Northern Ireland Sports Minister needs education about Gay Sports

The Northern Ireland government’s sports minister, Edwin Poots, said Feb. 19 that he doesn’t understand why gays need their own sports teams.

Poots was quoted “I just cannot fathom why people see the necessity to develop an apartheid in sport. “It would be unacceptable to produce an all-black rugby team or an all-white team or an all-Chinese team. To me, it’s equally unacceptable to produce an all-homosexual rugby team, and I find it remarkable that people who talk so much about inclusivity and about having an equal role in society would then go down the route of exclusion.”

He was commenting about a local gay rugby team. He seemed to be unaware that gay and lesbian teams welcome heterosexual players and many teams have heterosexual players on their teams. We need to get this message out to educate our elected officials and public.

Kelly Stevens

Gay Games Amabassador John Amaechi to receive honor from The Matthew Shepard Foundation

Judy Shepard will unveil the new campaign during the 7th Annual Bear to Make a Difference Gala, which will take place on Saturday, March 29th in Denver, Colorado.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation announced today that it plans to engage the general public in the mission to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion and Acceptance."

Each year, the Foundation honours outstanding individuals or organizations with the coveted "Making a Difference Award."

This year's honoree is John Amaechi, former NBA player and youth advocate.

Click HERE to read the full Article is on the Pink News UK.

GaySport.org Promotes Sports, Sports, Sports

Looking for a calendar for sports events?

Do you need to find a Gay or Lesbian Football club in Europe?

GaySports.org has a fantastic directory for you to find the answers. This site is maintained by EGLSF and is well structured.

"The Gaysport.info website is just one of the many initiatives that the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) promotes in support of sport for the LGBT community. Other major activities that the EGLSF promotes include EuroGames and the EGLSF lobbies for setting and acknowledging the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender in sports."

Click Here to link to gaysportsinfo.org.

Gay Men in Sports: Olympic Diver Guy Sandin

GayWired.com has a great article about Guy Sandin.
Gay Men in Sports: Olympic Diver Guy Sandin
By Dylan Vox

Read about Guy Sandlin's hard work to become an Olympic diver and coming out at age 30. He now lives in Los Angeles and looks as in shape as his Olympic diving days.

Check it out on GayWired.com

Photo Credit: Edith Sieg, Chicago Gay Games 2006
Photo shown is not Guy Sandlin.

Jack Mackenroth Designer, Swimmer, Gay Games Winner

Many of you met Jack on Project Runway this season on Bravo. Many more Gay Games swimmers already knew Jack many years and from many Gay Games cities. He not only looks like a model, but he is a model athlete.

A great blog interview with Jack Mackenroth on POZIAM BLOG. Jack discusses his life and attending Gay Games since Gay Games III Vancouver BC. Jack says attending Gay Games III as "one of the greatest experiences of my life." Jack has competed in every Gay Games since. His team set national masters records at Gay Games VII in Chicago 2006.


Click here to read the blog article.

Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 announce Golf Event for April 2008

Press Release, February 22, 2008

“Golf Cologne – be part of it!” on 19 April 2008
Preview competition for Gay Games VIII

Cologne 2010 Feb. 22, 2008 - Cologne. A golf tournament is to be held in Cologne to raise awareness of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. On April 19, 2008, dozens of golfers will face off against one another while promoting greater acceptance of homosexual, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people.

Click Here to read the entire press release:

From Gay Games I to ING Marathon

Ready, set, run

Gay runners prepare for challenge of upcoming ING Marathon
By Matt Hennie

"Scores of gay and lesbian runners will be among the 15,000 participants expected in the second running of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon late next month. Their reasons for taking part in such a grueling event — 13.1 miles for the half marathon and twice that for the marathon — are as varied as their running shoes."

Click Here to read the entire article.

Gay Games memories keep you dancing

SSO (Sydney Star Observer) article reflects on how Sydney Gay Games VI lead Gary Woods to pursue dance and kept him dancing.

