FGG at Wellington Outgames

The 2nd AsiaPacific Outgames open Saturday, and FGG representative Kate Rowe is already on site. She'll be celebrating her 60th birthday (Happy Birthday!) by joining the many volunteers in preparing for accreditation, where she looks forward to meeting as many participants as possible and talking about the FGG and Gay Games IX.

On Saturday, just before opening ceremony, she'll be representing the FGG at an Asia Pacific networking meeting held in conjunction with GLISA AsiaPacific.


The meeting will be a great opportunity to ask questions of GLISA-AP and FGG about how we are working together and to generate ideas together for our region.

It will also be a great way to meet other people involved in sport, culture and human rights in the Asia Pacific.

Please email Peter Sagar at pstarfuture@gmail.com if you have any questions.

The meeting details are:
Date: Saturday 12 March 2011
Time: 15:00 - 16:00 (Opening Ceremony commences 16:30)
Location: Mojo Café, 18A Bond Street

Latest issue of "Participate!" newsletter is out

The latest issue of Participate! is now out.

In this issue you'll find news about:
- Events happening the weekend of 12-13 March 2011
- How you can help the Gay Games movement when you shop online
- The Federation of Gay Games' work with the organizers of the 2012 London Olympics
- Upcoming dates for some of the events organized by our members

You can download the PDF version HERE.

NFL player comes out in support of gay marriage

Via Outsports:

Brendon Ayanbadejo plays linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He is also a big supporter of gay marriage. With a gay marriage bill being argued in Maryland, Ayanbadejo has come out with a strong and unequivocal message in support of same-sex marriage.

"It's time for professional sport to come out of the closet"

From The Journal, the newspaper for Scottish universities:

The Journal explores the issue of homosexuality in team sport and the possibility that change may finally be on the horizon for sport's oldest taboo

Steven Davies, the England and Surrey wicket-keeper, has this week become the first professional cricketer to come out as a homosexual. It may not appear to be a big deal, and it really shouldn’t be, but to just look at the coverage the story Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas is gaining in America, in a sport Americans don’t even seriously play, shows the scale of the issue. Professional sports stars in teams around the world remain in the closet with ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policies commonly enforced. Gareth Thomas and Steven Davies are the only two openly gay current participants in leading team sports in the world.

The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) found that 6.4 per cent of males in Britain have had sexual relations with another man. Therefore the number of homosexuals currently playing sport in the UK should be much greater than two.

Homosexuality has only been legal in Britain for 34 years, and around the world in many areas such as Latin America it is still a massive taboo. The term ‘gay’ has even become a slanderous way to describe a homosexual, as when used by a child it often simply means something is bad, highlighting the negative connotations of the word. Worse still homosexuality is still considered sinful by most leading religions. The bible literally tells people they will be punished for eternity for what they are, unless they can pray the gay away. We still have a while to go before we can consider ourselves a truly accepting world.

With leagues like the Premier League having an international following, and squads having an international make up, perhaps many do not feel they can be honest with less open minded team mates. Andy Gray and Richard Keys did their part to highlight problems of exclusion in football with their derisory comments on the selection of Sian Massey as an assistant referee for a Premier League match, and similar problems exist for homosexuals as for women.

Then of course there is the hounding from the terraces. Sol Campbell, perceived to be a homosexual, upon his return to former club Tottenham was subjected to horrendous abuse that included references to his gaining HIV from his alleged sexual preferences.

Continue reading HERE.

En français: Entretien avec Marielle Bousquet, marraine du Tournoi international de Paris

La Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne vient d'annoncer les noms des parrains du prochain Tournoi international de Paris. Têtu les a rencontrés.

Volleyeuse membre de l'équipe de France et sociétaire du Stade Français, Marielle Bousquet fait partie des (trop) rares sportives ouvertement lesbiennes en France. Aux côtés du perchiste Romain Mesnil, elle a accepté d'être marraine de la 8e édition du tournoi de sport LGBT de Paris. Rencontre.

