THEGAYUK

Category: Sports

  • Sport Stars Who Came Out Of The Closet

    Despite there being thousands if not hundreds of thousands of men and women in professional sports, very few have come out as lesbian, gay, bi or transgender.

    We take a look at the brave few who have come out as LGBT over the last couple of years.

    Tom Daley

    Probably one of the most famous coming out stories of recently years. Daley decided to come out as bisexual through a video on YouTube. He later came out as gay on national TV on a Keith Lemon show.

    Gus Kenworthy

    Olympian medalist Gus came out in 2015 in an interview with EPSN.

    Liam Davis

    A high profile footballer, Liam Davis came out as gay in a newspaper interview in 2014. He said,

    ‘I personally hope that over the next 10 years I’m not the only gay footballer out there. Nobody wants to be forced out, but I hope they can look and see there is someone out there who has done it.

    Ian Thorpe

    Swimming champion Ian Thorpe came out as gay in 2014. The gold medal Olympian said, “I’m not straight. And this is only something that very recently – in the past two weeks – I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that.”

    John Fennell

    A then 19-year-old, Canadian Luger John Fennell came out during an interview in which he called hiding his sexuality a ‘suffocating’

    Ian Matos

    A Brazillian diver came out shortly after Tom Daley revealed his sexuality. He came out despite being told to stay in the closet until after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    Thomas Hitzlsperger

    German born Thomas came out as gay in January 2014. He was a football player for Aston Villa and West Ham.

    Caitlyn Jenner

    Caitlyn Jenner made headlines this year after revealing that she is a woman. She was an Olympian champion known as Bruce Jenner. She is the highest profile professional athlete to ever come out as transgender.

    Sam Stanley

    Sam became the first professional English pro rugby player to come out in 2015.

    Keegan Hirst

    27-year-old Keegan Hirst came out in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.

    David Benson

    David a baseball player in the United States became the first pro baseball player to come out as gay. He did so on the same day that Keegan Hirst came out.

  • GRAN CANARIA: Are you game enough for a spot of Tennis?

    First ever LGBT Tennis Open to stage in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria 9th – 11th October 2015.

    Dark nights getting you down? Well, it’s still not too late for you to sign up and join some Autumnal sporting fun in the sun.
    This October the outdoor clay courts of the Open Gran Canaria Tennis Club, Las Palmas will host the first ever LGBT Tennis Open seen on the Island.
    This year’s exciting launch tournament is a pre-event for Gran Canaria to host annual GLTA (Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance) Tournaments with all of the associated backing and glitz. GLTA is a global organisation, with some 8 million players and Martina Navratilova as the front figure.
    A maximum of 70 men and women of all nationalities will compete in five different categories over the course of three days. The opening ceremony and first rounds take place Friday, 9th October, culminating in the Grand Finals, awarding of trophies and evening dinner event Sunday 11th October.
    The event is set to be friendly and welcoming. Places are still available but limited and cost:
    1 event: 25 euros

    2 events: 35 euros

    Dinner party event (open to players and non-players): 20 euros
    Event co-organiser Magnus Welin says,
    “We know that there is a demand for LGTB tourists visiting the Island to meet and play with other LGTB players. May it be tourists or local residents of Gran Canaria and neighbouring Islands. Therefore not only are we staging this exiting first tournament but we are also founding a LGBT tennis club where tourists and locals can hook up and play at weekends.”
    As this is the first LGTB tournament and a new concept that includes both the local LGTB community and tourists of all nationalities our work is receiving good interest. However we’d like to spread the word wider and particularly encourage more Transgender players to take part both in this October’s event and going forward. We are already planning for the 2016 tournament. This will be held at the Maspalomas Tennis Centre Club.’
    As part of the launch players will also enjoy a complimentary tour of Gran Canaria to allow them to enjoy the beauty of the Island’s green valleys, mountainous ranges and azure coasts. In addition several gay resorts in Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas are also offering some players four night’s accommodation free of charge, prior to the tournament. With a possibility to meet new friends and relax before the competition starts the LGBT Tennis Open Gran Canaria is the perfect antidote to the Winter Blues.
    To find out more and book your place to play visit the LGBT Tennis Open website:http://www.lgtbopengrancanaria.com/
    Key Facts:
    Venue: Open Gran Canaria Tennis Club, Street Ventura Doreste s / n corner, Jamat, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain (928 91 75 35) www.opengrancanaria.com
    When: The LGBT Open Gran Canaria will be played on 9th, 10th and 11th October. Matches start Friday 9th October. Awards and trophy ceremony scheduled approx. 16.00hrs Sunday 11th October.
    Entry deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2015 11:59 PM (GMT +00: 00). The LGBT Open will consist of five GLTA categories: OPEN, A, B, C and D both in Singles and Doubles, male and female format.
    Registration Fees:

