Compete July 2017

TRANSGENDER

ATHLETES

MAKE HISTORY

U.S. SOCCER PARTNERS WITH YOU CAN PLAY

RODEO

ROPIN'

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JULY 2017 • VOL. 11 NO. 7 $3.95 • COMPETENETWORK.COM

JULY 2017 Volume 11, Issue 7 PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Sports Editor David Smith • davids@competenetwork.com Health Editor Dr. John Sutherland • johns@competenetwork.com Style Editor Bobby Ciletti • bobby@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@competenetwork.com Field Ambassador Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jared Garduno, Jeff Kagan, Kelli Kulick, Miriam Latto, Bryan Lee, Kevin Majoros, Brian Patrick and Andy Winder Staff Photographer Ariel Stevens • ariel@competenetwork.com Sales & Partnerships sales@competenetwork.com Administration Bethany Harvat • bethany@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2017 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

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18 THE CHANGING SPORTS SCENE FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

KICK–OFF

10 LEFT FIELD

Speed Read, Grandstanding, Thumbs UP/DOWN

17 COMMUNITY HERO Babak Dadvand M.D.

DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP

Ryan Haynes

27 INTERVIEW

Capturing Maile Gorion’s Good Side

31 TEAM

U.S. Soccer and You Can Play Project Celebrate Pride

SPORTS 34 36 38

Rockin’ the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Showcase Your Diva At Austin Summerfest Endurance Racing Tips

OVERTIME

40 HEALTH

O Brave New World

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 STYLE

Summer Sunglasses: The Essential Combination

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out Compete stories, videos and more online at: competenetwork.com www.CompeteNetwork.com

COVER ATHLETE Babak Dadvand M.D. SPORT Tennis, Triathlon and Yoga PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Boyle

| COMPETE | 5

BY ERIC CARLYLE

WITH YOU

POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM UNEXPECTED NEWS

W

@CompeteEric

e are only halfway through the year and there have already been a lot of sportsrelated LGBTQ news. But some of the news, from Caitlyn Jenner’s book to the last minute cancellation of most of the Miami OutGames sporting events, was surprising and unexpected. In cases like this, you can’t change or undo what has been done but hopefully there is a positive outcome that ultimately results from it.

Take Jenner’s book. I know many people have already burnt out on the entire Kardashian/ Jenner clan. In fact, I just saw an online promo for a new show featuring Kylie Jenner on the network. For me, that just means another TV show to avoid. Good thing I have lots of copies of Compete laying around.

Even with all the K/J burnout, Jenner’s book made headlines. Kris said this; Caitlyn said that. It was the classic she said; she said. While I very much admire Jenner for coming out so publicly, I have to say from the little I have read that this book shared way too much about other people’s lives. And while I may not agree with it, information on others shared in this way truly is between all those involved to settle. I know I wouldn’t want any of my family members writing a book about me! Hopefully there will be something helpful in it for some transgender people thinking about transitioning.

Another recent shock was the last minute cancellation of most of the Miami OutGames. I truly feel for those athletes and fans that traveled to Miami only to find out the competition and camaraderie they were eagerly anticipating had been cancelled at the very last minute!

However, the way the Miami community came to together to make sure as many of the events as possible could be held was really the positive side of a story that is still evolving.

Photos of participants playing their sports flooded the press and social media, proving yet again that in the worst of situations, there are wonderful people willing to go out of their way to help others in need. Our hearts go out and our hats go off to all those who went above and beyond to help these stranded gay and ally athletes!

Media outlets like the Miami Herald did a superb job reporting on the amazing generosity and camaraderie that pulled the OutGames back together. They also reported on the potential criminal allegations against the event organizers, allegations which we certainly hope will turn out to be false. But it is still too early for answers. Only time will tell the outcome but let’s all hope something positive will come from all this.

With You,

Eric Carlyle, SDL Publisher/CEO eric@competenetwork.com

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| COMPETE | July 2017

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES BECOMING MORE VISIBLE AND ACCEPTED

T

COMPETE EDITORS

@CompeteConnie

his issue of Compete examines what it means to be a transgender athlete in today’s world. We are grateful to Zander Dyer, a trans man playing flag football for sharing his story and to trans man Andy Winder for writing about it.