Double geste, double image et double effet. Pour sa 8e édition, qui se déroulera du 10 au 13 juin, le Tournoi international de Paris (TIP), l'événement multisport LGBT le plus important en France, fait fort en s'offrant non pas un parrain, mais deux, tous deux sportifs de haut niveau: le perchiste Romain Mesnil et l'internationale de volley Marielle Bousquet (en photo ci-dessus). Un gars, une fille; un hétéro, une homo. «Il s'agit d'une volonté de notre part de repositionner la FSGL comme un mouvement d'abord sportif, explique sa présidente Christelle Foucault, et non comme un mouvement gay où l'on fait du sport. Avoir deux parrains comme eux, c'est génial et j'en escompte un double effet: davantage de retombée médiatique, bien sûr, et aussi que les gens se disent qu'il n'y a pas forcément besoin d'être gay pour parrainer un événement LGBT.»

En couple avec une fille depuis sept ans

À l'occasion du tournage de la vidéo de promotion du Tournoi et de la séance photo afférente avec les deux parrains, TÊTUE a pris le temps d'une discussion en toute décontraction avec Marielle Bousquet, volleyeuse au Stade Français et membre de l'équipe de France. Qui vit au grand jour son homosexualité, y compris dans son sport, depuis... toujours, en fait. «Pour moi, parrainer le TIP, non seulement ce n'est pas un souci, explique la libero de 25 ans, mais c'est en plus l'occasion de promouvoir la tolérance via les valeurs du sport.»

Continuer à lire ICI.

Paris tournament announces patrons: top athletes to support the June event

FGG-member Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne has just announced the names of the two patrons of its annual TIP Paris International Tournament. In recent years, the TIP has been fortunate in having leading politicians, including Minister of Health and Sport Roselyne Bachelot and Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë, as patrons.

This year, it's back to sport, to focus on the theme of this year's tournament: "Let's play sport together", with the goal of working with and in mainstream sport to promote the fight against homophobia in sport.

As such, it is highly appropriate that the two patrons represent elite athletes, one lesbian, the other a straight ally. The former is Marielle Bousquet, a top volleyball player, and member of the French national team since 2004. The latter is pole vaulter Romain Mesnil, who was 2nd in the 2006 European Championships, and in the 2007 and 2009 World Championships.

For more info on the TIP, click HERE.

En français: Entretien avec Romain Mesnil, parrain du Tournoi international de Paris

La Fédération sportive gaie et lesbienne vient d'annoncer les noms des parrains du prochain Tournoi international de Paris. Têtu les a rencontrés.

Le perchiste aux fesses les plus célèbres du net, Romain Mesnil, a accepté d'être le parrain de la 8e édition du Tournoi de sport LGBT de Paris. Il est accompagné d'une marraine, elle aussi sportive de haut niveau, la volleyeuse Marielle Bousquet. Rencontre.

Double geste, double image et double effet. Pour sa 8e édition, qui se déroulera du 10 au 13 juin, le Tournoi international de Paris (TIP), l'événement multisport LGBT le plus important en France, fait fort en s'offrant non pas un parrain, mais deux. Et tous deux sont des sportifs de haut niveau: le perchiste Romain Mesnil et l'internationale de volley Marielle Bousquet. Un gars, une fille; un hétéro, une homo. «Il s'agit d'une volonté de notre part de repositionner la FSGL comme un mouvement d'abord sportif, explique sa présidente Christelle Foucault, et non comme un mouvement gay où l'on fait du sport. Avoir deux parrains comme eux, c'est génial et j'en escompte un double effet: davantage de retombée médiatique, bien sûr, et aussi que les gens se disent qu'il n'y a pas forcément besoin d'être gay pour parrainer un événement LGBT.»

«Sur le terrain, on ne fait pas la différence»

À l'occasion du tournage de la vidéo de promotion du Tournoi et de la séance photo avec les deux parrains, TÊTU a pris le temps d'une discussion en toute décontraction avec Romain Mesnil.