    1 event: 25 euros

    2 events: 35 euros

    Dinner party event (open to players and non-players): 20 euros

    Court Type: 6 clay courts for OPEN, A, B, C and D categories

    Accommodation:

    The organisers of the LGBT Tennis Open Gran Canaria have agreed special rates with Hotel Bed & Chic. The hotel is approximately 30 minutes from the Gran Canaria Open Club and is close to the fabulous city beach of Las Canteras:
    Hotel Bed & Chic: standard room € 49.00, double standard € 45.50; superior room € 52.50, double superior room € 49.00; € 67.90 Junior Suite, Double Junior Suite € 60.90. Breakfast 10 € / person. www.bedandchic.com
    Transport

    Public bus line number 47 takes just 30 minutes from the Hotel Bed & Chic to the Gran Canaria Open Club.

    by Mark Stanley | @GranCanMan76

  • Gay Rugby World Cup documentary SCRUM to open Iris 2015

    Organisers of the Iris Prize Festival have confirmed that the Cardiff based LGBT film festival has adopted a rugby theme for their opening night to coincide with the Rugby World Cup. Supported by the Welsh Rugby Union, who allowed the festival team to film their cinema advert at the Millennium Stadium, the 2015 festival will open with the rugby documentary Scrum.

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  • Gay Football Team Makes A Bid For Joey Barton

    Oh those cheeky chappies at East End Phoenix Football Club have asked Premiership footballer Joey Barton if he wants to transfer to their team.

    Tweeting the star footballer, lads from the East End Phoenix Football Club said that as part of the transfer package, Joey Barton, 32, could enjoy free pints at the Old Ship each Sunday and that he wouldn’t need to wash out his gym bag.

    Club Chairman, and stand-in goalkeeper Niall Dumigan, said he was “cautiously optimistic” of a quick response from Barton’s representatives

    Dumigan added:

    “I think we have tabled a very fair offer under the circumstances. The lads hate having to wash the kit every week, and there’s always a fight over who will end up with it.

    “Joey has a lot of fans at East End Phoenix ever since he bravely stood up against homophobia in football three years ago. He’s probably the most high-profile straight ally we have in the sport, so I think he’d fit in well with the squad.”

    Joey Barton is well known for his stance on equality and his fight to give homophobia in football the boot. He won Ally Of The Year in 2014.The East End Phoenix football club, a Sunday league, was set up in 2008 and has an open door policy, but probably not the depth of wallet needed have Barton play for them.

  • Indiana Fever guard Layshia Clarendon opens up about gay acceptance in Christianity

    Indiana Fever guard Layshia Clarendon opens up about gay acceptance in Christianity.

    In an open and honest interview, Indiana Fever guard Layshia Clarendon talks openly with The Players Tribune about being black, gay, female, non-cisgender and Christian.

    “The Church has a rich history of homophobia, which has inflicted so much harm on so many lives. I took this especially personally because I am a Christian who often needs to prove her faith because of her sexuality. How could my fellow believers be the ones to exclude any walk of life? As leaders in faith and the league, I expect my sisters in Christ to fight for inclusion. That’s what we should be doing — that’s the right thing to do. Isn’t that the message?”

