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| MULTISPORTS | Award | All Countries |  27. December 2009 | | 2009 Gay Athlete of the Year | Readers of Compete, the gay sports magazine, and the expert jury have selected the 2009 (Gay) Athlete of the Year. The finalists were submitted to a panel of celebrity judges consisting of Sarah Burke, Bridget Pettis, David Bromstad, Evan Darling and Jeff Kagan, who chose three finalists: John Ensor (Washington, DC), Eddie Chen (Los Angeles, CA) and John Deffee (Phoenix, AZ) - all from the USA.
The jury decided that leading by example, John Deffee is the most positive role model that other gay athletes can look up to, thus honouring him with the title 2009 Athlete of the Year.
Under the leadership of Deffee, his team Phoenix Toros won the Gay Softball World Series. As coach and pitcher for the Toros John has experienced a lot of success and joy over the years, but this win was unlike any other. “The greatest thing for me was seeing how proud the boys were when they won. They made tremendous sacrifices. Seeing (the teammates celebrate) makes it all worthwhile,” said Deffee. By achieving such success on and off the court, Deffee serves as an example to hundreds of gay and lesbian softball players hoping to attain their own goals. For this reason, John Deffee has been selected as the Compete Magazine Athlete of the Year for 2009.
Deffee began his journey with the gay softball community first as an athlete. He soon took increased leadership roles with various teams, and this eventually lead him to the commissioner’s position. In the years as a player, coach and manager he encountered several obstacles. For one, he worked hard to get an unsponsored team through league play and to the World Series. And even after ascending to the commissioner’s seat, he had to put up with a negative perception of his team, arguably the best in the league. “As the only ‘A’ team, people should have respected us; but they didn’t,” said Deffee. John and his team members decided to help others with their hitting, fielding, running or throwing skills. Now his team members step up and serve as coach to teams without a leader. He himself also finds time during his hectic week to do the same. This resulted in his team being more respected in the league because they participate and try to help others.
The positive image he has tried to create for his team extends beyond the boundaries of the gay softball league in Phoenix. The Toros regularly challenge themselves by playing in mainstream tournaments. And they don’t just play, they also win! Their reputation has gotten so superior, in fact, that players from other teams in these tournaments have approached John about the availability of roster spots on the Toros. That’s a far cry from their first year of playing in such tournaments, at which they had to endure jokes about their sexual orientation, comments about them being “girls” and even one team that refused to shake their hands. Apparently, the numbers on the scoreboard have done a lot to change people’s attitudes. It’s the focus on that positive image that truly makes John stand out. Whether he is leading his team to a Sunday morning league win, a tournament championship over a “straight” team, or a successful run through the GSWS, John insists that they play for something greater than themselves. “We have a bigger obligation than just playing the game,” Deffee says, insisting that being respected and appreciated are equally important. | | Related URL link: www.competemag.com | | Submitted by: EGLSF | | | | | | | MULTISPORTS | Out in sport | United Kingdom |  21. December 2009 | | Acclaimed Welsh Rugby Athlete Comes Out | Former Welsh Rugby International Gareth Thomas followed in the footsteps of Irish Hurling star Donal Óg Cusack this weekend by making the public announcement that he was gay. This makes him the only openly gay professional rugby player still in the game. Thomas, who is Wales’ most capped player, still plays at a club level for Cardiff Blues, having retired from International Rugby in 2007.
The story was sympathetically revealed in the English newspaper the Daily Mail, a newspaper which had recently caused outrage amongst the UK and Irish LGBT community for publishing an article which speculated about the death of Stephen Gately, a gay man and member of Irish pop band Boyzone.
What makes Gareth Thomas ‘coming out’ particularly interesting, is his acknowledgement that being a young person and gay can still be difficult in the UK. “I don't know if my life is going to be easier because I'm out, but if it helps someone else, if it makes one young lad pick up the phone to Childline (the UK’s NGO helpline for young people), then it will have been worth it.”
As with Donal Og Cusack, Gareth Thomas’ announcement has been met with overwhelming support from within his sport. Nic Scott, Rugby Football Union Equity, Inclusion & Safeguarding Manager in England told EGLSF: “Gareth is one of many great ambassadors to the sport of rugby union, his ‘coming out’ at the weekend seems to have caused a minor sensation in the media but within the sport it really only caused a ripple of interest. Rugby union welcomes everyone, whatever their background and whether they are gay or straight, and I’m sure Gareth will be treated no differently to how he has been for many years on the pitch or the terraces, or in the changing rooms and bars.”
In interviews this weekend, however, Gareth Thomas has acknowledged that he was aware of his sexuality as early as 16 or 17 years old, but that he himself could not accept it.