Romain Mesnil nu dans les rues de Paris par Romain_Mesnil

Si vous ne suivez pas de près l'athlétisme, vous vous souvenez peut-être de ce perchiste dans la vidéo qu'il avait tourné tout nu dans Paris, à la recherche d'un sponsor (lire notre article). Encore surpris et touché d'avoir été choisi comme ambassadeur de la manifestation, le vice-champion du monde de saut à la perche confie son enthousiasme: «J'ai dit oui tout de suite. J'ai trouvé cette démarche intelligente car le sport ne doit pas se comporter différemment avec les hétéros et les homos. Sur le terrain, on ne fait pas la différence. Il n'y a que deux possibilités: soit on est adversaires, soit on est dans la même équipe, c'est tout. Ce tournoi c'est l'ouverture, il met en avant la non-ghettoïsation puisqu'il y a autant d'homos que d'hétéros qui y participent. Et c'est d'ailleurs l'image que renvoient les deux parrains. Ce qui me plaît, c'est qu'il s'agit d'un tournoi de sport avant tout mais qui représente des valeurs de tolérance vis-à-vis de l'homosexualité.»

Continuer la lecture ICI.

Anton Hysén: What a difference a day makes

Since coming out in a magazine interview yesterday, Swedish footballer has received an outpouring of interest and support. Just one indication of this is his Facebook account, which added nearly 1000 Friends in 24 hours.

Swedish football player comes out

Via Aquarette:

In an interview for Swedish football magazine Offside, Anton Hysén says he is gay. He is a pioneer. There have been several gay footballers before him, but they have all considered it impossible to be openly gay in professional football. Anton Hysén is the first professional footballer in Sweden to come out.

Local and national government leaders praise Sheffield Eagles support for the fight against homophobia

If you're in or near Sheffield this weekend, why not make it a double, by supporting Blake Skjellerup at the world short-track speed skating championships at Motorpoint Arena, and the Sheffield Eagles on Sunday at Bramall Lane? more on the Eagles via Pride Sports Manchester:


SHEFFIELD EAGLES v WIDNES VIKINGS
Sunday 13th March 2011, Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Sheffield Eagles’ decision to use their Co-operative Championship game against Widnes Vikings to take a stand against homophobia in sport has won the backing of two Government Ministers and the Leader of Sheffield City Council.

On Sunday 13 March at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, the Eagles will become the first professional sports team in the UK to proudly wear a kit bearing an anti-homophobia slogan. In partnership with LGBT History Month, Pride Sports and the RFL, the Eagles will play in a specially commissioned kit bearing the words “Homophobia: Tackle It!”.

The Eagles stance – a sporting first – has been widely praised, most notably by Sports & Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson MP and Equalities Minister Lynn Featherstone MP.

London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games first organization to reach highest standard in sports equality

From InsideTheGames.biz:

London 2012 have been confirmed as the first organisation to achieve the Advanced Equality Standard for Sport.

The Organising Committee began their Diversity Week with the award, presented by Liz Nicholl, the chief executive of UK Sport, to London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton.

Nicholl told their 'Everyone's 2012' conference: "LOCOG are to be congratulated. They have shown commitment to embedding equality throughout the organisation, which will prove fundamental to making London 2012 a truly inclusive Games. This is also an important milestone in the history of the Equality Standard for Sport. UK Sport is on the journey to achieving this, and we will do what we can to support all UK Sport funded organisations, including every Olympic and Paralympic sport, to reach this impressive standard."

The Equality Standard for Sport has been developed in partnership by UK Sport and the Home Country Sports Councils in order to enable sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport for under-represented groups. Created in 2004, it is based around organisation development and service development, with four levels of achievement; foundation, preliminary, intermediate and advanced.

Deighton said: "We want to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change and ensure that everyone feels they can be part of London 2012. "We want to leave a legacy of greater inclusion and understanding of diversity and the Equality Standard for Sport has been instrumental in helping us achieve this. I'm thrilled that we have achieved the Advanced Level and that we are contributing to a sporting environment built on equality and inclusion."

11 June 2011 / The gay-sportiest day of the year

We already know that at least four major events will be taking place that day.