    “Love isn’t a gay or straight experience; it’s a human experience.”

  • New LGBTI Show Planned For Football Fans

    Scotland’s resident LGBTI radio station Xpress Radio Scotland, has launched a new football show ’90 minutes’, hosted by avid fans of the sport, Iain Sharkey and David Sinclair.

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  • There Are Just 20 Openly Gay Athletes In This Year’s Olympics

    According to Outsports.com there are twenty openly gay and lesbian athletes competing at the 2012 Olympics in London this summer.

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  • Rugby Must Change To End Homophobia

    In what is believed to be a world first, international rugby stars from three countries are joining together in publicly condemning homophobia in sport. English star James Haskell and Welsh star Alex Cuthbert as well as Australian Rugby Legend John Eales have all backed a statement specifically calling for an end to homophobic language, the most common form of discrimination.

    They join other sport stars speaking out about discrimination, including Gareth Thomas and David Pocock as well as openly gay rugby referee Nigel Owens who says homophobia has been tolerated for “too long.” This all comes after the first international study found widespread homophobia in UK and international sport.

    – 77% of UK participants in the study had ‘witnessed or experienced homophobia’ around sport

    – Verbal slurs such as ‘faggot’ or ‘dyke’ as well as jokes about gay people were the most common forms of homophobia reported

    -70% thought youth sport in the UK was not safe or welcoming to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
    (Nearly 9500 gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight people took part in “Out on the Fields,” the largest study ever conducted on homophobia in sport. Nearly 1800 were from the UK. It was reviewed by a panel of seven academic experts from six universities. Full UK results: www.outonthefields.com)

    In repose to the study, Dublin-based World Rugby (formerly IRB), reaffirmed its recent, historic commitment to ‘eliminate’ discrimination from the game. It is the first ‘world sport’ to make such a bold pledge and quite a contrast to the position of FIFA.
    Meanwhile, the three international rugby stars – Haskell, Cuthbert and Eales – have all backed a formal statement and will be promoting anti-homophobia messages through social media this Sunday, 17 May which is ‘International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia’ on 17 May.

    The statement backed by the players says:

    “Everyone should be able to play and enjoy sport without fear of discrimination. Homophobic language can be harmful to those struggling with their sexuality and it makes people feel unwelcome to play sport. We want to send a strong message to everyone involved in sport that homophobic language and behaviour is not acceptable.”
    England’s James Haskell, 30, said he decided to back the statement because he was alarmed by the extent of discrimination discovered in the UK and other countries.

    “I feel bad for anyone who struggles to be true to who they are and feels the need to live a lie because they are worried about being rejected. I think homophobic language is still too common in sport. Even if the jokes and banter you sometimes hear are not meant to be harmful I think it creates an environment where gay people don’t feel very welcome,” said Haskell.

    Haskell’s views on the effects of discrimination reflect the experience of openly gay Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas. He says he kept his sexuality secret and nearly committed suicide because language created a hostile environment.

    “I am one of those who hid my sexuality for years because this kind of language created an environment where it seemed impossible to be accepted as a gay man. The good news is I don’t believe most people making these jokes and using these slurs are being intentionally homophobic. After I came out of the closet, many of my greatest supporters were teammates who, in the past, had made the most jokes about gay people,” wrote Thomas, in a foreword for the “Out on the Fields” study.

    Welsh rugby star Alex Cuthbert, 25, says Thomas has helped people understand why this issue is important, “I think Gareth Thomas’s story has helped us all become more aware of the effects of homophobic language and banter. Society has changed and I don’t think this kind of language has any place in sport or anywhere else anymore.”

