012


Trevor's nomination story
Trevor Burchick MBE is an inspiration to all, having been awarded the MBE and awards for his voluntary services to the communities across Greater Manchester, Trevor is well known for his creative PrideGames and in being a leading voice for community groups in chasing out hate crime and homophobia from sports by encouraging more lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to take part in over thirty different sports. Pridesports has blossomed to become a beacon of hope for many, promoting equality of opportunity into sport not only for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community but as an encouragement for the wider community that inspires all socially excluded people to see how taking action can bring about inclusion. Trevor achieved in ten years a defining respect, trust and admiration that ensures everyone, regardless of culture, age, disability, sexuality, economic or diversity factor is able to have the right to participate. In being a Torchbearer Trevor would not be running alone as on his shoulders will be all those groups, individuals, ideas and dreams he represents.

A look back at Ford's sponsorship of Gay Games VIII

While we did write about the results of Ford employees at Gay Games VIII, we never actually provided any details about the sponsorship offered by Ford. From Queer Life:

Ford came out this past week in support of the Gay Games 2010 in Cologne, Germany.

6 vehicles, provided by Ford for the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010, were handed over to the drivers this past week. This is only one component of the official partnership between the Ford factory Cologne and the organizers of the Gay Games.

Ford also sponsored 65 of its employees within the community-involvement-initiative to help as volunteers the Games. 6 vehicles were also provided, four Transits, a Focus as well as a Mondeo which will be used for transportation of athletes and volunteers. Furthermore, the parking lot at the Fuehlinger See in Cologne, owned by Ford, will be open to the public during the races on the lake.

Nearly 10.000 participants from over 70 nations have registered for the Gay Games this year. Covering 35 sports and 5 cultural events the event is hosted in a different world city every 4 years.

Ford Motor Company is the first car manufacturer to give its backing and support to the Gay Games.

Record number of visits to this blog!

Yesterday saw well over 2000 visits to this blog, and over 36,000 for the month of June (which isn't quite over).

Thanks for coming, tell your friends, share the link (blog.gaygames.org), like us on Facebook  (www.facebook.com/federationofgaygames )!

LGBT sport changes lives: Daniel from Budapest

We're sharing this message posted on our Facebook wall by Jan Froelich, secretary general of the EGLSF:

This young co-organiser of EuroGames2012 surprised the audience of the VIP reception in Budapest with a speech that left many of us without words:

"Organizing this event has changed a lot in my life. Before, I was only able to speak about my homosexuality with my mother. With my involvement in EuroGames2012 I felt the need to be open with all of my family members. My parents came yesterday to visit me at the EuroGames village and told me that they were proud of me and I told them that I was proud of them. Even my grandfather got involved: he used to be a board member of the Hungarian Football Federation and later today he will be awarding the medals to the winners of the football competition of EuroGames2012."

Daniel's tears infected the audience. There were tears in the eyes of almost all the guests at the reception. Thank you Dani for this touching moment which was a highlight of EuroGames2012 for many of us!

Videos of Konstantin Yablotskiy of Russian LGBT Sport Federation

Watch livestream of Eurogames!

Watch the Eurogames now on in Budapest via the livestreaming cameras HERE!

Auf Deutsch / 9 November 2012 / Goldensen Cup in Berlin

Vom 9.-11.11.2012 laden Vorspiel und der Frauen/Lesben Sportverein Seitenwechsel wieder zum internationalen Goldelsen-Cup nach Berlin ein. Wir freuen uns auf alle, die wiederkommen oder diesmal dabei sein wollen.

Weitere Informationen zu genauem Termin, Turnier und Registrierung findet ihr demnächst auf www.goldelsencup.de. Wir freuen uns auf euch!

---

Now it is confirmed:

From November 9th until 11th , Vorspiel and the women/lesbian sports club Seitenwechsel invite you again to the international Goldelsen-Cup in Berlin. We welcome all who come back or who want to be there this time.

Information about exact dates, the tournament and registration will be published soon on www.goldelsencup.de. We're looking forward to see you in Berlin!

En français / La FSGL et Foot for Love condament la violence lesbophobe en Afrique du sud

FSGL member FSGL supports this message from Foot for Love, a project of Les Dégommeuses to bring a lesbian football team from South Africa to Paris for a football tournament last weekend. The team is still in Paris, where they will be marching in this weekend's Gay Pride, after a week of encounters with Parisians on the subject of corrective rape and violence against LGBT people in South Africa:

Le 23 juin, à une semaine exacte de la Marche des Fiertés 2012, le township de Nyanga (Cape Town
– Afrique du Sud) a été le théâtre d’un nouveau crime de haine. Une jeune lesbienne de 22 ans,
prénommée Phumeza, a été abattue par balle dans sonpropre domicile à cause de son orientation
sexuelle.