Lou Englefield, EGLSF Board member from the UK sees Gareth Thomas personal revelation and acknowledgement that ‘coming out’ may still not be easy for young gay men as significant: “We have come a long way in improving the rights and visibility of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the UK, but a recent report by the National Union of Teachers highlights that homophobic abuse is still widespread in UK schools. Meanwhile, young gay men are four times more likely to commit suicide than the population as a whole and as Gareth Thomas himself explains, many young people are still afraid of making their sexuality known. Having great gay sporting heroes is hugely important for all young LGB athletes and even for those of us who don’t play or follow sport. Knowing that you can be gay and achieve in all walks of life is invaluable to the self-esteem and personal development of all young LGB people.” | Related URL link: Download More Information  | | Submitted by: EGLSF | | | | | | | Multisports | French TV | France |  20. December 2009 | | Canal Plus primetime on gay sport | French TV network Canal Plus will be broadcasting two special shows devoted to LGBT sport on January 4. The program will be made up of two documentaries commissioned for the evening.
The first, Sport et homosexualités: c'est quoi le problème? (sport and homosexuality: what's the problem?) was directed by César-award winner Michel Royer, and was supported by the FGG. The film presents various aspects of sport and homosexuality, starting with the obstacles for elite athletes to come out. Among the athletes featured in this section is Matthew Mitcham, who opens and closes the film. Another section of the film deals with LGBT sport, and in particular the Gay Games. The film is rich and dense, touching on the history of gay and lesbian athletes, reminding us of some forgotten victims of discrimination, and introducing us to new heroes. Important insight from people outside the LGBT community is offered by former international rugby player Serge Simon and football star Lilian Thuram.
The second film, Ramène tes fesses à Copenhague! (get yourself to Copenhagen) is much lighter. It takes the form of a faux reality TV show which sees three young straight men from the French suburbs go to the 2009 Outgames, where they have to compete each day in challenges which lead them to question their own prejudices about homosexuals and sport.
It's very entertaining, and we look forward to having the millions of subscribers to Canal Plus being able to enjoy these two films. | | Related URL link: www.canalplus.fr | | Submitted by: FGG | | | | | | | Multisports | GGVIII | All Countries | | 19. December 2009 | | Register for Gay Games VIII before prices inc | The current base registration fee is 125 Euros, and will be increased by 25 Euros on 1 January 2010. So don’t wait – register now. Gay Games VIII will take place in Cologne, Germany from July 31 to August 7, 2010.
Some 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries are expected to participate in over 35 sport and cultural events. Up to now, over 3,500 people have registered for the Games. Built upon the principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best, since 1982, the Gay Games have empowered thousands of LGBT athletes and artists through sport, culture, and fellowship.
The first Gay Games took place in 1982 in San Francisco and have been held every four years since. The Gay Games are open to everyone – gay or straight, male or female, transgender or transsexual, beginner or experienced. | | Related URL link: www.games-cologne.de | | Submitted by: FGG | | | | | | | Multisports | Vacancy | Europe |  18. December 2009 | | FARE Co-ordinator Job Advert | FARE was established a decade ago as a European network to campaign against all forms of discrimination in the sport. It has been very successful in raising awareness at all levels of the game and its work has expanded to extend across nearly 40 countries. FARE is currently reforming its governance arrangements so that they remain fit for purpose, becoming a formally constituted democratic entity in its own right. This includes establishing a small professional secretariat, headed by a co-ordinator with administrative/financial support. The secretariat will also be responsible for contracted functions of project and communications management.
FARE now seeks to recruit a full-time co-ordinator. S/he will ensure that the secretariat functions as a coherent and effective unit, supporting the board and implementing its decisions. It will be critical that the secretariat supports the activist fabric of the network rather than becoming bureaucratic and remote from it. It will also represent FARE on a day-to-day basis with the governing bodies of the sport, funders and the wider public.
The role of co-ordinator is thus an exciting but also demanding one. The successful candidate must be self-starting and dynamic, and able to manage a range of relationships with colleagues across the continent. They must be committed to contesting intolerance wherever it is to be found in the sport and to the empowerment of members of minority communities. They must ensure that FARE behaves in an impeccably professional manner in delivering on its commitments to funders and other stakeholders.
The chosen candidate will enter discussions with the FARE management board as to the location from which s/he and their back-up will work, which could involve a personal arrangement or an arrangement with one of the FARE partner organisations. A competitive salary, and assistance with any reasonable relocation costs, will be offered.
An information pack is available to download from FARE website, where also other information is available. The closing date for applications to be received is 31st January 2010. Interviews will take place in February.
Potential applicants wishing to discuss the post should contact Howard Holmes at Football Unites, Racism Divides, on +44 114 255 3156, or via email at howard@furd.org. | | Related URL link: www.farenet.org Download More Information | | Submitted by: FARE | | | |
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