You can listen to at Outsports or on our player below:
Featured events
| 7-9 September 2012 Brussels Games Brussels  Learn more HERE. | 26-28 October 2012 QueergamesBern Bern, Switzerland  The success of the first edition of the QueergamesBern proved the need for an LGBT multisport event in Switzerland. This year will be even bigger, with badminton, bowling, running, walking, floorball. Learn more HERE. | 17-20 January 2013 Sin City Shootout Las Vegas  Learn more HERE. | 13-16 June 2013 IGLFA Euro Cup Dublin  Learn more HERE. |
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Gay Games Ambassador Brian Sims on Outsports podcast
You can listen to at Outsports or on our player below:
Sports photos from Gay Games VIII
16 Sept 2011 / Pink Power martial arts event in Munich
PINK POWER is a Martial Arts event founded 1999 by BUSHIDO München, Munich's gay and lesbian Karete club. It already took place in various European cities like Paris, London or Cologne. Since 2011 will be the 15th anniversary of BUSHDIO the next PINK POWER will take place in Munich. As always PINK POWER will offer a broad selection of performances and workshops held by international renowned masters from different Martial Arts and styles. Take the chance and meet other Martial Artists practicing Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Taekwondo and many more. But don’t worry, you are not supposed to know all these styles – everyone is highly welcome no matter of his/her style or skill!
Those of you who like to party can enjoy the big gay & lesbian event in the „Bräurosl“ beer tent at the Munich Oktoberfest on sunday evening.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Munich 2011!
Monday, March 14, 2011
500 days out, London 2012 countdown clock is launched, and ticket sales open
Last night in Trafalgar Square, the countdown clock to the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympics was launched. And this morning, ticket sales to the Olympics open for a period of six weeks. This is a reservation period, with a drawing to be held in case there are more reservations for an event than there are tickets available.
English Football Association latest to sign government charter against homophobia in sport
Efforts to wipe out homophobia in sport have received a significant boost as the country's major sports leagues put their weight behind a government campaign. The organising bodies for football, tennis, cricket, rugby league, rugby union and the Olympics have all signed the government's charter for action.
The charter aims to create a welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in sport. Activists welcomed the move as a sign that sport - often considered the last bastion of homophobia in the UK - was pressured to modernise in line with other industries.
The document has four key points: everyone should be able to participate, sport is about fairness, equality, respect and dignity, a commitment to making these values a reality for LGBT people, and a pledge to challenge unacceptable behaviour.
Alex Horne, general secretary of the Football Association (FA), said the sport was working to combat all forms of discrimination. "The FA and its stakeholders have worked hard over the years in providing football for all and ensuring that football stadia are open to everyone and are both family and LGBT friendly," he said. "We've seen real progress over the last 20 years when it comes to tackling racism and that's something football should be proud of. We remain committed to our long-term goal of removing all forms of discrimination, such as homophobia, out of the game."
England's top four football divisions are notorious for not having any openly gay players. Other sports are only moderately better-represented. England cricketer Steven Davies recently announced he is gay, while Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas came out two years ago.
Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said the charter was an important step towards a sporting environment free from discrimination. "Sport should be about what you can do, not who you are," Ms Featherstone said. "But too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel that the sports field is not somewhere they can be themselves, and that prejudice and discrimination will mean their sexuality is always talked about more than their ability with a ball, bat or racket. Homophobia and transphobia has no place in sport and I'm delighted that so many sporting bodies are backing our campaign to stamp it out at all levels, from local parks to Olympic stadiums."
And like the Facebook page HERE.
And visit the government page HERE.
Auf Deutsch: “Seitenwechsel”: Der Vorzeige-Homo ist nicht die Lösung
Es stehen viele wichtige Dinge drin in Tanja Walther-Ahrens‘ Buch Seitenwechsel. Coming-out im Fußball. Auf 176 Seiten geht es hier einmal durch die schwul-lesbische, queere Sport- und Lebenswelt, durch die homophoben und sexistischen Strukturen insbesondere des Fußballs, persönliche Erfahrungen von Sportler_innen, Schiedsrichter_innen und Journalisten, garniert mit kleinen Crashkursen zu Judith Butler oder den europäischen Antidiskriminierungsrichtlinien und eingeleitet mit einem Vorwort von Theo Zwanziger, Präsident des Deutschen Fußball-Bundes.
Tanja Walther-Ahrens weiß, wovon sie schreibt. Sie ist selbst ehemalige Bundesligaspielerin, arbeitet heute hauptberuflich als Lehrerin, ist „nebenbei“ als Aktivistin bei der EGLSF (European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation) unterwegs.