We also share the story of plastic surgeon Babak Dadvand M.D. who specializes in male breast reduction and transgender top surgery. He represents a new breed of surgeons who understand the profound importance of body image, saying that he gains from his work with transgender patients "a sense of fulfillment that most other surgeries do not [provide].” While still far from ideal, thanks to more contemporary pioneer trans athletes like Molly Lenore, Kye Allums, Fallon Fox and especially Chris Mosier, the sports scene for trans athletes is increasingly visible and accepting.

An elite athlete in his own right, Chris has been responsible for changing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines for trans athletes to compete, a move that impacted trans athletes around the world who compete in the many sports using the IOC guidelines. It was what enabled him to participate with Team USA in the 2016 Duathlon World Championships in Spain, making him the first trans athlete to qualify for a team of his identified gender and actually compete with them. He has also been featured by Nike in their #Unlimited campaign and been the first transgender athlete featured in ESPN The Magazine’s prestigious Body Issue. Chris is currently the vice president of program development and community relations for You Can Play.

And speaking of You Can Play, there is a great story about U.S. Soccer teaming up with You Can Play during Pride month that, among other initiatives, involved players wearing shirts with rainbow numbers. While MLB and the NBA have been supportive of holding LGBTQ nights for a couple of years, the NFL is finally getting into the spirit of inclusion. In addition to the New England Patriots sponsoring Gay Bowl which we reported last month, the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers sponsored last month's Venice Beach, California Pride event. While it may be too slow for many of us, nevertheless, things are changing for the better!

We also have stories on volleyball, the rodeo, endurance racing and of course, advice from our style editor Bobby Ciletti on the perfect summer sunglasses to frame your face so that when you’re involved in all these great sporting events (or watching them from the sidelines), you are still looking fabulous and chic. Really – who could want for more!

Keep Smiling, Connie Wardman, M.A., SDL Editor-in-chief connie@competenetwork.com

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| COMPETE | July 2017

SPORTS EDITOR David Smith With a B.S. in exercise science and nutrition from MSU Denver, David is ACSM, AFAA and AFPAI-certified and a medal-winning swimmer who conquered obesity by losing over 50 pounds.

HEALTH EDITOR Dr. John Sutherland A practicing cardiologist for 35 years, Dr. Sutherland is a board-certified Internist and Cardiologist and founder of North Mountain Cardio.

STYLE EDITOR Bobby Ciletti A graduate of Boston University, Bobby is a lifestyle and travel expert and founder of TheDaysoftheChic. com, an online destination for simply elegant living.

Twitter @bobbyciletti

ASANAseries.org September 16th - 23rd, 2018 LOGO & AD DESIGNED BY:

LEFT FIELD

KICK OFF

SPEED READ MEXICAN SOCCER FANS CLAIM HOMOPHOBIC CHANT IS HARMLESS

There are perhaps no more fervent sports fans than those who live, eat and breathe soccer, one of the world’s most popular sports. And that certainly holds true for Mexican soccer fans.

But their “enthusiasm” has cost the Mexican Soccer Federation thousands of dollars at least eight times in recent months for using their favorite homophobic chant during some World Cup qualifying matches. And it happened again at a recent World Cup qualifier in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca in front of a crowd of more than 80,000.

The chant begins when the opposing goalie picks up the ball to punt it. Starting with an “Eehhh” that’s stretched out and grows in volume, when the ball is kicked, the crowd shouts “puto!” Roughly translated, it means a male prostitute, a derogatory term for gay men that’s been used in Mexico for a long time. Soccer fans claim it isn’t anti-gay, saying that it has other meanings like “coward,” and when used between friends it can be interpreted as “dude.”

In spite of all the fines, the public service announcements by elite players pleading with fans to stop, even heavy sanctions that could hurt the team’s chances in the World Cup, it seems fans are unwilling to quit because they say it’s not offensive. Yet critics of the chant note it's unlikely fans are screaming “dude” at their opposing teams. It’s believed the chant began about 15 years ago in the country’s national soccer league when fans from one team felt betrayed when their former goalkeeper joined another club.