In Manchester, from 10-12 June, the Pride Games,  which this year offer men's and women's football, badminton, women's swim, squash, women's basketball, 10km run, and of course the infamous bell boat regatta.

In Paris, from 10-13 June, the TIP Paris International Tournament will offer 18 sports, including for the first time DanceSport. 

In Rome, from 10-12 June, the AquaRomae swimming tournament, in the context of EuroPride 2011.

In Denver, from 11-12 June, the Team Colorado SportsFest, in partnership with the Denver LGBT Cente.

En français: Report

Pour la journée internationale de la femme, du blog de Philippe Liotard:

Ce jour, 8 mars 2011, je participe à la soirée organisée à l'Hôtel de Ville de Lyon par Thérèse Rabatel, adjointe à l'égalité des femmes, aux temps de la ville et aux handicaps, dans le cadre de la Journée Internationale pour le Droit des Femmes.

Cette année, le thème choisi pour réfléchir à cette question du Droit des femmes est celui du sport, activité futile et anodine... en apparence tout au moins. Car il importe de rappeler que jusqu'à une période très récente, les femmes n'avaient pas le droit de pratiquer les sports (interdiction réglementaire).
La pratique des sports constitue ainsi un révélateur des inégalités entre les femmes et les hommes, tant au plan historique que sociologique ou économique.

Il suffit d'observer les inégalités d'accès à cette pratique de loisir pour s'en convaincre. Il suffit, de même, de constater que le sport professionnel est sans doute le dernier lieu dans lequel – pour un travail égal – l'existence d'écarts de salaires hallucinants entre celui des hommes et celui des femmes semble ne pas poser de problème.

International Women's Day; using sport to combat violence against women and girls

A message from Women Win:

Happy 100th IWD! In celebration, we at Women Win are taking this opportunity to show how sport is being used as a tool to address the greatest barrier to women's development: gender based violence.

This video is a sneak preview of the work that we are doing on behalf of the 1 billion girls and women have or will experience gender based violence in their lifetime.


Addressing gender-based violence through sport from WomenWin on Vimeo.

Gender-based violence is a major public health and human rights problem throughout the world. This type of violence often happens behind closed doors. Too often, cultural norms and legal systems treat violence against women as a private family matter or a normal part of family life. A girl, regardless of age, may fear attacks at home, on the streets and even at school.

A girl needs a safe space to discuss experiences, violations and fears, and receive validation that her fears are okay. Furthermore, a girl needs to understand her legal rights. She also needs a place where she can learn confidence that will help her avoid becoming a victim of gender-based violence. A team and trusted coaches can provide that environment.

Although the concept of using sport as a strategy to help empower girls and women is gaining international momentum, there is a lack of practical information about how to actually do it. Successful girls’ sports programmes are not built by simply inviting girls to participate in existing boys’ teams or programmes. Girls face gender-specific and institutionalized barriers to participation, communicate differently and have unique motivations and expectations of their sporting experience. Sustainable programmes must be led by people who understand and address the key challenges facing girls and their families.

In an effort to begin this conversation of how to best do this work, we've published the first International Guide for Designing Sport Programmes for Girls, in collaboration with 35 partner organizations and experts. We are currently in the process of building an interactive online space for this Guide that will allow for collaborative authoring and sharing of information throughout social networks.

We welcome you to join the movement at GirlSportGuides.org!

International Women's Day: United against violence against women and girls

Update: the number of signatures is now over 150,000! Thanks to all who have signed.

Among the themes for this year's celebration of International Women's Day on 8 March is "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls". On this occasion, we recall our lesbian sisters in South Africa and their fight against "corrective rape".

As of publication of this post, the Change.org petition against "corrective rape" launched by our friend Ndumie Funda of Capetown's Luleki Sizwe has 149,454 signatures. Let's celebrate International Women's Day by celebrating the cause of these brave women and making sure that their petition goes well over 150,000 signatures!

We are happy to note that the South African minister of justice, after treating the demands made in this petition with contempt, has finally agreed to meet with activists. Let's make sure that when this meeting takes place on 14 March, the minister is sure to know that the world continues to stand with the women of South Africa.