    Meanwhile, former New Zealand All Black Josh Kronfeld says homophobic language is common among spectators, “The biggest issues would probably be driven by the fan base. There are dumb and ignorant people around.” Australian Wallabies star David Pocock has called the extent of homophobia discovered by the study “awful” and wants “more education through all levels of the game.” Pocock recently complained to a referee about homophobic slurs during a match, leading to a player being fined $20,000 by the Australian Rugby Union.
    In Ireland, rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll and current players Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony also back an end to discrimination against gay people. All three have urged people to vote ‘yes’ in their country’s upcoming same-sex marriage referendum.
    Rugby legend John Eales, the most successful Wallaby captain in Australian history, is proud so many rugby players around the world are taking such a strong stance on discrimination against gay people. He also praised the commitment by World Rugby (formerly IRB) to “eliminate” homophobia from the game. (www.worldrugby.org/news/59705)

    “I think we were all surprised by the extent of homophobia that was found by the study but I am glad rugby is leading internationally on this issue. I think World Rugby’s commitment to eliminate homophobia from the game is very powerful. It will help end the problem because it sends a strong message to everyone involved in sport that homophobic language or any behaviour that makes people feel unwelcome is no longer acceptable,” said Eales.

    Jeff Wilson, the London based Chairman of International Gay Rugby, signed the recent agreement with World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset to “work together to educate and eliminate homophobia in rugby.”

    “Unfortunately there are still alarming rates of discrimination in sport and I think we have a lot more work to do than we expected. However, despite its tough and macho image, I think rugby is very well placed to become the most inclusive and tolerant sport in the world. We are very grateful to have such strong support at all levels of the game, from the players up to the international leaders. I’m hopeful that rugby’s success will inspire other sports to also rid their games of discrimination,” said Jeff Wilson.

  • Gay Fans Of World Cup Football May Face Humiliating Tests By Qatar

    LGBT football fans who may want to attend the 2022 World cup, due to take place in Qatar may face humiliating tests in order to enter the country, in which being gay is illegal.

    Despite a number of worrying questions over human rights, Qatar has been awarded the hosting obligations for the World cup in 2022, by FIFA.

    Currently, gay men face between one and three years in prison if caught. In November 2014, the Qatari sports minister said that the country would find “Creative” solutions to gay people. He told AP, “It’s exactly like the alcohol question.”

    “[Qatar doesn’t want to create] this impression, illusion that we don’t care about our tradition and our ethical values.

    “We are studying all these issues. We can adapt, we can be creative to have people coming and enjoying the games without losing the essence of our culture and respecting the preference of the people coming here.

    “I think there is a lot we can do.”

    It has been suggested that members of the Gulf Cooperation Countries, which include; Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are developing a test that will be able to detect the sexuality of visitors to its countries.

    The test was first reported on in 2013 after Kuwait’s director of public health Yousouf Mindkar said, “gays will be barred.”

    Speaking to Kuwait Newspaper Al Rai, he said, “Health centres conduct the routine medical check to assess the health of the expatriates when they come into the GCC countries. However, we will take stricter measures that will help us detect gays who will be then barred from entering Kuwait or any of the GCC member states.”

    Gay rights groups have criticised FIFA for choosing Qatar to host the event.

    An advertising ‘modesty’ campaign has already begun teaching visitors to the nation about acceptable behaviour including what and whatnot to wear, with the slogan, “If You Are In Qatar You Are One of Us…”

    Today the FIFA taskforce has recommended that the World cup event should take place in November and December due to concerns regarding the health of player and spectators, who are unaccustomed to temperatures that can exceed 40C in the summer months.

  • Free Entry For Gay Football Fans At Dulwich Hamlet FC

    This coming Saturday 21st February at 3.00pm Dulwich Hamlet are at home to Metropolitan Police FC, in the Ryman League Premier Division, kick off 3.00pm.

    Dulwich Hamlet football club are offering free admission to all in the wider LGBT community, and their friends, via a flyer, for their match against the Met Police football club. This coming Saturday 21st February at 3.00pm Dulwich Hamlet are at home to Metropolitan Police FC, in the Ryman League Premier Division, kick off 3.00pm. Usual price is £10 adults, £4 concessions.