Cet assassinat est le troisième qui frappe la communauté LGBT sud-africaine en moins d’un mois. Le
9 juin dernier, deux inconnus ont assailli et égorgé le défenseur des droits LGBT  Thapelo Makhutle.
Quatre jours plus tôt, un autre homosexuel, Neil Daniels, a également été victime d’une agression
mortelle, après avoir subi des mutilations génitales laissant peu d’espace au doute quant à la nature
du crime.

Des militantes luttant pour les droits des LGBT en Afrique du Sud, dont la photographe Zanele Muholi
et plusieurs femmes qui ont survécu à des viols correctifs, sont présentes actuellement à Paris
dans le cadre de l’opération « Foot For Love ». Elles défileront dans le carré de tête de la Marche des
Fiertés, le samedi 30 juin.

Contacts presse : Cécile Chartrain 06 07 96 18 00
Veronica Noseda 06 793 793 73
lesdegommeuses@gmail.com

Benefits of FGG membership

The Federation of Gay Games welcomes members from around the world, whether international sports organizations, city teams, multi-sport organizations, or local, national, or international cultural groups.

FGG Membership benefits include:

• Eligibility for Gay Games Membership Rebate program
• Access to historical data from past Gay Games
• Access to FGG mailing lists for promotional activities
• Access to FGG Intranet
• Eligibility to apply for scholarships to attend FGG meetings (8 FGG organisations benefited from this program in 2009.)
• Eligibility to participate in selecting the Host for future Gay Games
• Eligibility to participate in decisions affecting the future of LGBT sport, culture, & Gay Games
• Support from FGG Board & Assembly members to promote Gay Games
• Collaboration with and support from FGG for key sport and culture events, tournaments, concerts, etc. (4 FGG organisations benefited from this program in 2009.)

For more information, click HERE or contact membership@gaygames.org .

Profile of Cyd Ziegler Jr for Gay Games VII

We know Cyd Ziegler from Outsports, but he's also a veteran Gay Games athlete. Here's a pre-Gay Games VII profile from NewNowNext:


The Gay Games 2006 in Chicago kick off on July 15th. And I’m stretching already! This summer's jock-tastic confab is going to drawing thousands of athletes, artists, partygoers and plain old sports fans to the Windy City for a week-long blast of activities. In addition to some classic sporting events (ya know—basketball, softball, track and field, soccer, volleyball) there are plenty of not-so-traditional events (DanceSport, darts, sailing), and lots of cultural activities (cheer teams, color guards, bands, choral concerts) and more, more, more to wow visitors.

Starting today, every Thursday here at the NewNowNext blog I’m going to give you a profile of an athlete heading to this year’s Gay Games, as a way to give you some personal flavor of what these events are going to be.


Cyd Zeigler: Sports Dude.

First up is NYC’s own Cyd Zeigler (above), perhaps one of gaydom’s most outspoken sports afficianados. Zeigler runs OutSports.com, an online super-bowl of info and news tailor-made for the LGBT sports fan. Cyd’s heading to Chicago to participate sportily, but he also plans to whoop it up all over, absorbing the full flavor of festivities.

But why don’t I let him tell you about it…


So, Cyd... What sport will you be competing in during the Gay Games?
Football. A friend wants me to run the 4 x 400 relay in track too, so I may find my way to the track on Friday.

How did you get started playing football? And how long have you been playing?
Well, oddly enough, I only starting playing football after I came out. I met a great group of friends with the L.A. Motion flag football group in 1996 and the rest is history.


Keep reading HERE.

Sign petition for protection for this Saturday's Sofia Pride!

An appeal from Allout.org about Sofia Pride. A reminder that the FGG will be holding its Annual General Assembly in Sofia in August.

Our friend Mitko is marching in a Pride parade this Saturday in Sofia, Bulgaria. It should be joyous, but last year it proved to be terrifying. After the march, he and his friends were attacked by a group of anti-gay extremists and beaten in the street just for daring to live openly.

This year the same extremist group has just been given a permit to hold a hate-filled gathering on the morning of Pride -- to gather, rev up, and attack again. They even have support from a local priest, who actually advised people to "throw stones" at the Pride participants1.

We only have 4 days and we need your help. Can you tell Sofia's Mayor to do everything in her power to protect Pride participants? If thousands sign, we'll focus global media attention on Bulgaria and preempt the violence. But we need your voice right now to move the only person with the power to stop the violent mobs:

www.allout.org/bulgaria

Mayor Yordanka Fandakova needs to know the world is watching. Dozens of countries have already told Bulgaria to ensure a safe Pride2 - and while the march itself will have some police present, a violently charged protest scheduled to start a few hours ahead of Pride is a recipe for disaster. Our friends fear it will set the stage for fresh attacks on marchers and other Sofia residents in the area.

