Harvard Hosts Panel on Homosexuality and Athletics

A panel on Homosexuality and Athletics was hosted at Harvard University on April 29, 2009 at the Harvard College Women's Center. Intern Kameron Collins created the panel as a project for his senior project.

An article is posted on-line at the Harvard Crimson, written by Alexandra E. Zimbler.

Click HERE to read the article.

Flashback: Michelle Ferris ambassador launch

Matthew Mitcham comments on risks for out international athletes

FGG Ambassador Michelle Ferris takes on same role for Sydney 2009 World Masters Games

World Masters Games 2009, Wednesday, 22 April 2009

The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee announced Australian cycling legend, two-time Olympic silver medallist Michelle Ferris, as an ambassador for the world's largest multi-sport event later this year.

Michelle Ferris became a Gay Games Ambassador in 2008.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

Madison Gay Hockey Top Gay Sports Group by Outsports.com

Press Release from Madison Gay Hockey Association:

Madison Gay Hockey Association named Outsports' top gay sports group by Outsports.com.
Outsports.com is internationally recognized as the definitive LGBT sports newswire. It's mission is to build the broadest, deepest, most informative and entertaining gay sports community through a mixture of breaking news, commentary, features, member profiles, photo galleries, and discussion boards for sports fans and athletes.

In voting for Madison Gay Hockey, GLAAD’s Ted Rybka highlighted their focus on inclusion.
"I was struck by several things. They were one of the few teams to mention that they have straight players. I’m a huge believer that homophobia in sports can be lessened by being inclusive and incorporating straight players into predominately gay teams. I also like how they created a non-threatening environment for men and women to learn the sport. (I also was impressed that they were a co-ed organization.) Hockey has the aura of being a hyper masculine sport with no place for women or gay men. I like that they are breaking down that wall by saying, 'You have a place with us. You have a place in hockey.'"

The Madison Gay Hockey Association is an adult developmental ice hockey league for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and Allied (LGBTQA) Community. We provide opportunities to learn and teach ice hockey in a safe, supportive and fun environment. We aspire to the highest standards of sportsmanship and promote integration within the LGBTQA and wider Madison Communities.

Madison Gay Hockey Association
www.madisongayhockey.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Ice Hockey Founded: 2006
Members: 100

Fly American Airlines and support the Gay Games Scholarship Fund

How can you help the Gay Games Scholarship Fund?
When you travel via American Airlines and specify the FGG "Business ExtrAA" number: 799173, your flights can earn points for recipients of Gay Games Scholarships.

One Business ExtrAA point will be received for each USD 10 spent on eligible flights with American Airlines, American Eagle, or AmericanConnection. Be sure to specify the number 799173 when you make your reservation and when you check in.

How will points be used?
The points will be used for Gay Games Scholarship candidates.

Will I still be able to collect my own frequent flyer points when I use American Airlines?
Yes.

How do I use this program?
To earn points for the Gay Games Scholarship Fund, include the FGG’s Business ExtrAA number with your reservation and when you check in. The FGG’s Business ExtrAA account number is 799173.

Thanks for supporting the Gay Games Scholarship Fund.

Click HERE for more info

FGG Ambassador Michelle Ferris's new Gay Games VIII promo video

FGG congratulations to Congressman Quigkley

Please find below a letter of congratulations sent on 17 April 2009 from the Federation of Gay Games to newly-elected Congressman Michael Quigley.
Congressman Quigley was a key supporter of Gay Games VII, and in 2006 participated in Ice Hockey in Chicago.

Click HERE to visit Rep. Quigley's House website

The Honorable Michael Quigley
United States House of Representatives
1319 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1305


April 17, 2009

Dear Congressman Quigley:

Congratulations on your recent victory in the special election for the 5th Congressional District of Illinois.

We are particularly pleased with this news, since, to our knowledge, you are the first Gay Games participant to serve in Congress. We look forward to seeing your Gay Games VII medal proudly displayed on Capitol Hill and thank you, in advance, for your efforts to promote sport and culture for all in the spirit of “Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best”.