"The conventions of ballroom dance can be paralleled to gender and sexuality norms that have existed for centuries. Gary Woods – the first student of Dance Dance with Hot to Foxtrot – has been instrumental in altering the rules of ballroom dance and thus the perception of sexuality."

As told to Andre Rangiah

Click here for the article:

Click here for the home page of SSO. www.ssonet.com.au

Ski Resort Cities compete for more LGBT Skiers

Bay Area Reporter has an article about the many Gay Ski Week events across North America. Many individuals and gay and lesbian ski clubs make annual treks to ski resorts, filled with parties and ski events all winter long.

Read the article by Matthew S. Bajko.
Click HERE.

Article Title: Fight for gay skiers heats up the slopes

http://www.ebar.com/

Gay Sports Groups on Campus

Don Woog has an interesting article on Outsports.com. Campuses started with LGBT Centers and GSA (Gay-Straight-Alliances) started. Next athletes wanted to come out in safety and with support. Next comes Gay Sports Groups on Campus. It Takes a Team is ready to help! It Takes a Team web site is full of even more information for athletes.

Click here to read Dan Woog's article.

Click her to check out It Takes a Team link for more information.

Golden Gate Wrestling Club Assisting High School Teams

Brotherhood of wrestling
by Kera Soko

The Golden Gate Wrestling Club (GGWC) is helping local high school wrestling teams. GGWC was founded in 1986 and is a member of Team San Francisco. Read the article on the Edge online.

Click HERE to read the article.

Golden Gate Wrestling Club
Team San Francisco

Gay Game Ambassador Billy Bean Supports TruthWinsOut.org

Bill Bean was featured in this article and video supporting TruthWinsOut.org. You can see the article and video on this link from The Miami Hearld Blog on 4 February 2008.

You can read about Bill Bean as a Gay Games Ambassador by clicking HERE.

GLAAD Sport Media Director Interview on Gay.com

Beth Dreher has an interesting interview with Ted Rybka, GLAAD's new Sport Media Director on Gay.com. Learn more about Ted's background. GLAAD has broken new ground on Sports and LGBT coverage.

Click HERE for the story.

Anne Barr - Sports Leadership in Atlanta

Anne Barr is a fantastic leader in the state of Georgia, USA.   She coaches women's softball and is true sports heroine.  Read the GayWired.com article about Anne Barr and you will be delighted to see a success story in softball.

Article by Dylan Vox
Click HERE for the article on GayWired.com.

IGLA article on GayWired.com web site

A nice article about Gay and Lesbian Swim clubs and the history of IGLA appears on GayWired.com web site.


Click here to read the article:
Get In the Gay Swim of Things
Enjoy watersports with gay swim teams
By Neil Plakcy

ESPN Article about Gay Athletes

ESPN.com has an interesting article about the Aspen Friendship Cup, a hockey game comprised of gay players playing against a team of straight players. The article is written by LZ Granderson. He also writes about the progress for gay athletes in general in this article.

Click here to read his article.

OutNow Magazine article about Gay Games January 2008

Several Federation of Gay Games board members were interviewed for OutNow Magazine for the January 2008 issue. The article detailed the success of the 25th Anniversary Legacy Dinner and the future direction of the Gay Games.

Click here for the full magazine PDF online. (The file size is 6 MB.)

Jack Mackenroth Profiled by OutSports.com

Jack Mackenroth is profiled by OutSports.com. Jack has been in 5 Gay Games and is preparing for Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. He recently appeared on the television show Project Runway, but dropped out due to an illness. He was a favorite on the show. He is quite an athlete and a model for the gay culture.

Read the OutSports.com article by clicking HERE.

Kate Rowe Gay Games VP of Diversity in SSO Article

Sydney Star Observer - Issue 900 - Published 1/10/2008

KATE CONQUERS THE WORLD STAGE by Wayne Morgan

Gay Games VP of Diversity in Sydney Star Observer article.
Kate Rowe is an amazing athlete and volunteer.
Read the full article by clicking HERE.