Lesen weiter HIER.
Interpretation of life of John Amaechi part of 14 Islands Film Challenge
| Amazon.com: | Amazon.ca: | Amazon.co.uk: | Amazon.de: | Amazon.fr: |
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The melting pot of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
The host committee for Gay Games IX expects that the 2014 event will be a great opportunity for local groups to welcome athletes and artists from their homes, and show their cousins a warm welcome to the heartland of America.
To give you an idea of the vibrant ethnic communities found in Cleveland, visit these sites:
Cleveland Seniors
Cleveland State University "Cleveland Memory"
Athlete Ally seeks student ambassadors
Athlete Ally Ambassadors will connect with athletes, coaches, and athletic directors on campus and encourage athletes to sign the Pledge and participate in additional Athlete Ally initiatives aimed at promoting the best of athletics.
To join this program, please email speakingout@athleteally.com and let us know why you’d like to be an Athlete Ally Ambassador at your school.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Report from Wellington Outgames
From GayNZ.com, here is their report on opening ceremony:
Equality, fair play and embracing differences were the themes highlighted by the Governor General when he formally opened the 2nd Asia Pacific Out Games this evening.
Speaking on the Te Papa marae [a marae is a Maori structure for religious and social gathering of the community; Te Papa, the NZ national museum, houses a special marae, which welcomed those celebrating opening ceremony, which was full to overflowing with New Zealand and overseas participants for the eight day festival of glbt sport, culture and human rights, Sir Anand Satyanand spoke of New Zealand's proud history of social justice.
He listed our being the first country in the world to ensure that women had equal voting rights with men and our charter membership of the United Nations as milestones towards the legal freedom from discrimination that glbt kiwis enjoy. And he praised the peaceful way in which such progress had been achieved, singling out the Topp Twins as examples of people who had chosen to be open and honest about their sexuality and were taken into the hearts of New Zealanders.
Kapiti Coast's lesbian mayor followed with a gently barbed comment regarding the continuing unavailability of marriage to glbt couples.
Local politicians at the function included the gay MP for Wellington Central, Grant Robertson and international dignitaries ioncluded David Huebner, the gay American ambassador.
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown said her city and New Zealand as a whole were moving "beyond tollerance and towards treasuring" our differences.
The powhiri and opening ceremony followed a procession to Te Papa from the Civic Square which was today host to the annual Out In The Square fair and entertainment event.
Matthew Mitcham comments on recent coming outs
[I] couldn't be more chuffed about the coming out of Steven Davies (wicketkeeper, ENG) and Anton Hysen (football, SWE). Along with Gareth Thomas, Blake Skjellerup and Johnny Weir, I hope we're giving other gay sportspeople, who are at the top of their respective fields, the confidence to be who they are. Friends, please extend your support to these exceptional athletes =]
Jeff Kagan reports on a young athlete rediscovering his passion for sport
Tim Maxwell is a typical 21-year old gay man. A college senior at Pace University, majoring in Communication Arts. He lives his life day by day, going to classes and working as an intern for Details magazine.
But four years ago, life was even easier. Growing up in North Jersey, Tim had fewer responsibilities and more time to do the things he loved, specifically, swimming. “My parents made sure my brother and I were very active in sports growing up. I started swimming at age 6 and I’ve been doing it ever since. At times it seemed like I was in the water more than I was on land.”
His mom and dad would travel as far as Bayonne, cheering him on at almost every swim meet. Tim recalls the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League meet, “In the middle of crowd, I could see my parents screaming my name and the ear-to-ear smile on my mom’s face. That was just the motivation I needed to pull ahead and win.” Their support seems to have helped as Tim placed ninth out of 40 in the 200-meter medley.
After starting college Tim took a hiatus from swimming because he didn’t have the time, but now with the help of Team New York Aquatics (TNYA), New York’s gay and lesbian swimming club, he’s ready to get wet again. “This is such a great group of people. The level of respect and camaraderie amongst the members immediately made me feel comfortable and welcome. I felt like I was part of a team from the first day.”
Tim went to his first workout with TNYA and expected to start where he left off four years ago but he was quickly reminded that his body wasn’t in the same shape that it use to be. He’s no Michael Phelps but he’s back in the pool and that’s what counts.
Continue reading HERE.
Global Sports Forum Barcelona: Women who make a difference in sport
«Women are the future of men ». Those are the words that from French poet Louis Aragon that Lucien Boyer, General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona 2011 opened the first debate on Thursday the 10th of March. An hour later, all the speakers agreed that even if women are more and more implicated in sport, there is still a long way for the equality between them and men. For that, they explained how youth needs guidance for that.