You may be aware that our Chicago-based Vice President of Membership, Paul Oostenbrug, volunteered for your campaign and many Gay Games participants were and are also strong supporters of your candidacy and election.

The next Gay Games are in Cologne from 31 July to 7 August 2010 (http://www.games-cologne.com/), and Ice Hockey is one of the 34 sports included in the program. We hope that you will be available to participate – please let us know if we can help you in any way.

The planning for the 2014 Gay Games is ongoing, with all three bidding cities located in America - Boston, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. We are happy to say that Ice Hockey is included in all three proposals. (The selection of the GGIX 2014 Gay Games Host will take place on 27 September 2009 in Cologne.)

We wish you good luck in your new position, and thank you for your continued support of the Gay Games.


With kind regards,

Emy Ritt and Kurt Dahl (Chicago resident)
eritt@gaygames.org, kdahl@gaygames.org
FGG Co-Presidents

1-3 May: Fabulous Cup in Cologne!

FGG member organization SC Janus reminds you of their big annual figure skating event, the Fabulous Cup.

We are very happy to announce that the Fabulous Cup 2009 will take place as scheduled - even bigger than last year:

- Friday, May 1st - practise and competitions
- Saturday, May 2nd - competition
- Sunday, May 3rd - pracice and show

We will be happy to see you in Cologne soon to be part of the fifth Fabulous Cup!

Skate fabulous and smile,
Sascha Hüllen & Philippe Carouge

---
The Fabulous Cup is also a warm-up to the Figure Skating competition at Gay Games VIII in 2010.

Enjoy this video featuring images from past Fabulous Cups:

Wrestlers Without Borders honorees

As seen on Edge:

Two founders of Philadelphia’s gay wrestling club, a three time Gay Games gold medalist and five Californians are among the nominees this year for induction into the Don Jung WWB Hall of Merit. The inductees will be announced May 24 at the WWB Cup tournament in San Francisco.

Wrestlers WithOut Borders said his year’s nominees represent the theme of "Endurance and Excellence," providing athletic inspiration, achievement and leadership over a span of many years. The hall was created last year to recognize long-term and exemplary contributions toward making LGBT wrestling successful and inclusive. The nominees are:

Michael LoFurno and Dennis Spillman, instrumental in the founding of the Philadelphia Spartans

Mike Ognibene, a three-time Gay Games gold medalist for New York’s Metro Gay Wrestling Alliance

John Thayer of Los Angeles, who wrestled for Southern California Wrestling Club in the first six Gay Games

Rochelle Robinson and Erika Hom, two of the dominant women stars from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Wrestling Club

Golden Gate’s Eric Richter, who won two Games medals and built an award winning web site for the Federation of Gay Games

Nancy Dito, former director of City of San Francisco’s Eureka Valley recreation Center who played an instrumental and supportive role in establishing Golden Gate in the center

Philippe Bruno, a founding member of Paris-Lutte Wrestling Club in the late 1990s.

John English, founder of Sydney’s Harbour City Wrestling Club

Robinson and Richter were both nominated in 2008.

The Don Jung WWB Hall of Merit is named in honor of Don Jung, organizer of the first Gay Games wrestling tournament in 1982, and has 18 members.


Click HERE to continue reading

Gender parity in international sports events

From BBC News:

Women fight Olympic ski jump ban

A group of international female ski jumpers has gone to a Canadian court to try to force the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics to include their events.

The British Columbia Supreme Court has begun hearing the discrimination case. The 15 women accuse Vancouver's Olympic organisers of violating Canadian human rights law by excluding them, while men compete in three ski jumping events.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says women's ski jumping is not developed enough to merit inclusion. The Vancouver Olympic organising committee (Vanoc) argues that the decision not to include women's ski jumping was made by the IOC, which as an international organisation is outside the jurisdiction of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

"Our Group" at Team Philly SportsWeek

At the initiative of the FGG and with the enthusiastic support of FGG member organization Team Philadelphia, "Our Group", a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support the athletic community, will be opening Team Philadelphia’s SportsWeek on June 5th 2009 with a panel discussion at the University of Pennsylvania focusing on the current environment for LGBT student-athletes at universities nationwide.