WNY NCAA Swim Team Captain Comes Out

Saint Bonaventure University Swim Team Captain Scott Jordan talks about coming out to his team.

Here is a nice story about a College swim team captain that was able to "come out" to his team and gain respect. We all can be proud of his strength and leadership.

To read an article from Outcome, Boston's gay newspaper, click HERE.

Saint Bonaventure University Swim Team Captain Scott Jordan talks about coming out to his team.

Jessica Waddel Lewinstein becomes Team SF board member

Team San Francisco 2008 Board Announcement

Team San Francisco held their general membership meeting last month and elected our 2008 Board of Directors. They have one new face on the board that many of you may already know. Jessica Waddell Lewinstein is their newest member and will be one of their delegates representing Team SF to the Federation of Gay Games. Jessica is the child of Sara Waddell Lewinstein and Dr. Tom Waddell.

Returning board members are: Tyler Cole, Glenn Galang, Michelle Mateychuk, Garland Murphy, and Sanford Smith.

Outsports' year-end awards - John Amaechi

Gay Games Ambassador John Amaechi honored with Outsports' year-end awards as 2007 Outsports story of 2007.

Read the entire story by clicking HERE.

Read his article on the Gay Games web site by clicking HERE.

Ambassador Chris Morgan thanks Gay Games

Dylan Vox reports for This Week in Texas Magazine. Read how Chris started his power lifting career at Gay Games V in Amsterdamn in 1998. He went to Sydney Gay Games VI in 2002. He has gone on to winning in world class competition and returned to Chicago Gay Games VII in 2002.

Powerlifter Chris Morgan Thanks Gay Games for His Success

By Dylan Vox

Click here to read the article on This Week In Texas Magazine.

Click here to read the all the Gay Games web site about all the Gay Games Ambassadors.

Click here to check out Chris's web site called chunkymuscle.com

http://www.chunkymuscle.com/

GayWired.com article about Tom Waddell

Building a Gay Sports Legacy

The Story of Tom Waddell
by Dylan Vox

Tom Waddell is often credited with making the biggest contribution to the gay sports movement ever by founding the first Gay Games, but there is a story behind the great man of triumph and tragedy that is often never told. An Olympian himself, Waddell knew the pressures of competition, but as a gay man, that competition was only half of his battle.

Click HERE to read the full article on gaywired.com.

IAfrica.com Gay Games article

Sexuality and sport?
By Rebekah Kendal

IAfrica.com Lifestyle section presents a positive story about Gay Games and LGBT sports. It is wonderful to see quality stories about Gay Games coming out of South Africa. Click HERE to link to the article and enjoy!

1,000 day countdown begins until the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany!

Gay Games Cologne Issues Newsletter 4

In less than three years, Cologne will play host to athletes from all over the world. Some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries will attend Gay Games VIII in Cologne in 2010. Preparations are well under way, and several crucial milestones have been achieved. CLICK HERE for full article.

John Amaechi in New GLAAD Video

Gay Games Ambassador John Amaechi joins GLAAD's "Be An Ally & A Friend" PSA Campaign. John worked with GLAAD to create new 20-30 second public service announcements. These PSAs can be seen on many television networks.

Click HERE to see the GLAAD web site video.

Click HERE to read the GLAAD press release.

RealJock.com Photo Slide Show

Real Jock web site hosts an impressive photo slide show provided by the Federation of Gay Games.

http://www.realjock.com/slideshow/979

Gay Games VII Photo Book Published

More than 1,000 images in new 4-color Book

The excitement and joy of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago are captured in a new 208-page 4-color glossy photo soft-cover book available online from the web site www.lulu.com. The book features more than 1,000 images of the sports, culture and ceremonies of Gay Games VII, which were held July 15-22, 2006.

Click here for the full article.

Gay Games VIII Cologne Promotional Video

Between July 31st and August 7th in 2010 the Gay Games VIII will take place in Cologne, Germany. Thousand of international participants from all over the world are expected to take part in this sport and cultural event. Participant figures are reaching almost Olympic size.

Preregistration has started!