Sign HERE.

GayCities: A look back at 7 August 2010

GayCities Europe editor Paul Brummitt was at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, where he competed in the triathlon. This comes from his seventh dispatch for GayCities:

In track and; field, on the last day of competition, the relays sometimes took a backseat to the lycra-clad eye candy.

Read in full HERE.

Update on fired gay Turkish football referee: lawsuit has begun

Via LGBT History Month UK, a story from Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review:

Turkey’s first openly gay referee says he will not stop his legal battle against the national football’s governing body for blocking him from his profession as a match official.

Former football referee Halil İbrahim Dinçdağ first became known to the public in 2008, when it emerged that the Turkish Football Federation, or the TFF, stripped him of his rights to officiate matches.

Dinçdağ was then forced to leave his job because he had been excused from his compulsory military service on account of his homosexuality, which was documented in a medical report. According to the sport's regulations, anyone who fails to complete his military service for health reasons is unfit to perform as a referee.

The 35-year-old filed a criminal complaint against the Turkish Football Federation and sought compensations up to 110,000 Turkish liras for damages.

The case started last Tuesday in Istanbul and the second hearing will be in May.

Continue reading HERE.

27 May 2011 / United States Gay Open tennis tournament in San Francisco

A message from tournament director Alex Lin:

Memorial Weekend, May 27-30, 2011
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

It began with one person, one mind, one vision.

In 1981, there was one idea to organize an openly gay tennis tournament, in which individuals could freely and proudly participate in the sport they love, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

Now, thirty years later, this one idea by Les Balmain has blossomed into an international tennis tournament, which has spread its mission and belief to the forty gay and lesbian tennis clubs around the world that comprise the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance.

With that same love and pride, the 2011 United States Gay Open returns to its birthplace, Golden Gate Park. I am honored to be the Tournament Director of this year's USGO and to take it beyond 30 years of dedication and inspiration.

 Find out more about USGO HERE.

GayCities: A look back at 5 August 2010

GayCities Europe editor Paul Brummitt was at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, where he competed in the triathlon. This comes from his sixth dispatch for GayCities:

Once again, the teams from Paris Aquatique are the star attractions of synchronized swimming. Why the International Swimming Federation refuses to allow men to compete remains a mystery. Perhaps we should just squeeze them into the packed spectator gallery of the pool where the event is held here in Cologne. There’s no doubt minds would be swayed. They are just that good. Last year at the Outgames the French girls won gold and the guys silver . Who will it be this time?

Read in full HERE.

Columbus Gay Men's Chorus sings "It Gets Better"

Here's another video for the "It Gets Better" project produced by a group from FGG-member GALA Choruses. Here, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus.

Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

GayCities: A look back at 5 August 2010

GayCities Europe editor Paul Brummitt was at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, where he competed in the triathlon. This comes from his fifth dispatch for GayCities:

Soccer is played in a magnificent sports park here on the outskirts of the city. Many people are commenting about how good the venue is, not least because of its accessibility by efficient German trams. And soccer’s popularity here is in stark contrast to the often massive homophobia prevalent in the sport–ask anyone to name an out pro player and they can’t. Yet the teams here are play at a very high level–how about this headstand shot for skill. He can throw the ball in with a running headstand.

Read in full HERE.

La regina Elisabetta II rende onore al calcio gay inglese

From gaymagazine.it:

La regina d’Inghilterra ha deciso di premiare l’ex calciatore professionista Aslie Pitter per il suo costante impegno nell’affermazione dei diritti lgbt in Gran Bretagna e per la sua tenace lotta all’omofobia che da sempre lo contraddistinguono. Il 50enne Pitter ha fondato oltre 20 anni fa la Stonewall FC, la prima squadra gay di football del Regno Unito che, nel giro di due decadi, è diventato il club calcistico composto da giocatori omosessuali più famoso e di successo del mondo. Elisabetta II ha riconosciuto quindi il lavoro fatto per aiutare ad integrare la comunità arcobaleno inglese grazie allo sport inserendo l’attivista nero nella prestigiosa “New Year Honours List”.