The attitudes toward LGBT individuals in general society versus attitudes toward the same individuals within the athletic community show a huge discrepancy with the athletic community’s views lagging about ten years behind that of the general population.
The group of current and former student-athletes along with their advisory board of the top some of the top scholars in the field, are determined to merge that gap. Members of the Our Group board will discuss current challenges within the athletic community while telling their own personal stories ranging from struggle to triumph and acceptance and focusing on the importance of action within LGBT community as well as support within the athletic community.

Members of the Gay Games are heartily encouraged to attend this event to exchange their experiences and to support these young athletes.

Click HERE to visit the Our Group website
Click HERE to visit the Team Philly SportsWeek website

Warm-up for Gay Games VIII football

This June 11, the 2009 edition of the annual "Come Together Cup" in Cologne will be a big warm up for athletes and organizers as they prepare for the IGLFA World Championship football tournament at Gay Games VIII in July 2010.


“Closer is impossible” is the theme of the soccer event to promote integration of all minorities. The aim is not only to play soccer against each other, but also to find the time to talk and celebrate together.
The Come-Together-Cup is Germany’s biggest soccer benefit tournament. The audience generally fights for seats to watch the celebrity game, in which many famous names from the world of culture, politics and the general media can’t wait to somehow get the little round thing into the big square thing. So grab your whistles and get cheering!

Washington Times article on Gay Games bid

This article in the Washington Times is good to see. Here we see the mainstream media is treating Gay Games with equal footing to other sports event news. This is good for the Gay Games. The 2009 winter Special Olympics raised USD 35m in sponsorship for approximately 600 athletes. Chicago Gay Games was able to operate with a total budget of around USD 12m for 11,500 participants. The Gay Games needs mainstream media to recognize the size and scope of this quadrennial endeavor. The economic impact is quite significant to tourism during a Gay Games event.

Click HERE for the article:

Note that this blog was created to support the Federation of Gay Games. We post links to news articles about all three cities bidding for Gay Games IX in 2014: Boston, MA, Cleveland, OH, and Washington, DC. We post each link without preference to any city bidding.

The final decision on the host of Gay Games IX will be made at the annual meeting of the General Assembly of the Federation of Gay Games in Cologne, Germany in September 2009.

Matthew Mitcham in The Telegraph

Among the points made in this week's Telegraph article on Olympic diving gold medalist Matthew Mithcam, this discussion of the impact of being out on corporate sponsorship:
Although he insists he has had nothing but positive feedback from fellow athletes and the media since going public, he admits he has attracted precious little corporate sponsorship compared to Australia's other gold medallists.


"I haven't experienced any homophobia in sport but I'm hoping I'm not experiencing any in the corporate world because I haven't had any companies rushing to sponsor me," he said. "It took me a very long time to secure any form of sponsorship after the Olympics, and that's still my only sponsorship."

And his attitude toward being a role model:
Mitcham, a former trampolinist from Brisbane, has become something of a gay role model since he became the only non-Chinese diver to win gold in the Water Cube. It is a responsibility he is happy to accept.

"As soon as anybody looks up to you, you automatically become a role model whether you choose to be or not, and you can either embrace it or not," he said. "I choose to embrace it and try to be the best role model I can be."

Philadephia Softball says Play Ball!

From the blog UWISHUNU - Philly, from the inside out.

The City of Brotherly Love Softball League kicks off their 2009 season Sunday April 19th at the Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park. Come out and support your local Philadelphians of the queer perspective who have a passion for America’s past-time.

Click HERE for the full posting on the blog.

City of Brotherly Love Softball League

www.CBLSL.org

Cologne Gay Games Promo Video

REGISTER NOW

Be Part of It!

Detroit hosts LGBT Sports Fair

The first LGBT Sports Fair was held in Ferndale, Michigan, USA.

Ferndale, MI a city just north of Detroit is the location of the Afirmations, a LGBT Center for the Detroit area. Over 150 people attended Affirmations’ first annual LGBT Sports Fair on March 19, an event designed to showcase the many opportunities that gay and gay-friendly people have for getting involved in sports and recreation throughout southeast Michigan.