Samantha Davies, sailor (UK)
« I do not understand how on the last race of the Vendée Globe, only two women were registered for 30 participants. This is especially infuriating given that we finally classified 4th and 6th. There is no rational explanation for this. I think that it is more about a problem of communication. We always have to create a buzz and make our sport attractive to increase interest in the media and in ourselves. We must give young people, and more particularly young women, the desire to practice our sport. Allow them to believe in their dreams. It's a chance for me to be a role model for future sailors. I dream that one day a woman can win a big race. I'm sure we are not very far for that. And even more certain that this will allow our sport to attract more women”
Donna De Varona, double Olympic gold medalist in swimming, first President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and award winning journalist (USA)
«Fortunately women are increasingly present in the world of sport than in my time. But everything is about leadership and therefore we must involve them more in the institutions. The future is in our hands. When I see how the World Cup women's football 1999 has enabled women to be more involved in sport in the United States, I say to myself that even if nobody seems to believe we can with a lot of will move mountains”.
Mia Hamm, former soccer player and founder of the Mia Hamm Foundation (USA)
« My family always encouraged me. My parents always supported me and said to believe in my dreams. Today when I coach kids, they tell me they do not necessarily have time to watch sports on TV or get more involved into the practice. This can only be worrying. We need to push our children in a more comfortable position so they would like to do a specific sport. Being young, my role models were men, Michael Jordan, for example. But today it's great that women can be role models. I say to myself that my daughters are lucky. If I had one dream for women in sport, it would be for them to stop having to fight harder than men to prove their value. "
Chantal Jouanno, French minister of sport (France)
« France has 115 sport federations, including 11 that are headed by women. With my team, we seek to put more and more women in strategic positions, but it takes time. I'm not necessarily against quotas. Media needs also to be self-critical. In Europe, when you read a sports newspaper, it is very rare to see a photo of a woman. I wish we could do some pact with them to encourage promoting women's sports. In the meantime, I have already promised that some aid from the French state will go to clubs of neighborhoods and most of all those that help women develop themselves through sport. I hope that one day all women will be free to practice a sport wherever they live”.
Urvasi Naidoo, President of the l’IFNA Netball (UK)
«Women's sports in general lack of sponsors, media coverage ... This is above all what we need to work on in the aim of attracting more people. I also believe in the importance of having role models, women placed at the head of large governing bodies of the soprt world. This is especially critical for emerging countries where the sport is even more complex for women than in developed countries.”
Pernilla Wiberg, Olympic champion and former IOC member (Sweden)
«I am very fortunate to have always been treated equally in my sport. Everything comes from the federations. If they are willing to offer the same rewards, the same coverage to women than men, we cannot talk anymore about inequality. My sport has always been rather masculine. It is thanks to the arrival of women that an interest has exploded. I hope a woman will soon be at the head of a large federation. We need models. »
Katarina Witt, Olympic champion of artistic skating, producer, TV anchorwoman, actress and author.
«My sport has always been rather feminine. It is since I am retired that I do feel differences between men and women. Now working in broadcasting, I am well placed to know that sport is competing with reality TV. It is imperative that youth remember the values of sport and in particular that we do not become famous overnight, but by hard work. Rather than believing that if a woman wants a career in sport, her husband should stay home and take care of the family, I would like to think that states establish structures in which such questions no longer arise. We must work together, not either one or the other.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Follow Blake Skjellerup at the World Short-Track Speed Skating Championships
Outsports is following Blake's performance in Sheffield, so we suggest you follow their coverage.A first instalment HERE relates Blake's poor results in his first event. Let's hope that plenty of folks in the UK will turn out this weekend to support him in his upcoming events!
The full schedule can be found HERE.
Interview with Hudson Taylor on using sports for social change
As I was writing The Hustle, I grappled with the question of whether sports can be an effective vehicle for social change. In some cases, such as with Jackie Robinson’s integration of baseball, changes on the field presage greater shifts in society. In other areas, though, sports lag behind. One case where this seems to be true is that of acceptance of gays and lesbians – the issue is so taboo that there are no “out” players in all of professional basketball, baseball and football. In addition to that, homophobic language is common in locker rooms across the country.