    Dulwich Hamlet Football club have a commitment to promoting the anti-homophobia message in football. Last week the team staged a very successful ‘anti-homophobia friendly’ against the Gay World Football Champions, Stonewall FC.

    If you’re interested email: therabblers@yahoo.co.uk

  • Premier League And Paddy Power Go Gay With Rainbow Football Laces

    Rainbow Laces campaign asks players to lace up for weekend of 13/14 September.

    Stonewall, joining forces with the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) and Paddy Power, has sent rainbow laces to every professional club and footballer in Britain to show support for gay players and fans.

    The campaign has official backing from the Premier League and high-profile support from Thomas Hitzlsperger, FA Cup winners Arsenal and champions Man City and aims to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in sport: homophobia in football.

    Thomas Hitziperger made headlines in January when he announced he was gay.

    Building on the success of last year’s inaugural campaign in which hundreds of pros laced up including Leighton Baines, Olivier Giroud and Joey Barton, alongside widespread support from Ed Miliband, the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, Stephen Fry and Gary Lineker, players and fans are being urged to again show their support over the weekend of 13/14 September.

    Arsenal legends Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla and club captain Mikel Arteta will kick-off the campaign with a high-profile TV ad – ‘The Changing Room’ – designed to raise awareness of the issues around homophobia in football and lead the charge in changing the beautiful game.

    Among the 5,000 professional footballers in the UK, not one of them is openly gay – a scenario with odds of over a quadragintillion to one. Stonewall’s own research shows that seven in ten football fans have heard or witnessed homophobia on the terraces and more than 40 per cent believe football to be an anti-gay sport.

    Rainbow coloured boot laces have been dispatched to every single professional player in the UK, including youth and women’s teams, alongside deliveries to all 650 MPs and leading political figures. Fans and grass-root players will be asked to tweet their support using the official hashtag: #RainbowLaces

    Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, said, ‘We know that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are still rife in football. That needs to change. Last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign was a great start but there’s still a long way to go both on and off the pitch. The clubs and players supporting the campaign and lacing up this weekend are taking a powerful stand against prejudice in our national game. Our work in sport will continue all year round, but for this week we need as many people as possible to show their support and get involved.’

    Nick Noble, Premier League Head of Communications said, ‘The Premier League welcomes initiatives like Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, that share our objectives of equality throughout the sport. Unfortunately discrimination still exists in society and we recognise football’s leadership role in educating participants at all levels that any form of discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable.’

    Thomas Hitzlsperger, the only openly gay player to have played in the Premier League, said: ‘I’m proud to be working with Stonewall on the Rainbow Lace campaign. I want to show that being gay and a professional footballer is something that’s normal. The perceived contradiction between playing football, the man’s game, and being homosexual is nonsense.’

    Paddy Power said: ‘We love football but it needs a good kick up the ass. In many other areas of life, people can be open about their sexuality and it’s time for football to take a stand and show players it doesn’t matter what team they play for. Fans can show their support by simply tweeting using #RainbowLaces, whilst all players have to do is lace up over the weekend of 13 and 14 September.’

    Ed Connell, Gay Football Supporters’ Network Chair said: ‘Last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign successfully highlighted the problem of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football in a bold and impactful way, grabbing the attention of the footballing world. However real progress is never achieved with one off campaigns. That’s why the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) has welcomed the opportunity to work on this year’s campaign which we believe can bring about real change in the game.’

    In addition to club, player and fan support, some of the UK’s best known brands are supporting Rainbow Laces. In an industry first, Metro have pledged their support by filling their entire Monday edition with adverts from brands who back the campaign.

    Premier Inn, who are renaming as Premier Out in all communications for the day, HTC/Carphone Warehouse, Playstation, Sega, Relish Broadband, KLM, Heineken, Pepsico, Lastminute.com, Dr Martens, BT Broadband / BT Sport, Starbucks, Fiat and Jersey Tourism are just some of the brands involved.