It's not going to be easy to stand up to these neo-Nazis or the Orthodox Church, whose representatives also said “democracy does not mean rights for minorities”. Upholding the right to peacefully march without threat of violence will send a message to extremists in Bulgaria and throughout Eastern Europe. It's time for Mayor Fandakova to step up and show that anti-gay protesters can’t be allowed to foster violence and inflict seriously bodily harm against their fellow citizens.

For decades, extremists have used Pride parades around the world to organize attacks that punish people for embracing who they are. But everytime, with help, we've been able to fight back - and win. Will you stand with Mitko and ask Mayor Fandakova to do everything in her power to protect Pride marchers from attacks this year?

www.allout.org/bulgaria

Best,
Mitko Dimitrov and the All Out team

P.S. Please share this with your friends on Facebook after you sign, we need each and every voice before Pride on Saturday.

Call for protection at Sofia Pride!

An appeal from Allout.org about Sofia Pride. A reminder that the FGG will be holding its Annual General Assembly in Sofia in August.

Our friend Mitko is marching in a Pride parade this Saturday in Sofia, Bulgaria. It should be joyous, but last year it proved to be terrifying. After the march, he and his friends were attacked by a group of anti-gay extremists and beaten in the street just for daring to live openly.

This year the same extremist group has just been given a permit to hold a hate-filled gathering on the morning of Pride -- to gather, rev up, and attack again. They even have support from a local priest, who actually advised people to "throw stones" at the Pride participants1.

We only have 4 days and we need your help. Can you tell Sofia's Mayor to do everything in her power to protect Pride participants? If thousands sign, we'll focus global media attention on Bulgaria and preempt the violence. But we need your voice right now to move the only person with the power to stop the violent mobs:

www.allout.org/bulgaria

Mayor Yordanka Fandakova needs to know the world is watching. Dozens of countries have already told Bulgaria to ensure a safe Pride2 - and while the march itself will have some police present, a violently charged protest scheduled to start a few hours ahead of Pride is a recipe for disaster. Our friends fear it will set the stage for fresh attacks on marchers and other Sofia residents in the area.

It's not going to be easy to stand up to these neo-Nazis or the Orthodox Church, whose representatives also said “democracy does not mean rights for minorities”. Upholding the right to peacefully march without threat of violence will send a message to extremists in Bulgaria and throughout Eastern Europe. It's time for Mayor Fandakova to step up and show that anti-gay protesters can’t be allowed to foster violence and inflict seriously bodily harm against their fellow citizens.

For decades, extremists have used Pride parades around the world to organize attacks that punish people for embracing who they are. But everytime, with help, we've been able to fight back - and win. Will you stand with Mitko and ask Mayor Fandakova to do everything in her power to protect Pride marchers from attacks this year?

www.allout.org/bulgaria

Best,
Mitko Dimitrov and the All Out team

P.S. Please share this with your friends on Facebook after you sign, we need each and every voice before Pride on Saturday.

1 July 2012 / Em portugues / Games da Diversidade, Virada esportiva, Sao Paulo

FGG member organization CDG Brasil is holding the Games da Diversidade, part of the Virada esportiva, a weekend of free sports activities throughout Sao Paulo.

Today is National HIV Testing Day in the USA... wherever you are, get tested!

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign coordinated by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage people of all ages to "Take the Test, Take Control."

Too many people don't know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in five don't know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.

Learn more HERE.
Read the FGG HIV in Sport Charter HERE.

A message of congratulations to EGLSF and FriGo on 2012 EuroGames in Budapest

Dear members of the board of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation and Eurogames 2012,

On behalf of the FGG Board of Directors and Assembly, we congratulate you on the occasion of the Budapest EuroGames.

We recognise your courage and determination in the face of many challenges, and we applaud your success in organising the 2012 Eurogames in Budapest, which involved great personal commitment from EGLSF and the local Budapest organising team. Our thanks go also to Klaus Heusslein, Gabor Laszlo and the FriGo team.

The Budapest EuroGames are a reminder of the progress made by the LGBT sport movement, and of the distance that remains to reach true equality. We continue to believe that equality for LGBT people is best achieved by unity and solidarity.

We hope to see you at the FGG AGA in Sofia from 19-21 August (gaymes.info/sofia212). Representatives from the 2014 Cleveland Gay Games will be attending to answer all your questions.

We also would like to reiterate our invitation for dialogue and collaboration on how best to work together for a single worldwide quadrennial event.

As you compete and play together in Budapest during the next few days, we wish you safe and fun Games and renewed energy for the many challenges we continue to face.

Kurt Dahl and Emy Ritt
FGG Co-Presidents
On behalf of the FGG Board of Directors
kdahl@gaygame.org eritt@gaygames.org