Read all about this great step forward:

http://www.meefers.com/review.asp?id=641&cityID=2

For more information about these and other LGBT sports and recreation opportunities in Michigan, please call the Affirmations Help Line at 1-800-398-GAYS. The Help Line is available Tuesday- Saturday from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Team Chicago Making Plans for 2010 Gay Games

Team Chicago provides individuals and organizations with the opportunity to participate in sporting and cultural events according to their personal interests and capabilities. Team Chicago’s mission is to provide support to the LGBT community, furthering participation, inclusion, and pursuit of personal best.

Team Chicago welcomes membership.
News from the Team Chicago web site.

Start Planning Now to Attend Gay Games VIII

Team Chicago has arranged a savings plan with Harris Bank.

Gay Games VIII will take place in Cologne, Germany between 31 July and 7 August 2010. Thousands of international participants from all over the world are expected to take part in this sport and cultural event. Participant figures are anticipated to reach Olympic size. See http://www.games-cologne.com/ for details. You can sign up for their newsletter from that page.

The host of Gay Games VIII, Games Cologne gGmbH is expecting more than 46,000 guests for the Opening Ceremony at the Stadium "RheinEnergieStadion" in Cologne, home of the famous Cologne Soccer Club. Please join your fellow Team Chicago members for a week-long celebration of sports competition and cultural events.

Compete Magazine

You may have subscribed to SportOutLoud Magazine, but it is now called Compete Magazine. It is specifically geared for the LGBT community. Compete was in Seattle, WA last weekend for a photo shoot for a swim wear issue. Many guys volunteered from a search by Team Seattle.

http://www.competemag.com/

Compete also blogs on blogspot.com. http://competemag.blogspot.com/

National title for club formed as host for Gay Games VII

Wrestlers Without Borders founding member Gene Dermody has written to the FGG with breaking news regarding the Chicago Wrestling Club (CWC), which has won the Veterans Team Championship Title at USA Wrestling Nationals in Las Vegas.

That's right... the club that we all created for the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago has now become an awesome institution.

Josh Watkins, the guy I threw around the floor of the Gil Rec Center in 2004 to motivate him to start a local Chicago club has achieved something we can all be very proud of. Josh took 11 wrestlers to Las Vegas last week to both compete and officiate, and did us all quite proud in probably the toughest annual USA tournament there is.

This performance is in the tradition of over 10 years of Wrestlers Without Borders competitors at US Nationals. Besides Josh Watkins of CWC this year, Kevin Martin, our main Chicago mat official in 2006, took a second in Greco-Roman wrestling, and a third in Free Style wrestling this year. Kevin has been our lead mat official since the 1994 Gay Games in NYC.

Past WWB/Gay Games competitors have also included Bryan Northam (Golden Gate Wrestling Club, San Francisco) and Ed Lindsay (NYC Twin Towers) in 2000... plus many others I just have to go look up.

In 1998 I personally coached GGWC's Rochelle Robinson and Tekla Balukas to a 1st and 5th place respectively at the 1998 US Nationals in Orlando.

Unless you really know wrestling, you may not get the competitive significance of all of this, so trust me, this is a major step forward in our athletic credibility on the elite competitive side of what the Gay Games Mission is all about.

Josh will probably be his self deprecating self, and not want to talk about it, especially since most of his team are straight Russians. But he has earned the respect of a lot of people for our WWB programs.

Pat Griffin blogs about "Training Rules"

Pat Griffin attended the premiere of Training Rules, the Dee Mosbacher and Fawn Yacker documentary about the Rene Portland “no lesbian” era of Penn State women’s basketball. The 61 minute film premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival to a full house.

Click HERE to read Pat's Blog report on this film. Support the film when it comes to your town.

Pat Griffin is the author of "Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbian and Homophobia in Sports." She is also a Professor Emerita in the Social Justice Education Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Pat is also the Director of the It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues in Sport, an initiative of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Log onto www.TrainingRules.com for more information.

Read www.edgeboston.com report by clicking HERE.