Pitter, che ancora oggi gioca nel team da lui stesso fondato, ha dichiarato di essere onorato dell’investitura reale: “E’ un riconoscimento anche per tutti quelli del club, stiamo facendo un’azione buona e aiutiamo le persone a usare al meglio il proprio potenziale”. Chissà cosa staranno pensando tutti quei calciatori gay che ancora oggi sono costretti a nascondersi, e a sposare donne che spesso non amano, per mantenere il proprio posto di lavoro e non scalfire l’immagine, spesso imperfetta, di uno sport ‘maschile’.

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus sings "It Gets Better"

Here are some videos for the "It Gets Better" project produced by groups from FGG-member GALA Choruses. Here is the New York Gay Men's Chorus.

Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus:

EGLSF meeting opens with presentation of members' best practices

The Annual General Assembly of the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation officially opened last night, with the civic reception at historic Villa Bonn. But a majority of delegates were already at work all day at a series of presentations by member clubs of areas in which they have developed special expertise, whether the promotion of sport among LGBT youth, outreach programs, tournament organization, or women's participation. The latter session was proposed by FGG- and EGLSF-member Panteres Grogues from Barcelona.

One of the actions that Ana Valencia presented, designed to promote women's participation in sport is Donasports which is taking place just two weeks from now. This will be the second edition of the weekend of sports by women, for women, to engage women in sport, in the sections of the club, and in the leadership of the organization. Last year's inaugural event resulted in an increase in women's registration of as much as 10%, a great achievement in difficult economic times.

More info on the AGA HERE.
MOre info on Donasport HERE.

GayCities: A look back at 2 August 2010

GayCities Europe editor Paul Brummitt was at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, where he competed in the triathlon. This comes from his fourth dispatch for GayCities:

We got some nice, very official, recognition today. The US Ambassador to Germany, Philip D. Murphy, also paid a visit to the pool, something that would NOT have happened under the previous American administration. Here he shares a joke with a swimmer from Seattle. The ambassador congratulated everyone for such a fantastic event, saying he was having a great time and that he intended to visit all the venues during the week.

Read in full HERE.

Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus sings "It Gets Better"

Here are some videos for the "It Gets Better" project produced by groups from FGG-member GALA Choruses. Here is the New York Gay Men's Chorus.

Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.


Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus:

10 Apr 2011 / In italiano: II Edizione torneo di calcio "Scendi in Campo Contro L’Omofobia

Anche quest’anno Bergamo contro l’omofobia organizza il torneo di calcio contro l’omofobia che l’anno scorso ha visto coinvolte numerose squadre e ha portato buonissimi risultati, in un’atmosfera di festa e sport. L’obiettivo primario della giornata è di promuovere valori di uguaglianza e condivisione attraverso il divertimento e lo sport, al fine di sensibilizzare pubblico e giocatori sulle tematiche relative alla violenza omofoba. Un particolare ringraziamento va al Comune di Bergamo per averci concesso l’uso gratuito del campo comunale.

GayCities: A look back at 1 August 2010

GayCities Europe editor Paul Brummitt was at Gay Games VIII in Cologne, where he competed in the triathlon. This comes from his third dispatch for GayCities:

Imagine signing up at the last minute to do a triathlon for the first time in your life: Swim, bike and run, all in a single competition. Imagine being a good swimmer, yet needing buy a carbon-fibre racing bike for $2,000. And training for the run just a couple of times just one week before the Games. And then taking the gold.

Well, that’s exactly what happened to 40-year old Carsten (pictured, right, sans shirt) of Copenhagen, who won the 40-44 age group in the sprint distance. He called himself a “triathlon virgin.” Here he is pictured with team-mate Ludo who also won a gold

Keep reading HERE.

Orange County's Men Alive sing "It Gets Better"

Here are some videos for the "It Gets Better" project produced by groups from FGG-member GALA Choruses. Here is the New York Gay Men's Chorus.

Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

Orange County's Men Alive:

Latest issue of LGBA newsletter

You can read the latest issue HERE. And sign up HERE.