All of this plays a part in what makes Hudson Taylor exceptional. In March 2010, while wrestling at the Atlantic Coast Conference championships for the University of Maryland, Taylor gained national attention after he placed a sticker for the Human Rights Campaign – an organization that lobbies for LGBT rights – on his wrestling headgear. It’s extremely rare for athletes to speak out for LGBT rights. The action was even more noteworthy because Taylor is straight.
Keep reading HERE.
Paris women's handball (not volleyball) team video souvenir book from Cologne
Apologies to Décalage (and to everyone else): I wrote "volleyball" when I meant "handball".
Under the influence of Marielle Bousquet:
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Gay Games Ambassador Judith Light says "It Gets Better"
Gay Games Ambassador and actress Judith Light has produced this video for the "It Gets Better" project.Visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.
Ben Cohen Acceptance Tour to start with "Beer with Ben" in UK
Ben has teamed up with the Village Spartans Rugby Club in Manchester and the Kings Cross Steelers in London to hold 'Beer with Ben' evenings to raise awareness and funds for the up and coming tour.
"I am looking forward to coming along to meet everyone." says Ben "I have already met quite a few of the Village Spartan guys when I got involved with their successful bid for the Bingham Cup to be held next year. It should be a fun evening. I will be bringing along some auction items, updating everyone on the Acceptance Tour details and speaking about my rugby career. I have heard also that one of the clubs will be auctioning off their club kit as well! That's a bit different!"
Beer with Ben is a ticket event and they are available from the shop here or from the clubs themselves.
The Ben Cohen Acceptance Tour will be visiting Atlanta, New York, Washington and Seattle in May this year and will be raising awareness and funds, standing up against homophobia and bullying and standing up for equality, tolerance and mutual respect.
Manchester - Taurus, Canal Street. 8pm Thursday 7th April
London - 2 Brewers, 114 Clapham High Street. 7.30pm Wednesday 20th April.
UK government to work with Football Association to help players come out
 |
| Anton Hysén |
The [UK] government will work with the Football Association to encourage gay footballers to come out, equality minister Lynne Featherstone has said.
She was asked by Conservative MP Mark Menzies at Commons question time today what can be done to encourage a “welcoming atmosphere” in the sport, following cricketer Steven Davies and rugby player Gareth Thomas’ announcements that they are gay.
Ms Featherstone congratulated the sportsmen for coming out and added: “Obviously it is very important and we look forward to working with the Football Association to create an atmosphere and ambience where footballers also feel free to come forward and come out if they wish.
“Not just for the sake of the league and themselves but also for the sake of youngsters all over the country who should be able to play on any field of sport free of any kind of discrimination.”
Keep reading HERE.
Jeff Kagan reports on NY Frontrunners
“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.” Those words of wisdom came from Fred Lebow, the co-founder of the New York City Marathon.
His sentiments are echoed by Rob Lennon, the president of Front Runners New York, the local gay running club that has been “keeping gay and lesbian runners on their toes for over 30 years.” Lennon has been with the club for the past seven of them. Every week, you’ll find him shakin’ a leg at the Front Runners’ Saturday Morning Fun Run. While you may be sitting on your couch watching cartoons, the Front Runners are out in Central Park, dripping with perspiration and endorphins as they take the loop.
Keep reading HERE.
Finding allies in athletics
There’s an instinct among many of us, no matter what issue we’re dealing with, to dismiss elements of our society that we deem to be “part of the problem” as never being able to be “part of the solution.” We sometimes think that whatever problem we seek to solve will be solved if the elements we’re working against would somehow magically cease to exist, or at least lose their influence.
When noted sportswriter, author and Boston Herald columnist Steve Buckley came out, I wrote, “Anyone who’s ever set foot inside a locker room at any level, for any reason, has heard enough anti-gay invective to last a lifetime.” And it’s not just men who are athletes who are surrounded by this environment. In fact, sometimes it seems like the more successful a woman is as an athlete, the more likely she’ll be subjected to anti-lesbian (or anti-transgender) slurs by opponents or rivals.
For decades, the world of athletics has been seen as part of the problem by those of us dedicated to fighting anti-LGBT hate. It’s time to see it as part of the solution.
Continue reading HERE.
Cleveland-Akron 2014 presentation at EGLSF Annual General Assembly
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| FGG sports officer and Team Muenchen delegate Bettina Dietmann-Winter (photo Dimitar Dechkov Dimitrov) |
EGLSF delegates were also sensitive to the appeal expressed by the Gay Games IX host committee to use the event as an opportunity to bring together the large Central and Eastern European community in Cleveland with LGBT sports and culture groups in their countries of origin.
FGG at Wellington Outgames
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
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.
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"
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
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
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
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.
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