Gay Games Ambassador judge on new BBC show

From the BBC Two website on The Speaker:

In this epic elimination show, thousands of 14 to 18 year olds will compete in a series of challenges. They'll need passion, personality and confidence. Week on week they'll be put through their paces to test every aspect of their communication skills.
They'll need passion, personality and confidence

The Speaker will see tough-talking teens, class jokers and shy, sensitive types go head to head as they learn to talk publicly and passionately about the things that matter to them.

Eventually one of them will become Britain's Best Young Speaker.

Among the three judges, Gay Games Ambassador John Amaechi.

John Amaechi is a multi-faceted speaker who has travelled the globe to speak on wide-ranging and influential topics. He is a champion of young people and passionate about their rights and needs in an ever changing world.

His motivational style and coaching ability is what he brings to all of his professional encounters.

John will be aiming to fire up the Speakers, encouraging them to speak with passion, commitment and personality.

Gay Games Ambassador promotes Chicago 2016 bid

From GamesBid.com's article on the IOC evaluation visit of 2016 Summer Olympics bidder Chicago:
Now that the pomp and circumstance of the International Olympic Committee’s evaluation of Chicago 2016 is a memory – it’s time to boil down the results.
[...]
According to Chicago 2016 up to 70 Olympians were paraded in front of the Evaluation Team – most notable were Michael Jordan (on video), Nadia Comaneci and Greg Louganis.

TPSK partners with Games Cologne for Gay Games VIII Swimming

The swimming section of Telekom-Post-Sportgemeinschaft Köln e.V., the sports club for Cologne postal and telecom employees, will be providing technical support for Swimming at Gay Games VIII. Some 50-65 members of the club will serve as timers and stroke and turn judges. The club is involved in numerous regional and national championships, most recently the regional masters championships in March 2009 in Cologne.

Gay Games athlete in US Congress

From an article in On Top Magazine on newly elected US Representative Mike Quigley:

On gay issues, Quigley has put his money where his mouth is, in fact the Illinois native has helped in very courageous ways.

“I helped start the Halsted Street festival,” Quigley said, referring to the annual gay and lesbian arts and food festival that takes place in Chicago's gay neighborhood, Boystown.

“I did the first annual AIDS ride, from the Twin Cities to Chicago, before I ever ran as a candidate for anything. I played hockey in the Gay Games. I haven't missed a [gay pride] parade since 1982, when I was just a citizen.”

“For me [participating in the gay community] it's a way of life, not a campaign practice,” he added.

The FGG also recalls that as Cook County Commissioner, Quigley introduced the resolution welcoming the Gay Games.

Register TIP by the end of April 2009

Registration for TIP closes on April 30, 2009.

The International tournament of Paris is very happy to welcome you from the 29th of May until the 1st of June. This is the sixth year of the event. TIP expects more than 1700 athletes and guests to be a part of this convivial sports event concerning 15 sports.

The International tournament of paris TIP 09 is coordinated by the Lesbian and Gay Sports Federation which bring together 26 associations and 35 sports activities. This year, big novelty, FrontRunners from Paris offer a footrace competition. Les Dérailleurs, the ATV club, coordinate with the association Paris Rando Velo a night ride in Paris. Ideal to discover Paris by bike.

http://www.paris-tournament.com/tip/index.php?/eng/

Tournoi International de Paris - TIP 2009 (6ème édition)

Le Tournoi International de Paris est très heureux de vous accueillir du 29 mai au 1er juin 2009, pour sa 6ème édition. Nous attendons plus 1700 athlètes et visiteurs qui vont participer, autour de 15 sports à cette manifestation sportive et conviviale.

Le Tournoi International de Paris TIP 09 est organisé par la Fédération Sportive Gaie et Lesbienne FSGL qui regroupe 26 associations sportives autour de 35 activités sportives.

Cette année, grande nouveauté, les FrontRunners de Paris proposent des épreuves de course à pied. Les Dérailleurs, le club de VTT organise avec l'association Paris Rando Vélo une rando nocturne dans Paris. Idéale pour découvrir Paris à vélo. Dès le vendredi soir, selon un itinéraire autorisé, une occasion de découvrir Paris comme jamais grâce à une balade à vélo gratuite, encadrées par des bénévoles, à un rythme qui peut convenir à tous.

Bienvenue à toutes et à tous

L'équipe du TIP 09

www.paris-tournament.com/

Pink travel dollars

From the Chicago Tribune, an article about LGBT travel:

Chicago upped its reputation as a gay-friendly city in 2006 by hosting the Gay Games, and Mark Theis, executive vice president of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, said the city is more aggressively courting gay and lesbian visitors.

Gay Games Interview De Basta Radio

BASTARADIO

The FGG and Games Cologne conducted a radio interview while the Federation of Gay Games board of directors met for a midyear meeting in The Hague. The radio show is a weekly LGBT pop culture show, hosted by 3 young people.


Klik hier voor 5 maart (Click Here for 5 March)

Roller Derby in Oregon

In Portland, Oregon, Roller derby is rolling in cash to local charities. Kathryn Martini has written an article on justout.com about the Rose City Rollers—over 140 dedicated women whose traditional athleticism and campy accoutrements make for a rockin’ good time.

The article gives a history of roller derby and how the team is operating in Oregon.

Click HERE to read the article on www.justout.com

Do We Need a LGBT Jackie Robinson

David Mixner's blog calls for a Jackie Robinson of the LGBT community in the USA.

Here is the first paragraph of his blog entry.

In many ways, America is about its sporting teams. The teams bring our communities together and create a diverse mosaic of our nation. Young children, without regard to race or national origin, have team members as their heroes; their bedroom walls are plastered with posters of beloved players. Sports, for years, have provided the road to success for economically disadvantage children of all races.

That is, of course, unless you are gay or lesbian. The LGBT community needs its Jackie Robinson.

Click HERE to read the entire blog and my response. We have our heroes. Let's embrace them!

Swimming at Gay Games Cologne 2010

Swimming Information from Cologne


Swimming is one of the most popular sports worldwide, including at Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. About 1,300 men and women from around the world will strive for personal bests and medals in the swimming pools of Sportpark Muengersdorf.

Each swimmer may participate in up to 5 individual and 3 relay competitions. The competitions will be sanctioned by FINA and in co-operation with International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA). Please note that every participant must have proof of a national competition license for swimming.

The swimming competitions will be held at the stadium pool at the Sportpark Muengersdorf. About half of sports events involving about half of all Gay Games athletes will take place at this major sports hub, so swimmers are sure of a large audience, and will of course be able to enjoy a variety of other sporting events during breaks!

Click HERE for full details on swimming!

Be part of it!

Register here

How do the Gay Games fight homophobia?

A Gay Games bid from Cleveland has prompted some interesting discussions on the role of the Gay Games in promoting human rights. What is a "good" host city for the Games? Should the Games only go to places seen to be "gay" destinations, or is part of the mission of the Gay Games (and similar events) to go to less obvious places? As FGG board members recently discovered at the site selection meeting for the 2011 and 2012 EuroGames, the question applies not just to the Gay Games.

Here's a discussion of the Cleveland bid from Queerty:

All things being equal, Cleveland should get the event specifically because it's not a happy gay wonderland. One of the more irritating aspects of the gay community is our tendency to think that we only exist in big liberal cities on the coast, but yes, Chelsea, there are homosexuals in Cleveland, too. If we're going to decry protest marches that never leave the gay ghetto, we should embrace the idea that the Gay Games is far more valuable as a teaching tool than it is as a moneymaker.

Note: Information found here about Gay Games IX bids in no way implies any opinion from the FGG about these bids or any preference for one or another bidding organization.

"This looks awesome"

That's the caption to a photo of Gay Games VII showing the opening ceremony at Chicago's Soldier Field. The photo illustrates an article from Washington City Paper's Amanda Hess about Mayor Adrian Fenty's support for Metropolitan Washington Gaymes' bid for the 2014 Gay Games.

Yes, Amanda, it IS awesome. Be part of it!

(Read the article here.)

Note: Information found here about Gay Games IX bids in no way implies any opinion from the FGG about these bids or any preference for one or another bidding organization.