FIFA, international soccer’s governing body began to take note of this behavior after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the chant was always present. At the time, Mexico’s team coach Miguel Herrera joked that it was an ancient Aztec word meaning “force a bad punt from the goalkeeper.” Now, prior to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, FIFA is taking no prisoners. They are using video messages in the stadiums and loud speaker announcements telling fans not to use the phrase. If they continue, referees will have the ability to suspend a match or even end a game completely.

That seems to have gotten fans’ attention for now. During Mexico’s recent match against Portugal fans were screaming the chant and Mexico was given a formal warning. Three days later during Mexico’s match against New Zealand, fans instead shouted “Mexico” to the praise of authorities and global gay rights activists.

But one fan, Fernando Sánchez was doubtful Mexican fans will quit using the chant. “If it was actually offensive,” he said, “we would stop.” Maybe fans were too busy watching soccer to learn a little thing like the Golden Rule that says you treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER CRYSTAL GRINER FOR HER HEROISM Congratulations go to Capitol Police special agent Crystal Griner who was shot in the ankle while protecting Republican

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| COMPETE | July 2017

lawmakers during a recent shooting. The incident occurred at a field in Alexandria, Virginia where lawmakers were practicing for a charity baseball game. Working as part of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s security detail, Griner kept returning fire even after she was hit.

A standout basketball and softball player in high school, Griner played two years of college basketball for her alma mater, Hood College. Scott Robinson, her former high school coach wasn’t surprised by her courage under fire. “She put it all on the line as a player, just like she put her life on the line protecting others,” he said. “She was mentally and physically tough as a player. And those qualities are why she’s now a hero.”

A lesbian, Griner is married to Tiffany Gyar and President Trump and First Lady Melania visited Griner and her wife in the hospital following the shooting. Many are hoping that Scalise, who doesn’t support same-sex marriage, will rethink his stand on the subject following this incident.

NBA HAS PRIDE FLOAT IN NY PRIDE FOR SECOND YEAR The NBA showed up at this year’s New York City Pride with a float for the second year in a row. In addition to commissioner Adam Silver, others riding the float included Jason Collins, the league’s first openly gay active player, and Rick Welts, president of the Golden State Warriors and his partner Todd Gage. Referee Bill Kennedy was also there. He came out in 2015 following an incident where Rajon Rondo, then of the Sacramento Kings, referred to Kennedy using a gay slur.

Given this display of support, there are many people still disappointed in the NBA’s decision to return the All-Star Game to Charlotte in 2019 following the alleged repeal of HB2 (bathroom bill). They see the league’s support of the LGBTQ community as less than solid since the new HB 142 is viewed as equally discriminating against the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals.

But Silver noted that the Hornets are located in Charlotte and the league wants to ensure that the LGBTQ community can feel protected in the state. “I know I speak on behalf of our owners, our teams and our players,” he said. “I think they all feel very strongly that this is a core principle of our league, and that where we choose to celebrate something like an All-Star Game, that those values should be honored."

MOUNTAIN CLIMBER MAKES HISTORIC CLIMB In what has been described as “the moon landing of free-soloing,” mountain climber Alex Honnold made history last month when he became the first person to scale the face of Yosemite’s El Capitan without ropes or safety gear. This is known in the mountaineering community as free-soloing.

Even more incredible, the 31-year-old elite climber scaled the almost 3,000-foot face of the granite formation in under four hours. Covered by National Geographic (Nat Geo), Honnold’s ascent had zero margin for error. His ability to control his fear in situations like this is so strong that neuroscientists have studied parts of his brain, according to Nat Geo.

KICKOFF

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE

OUTGAMES AFTERMATH I had thoroughly enjoyed your June issue featuring athletes headed to the OutGames in Miami and I was eagerly anticipating the follow-up coverage.

But I was very disappointed when the OutGames was mostly cancelled at the last minute. I wasn’t planning on attending this year and am thankful I didn’t already register and pay for travel to Miami. A last minute cancellation like that would have seriously impacted my financial life.

For a moment I was nervous about my current plans to participate in next year’s Paris 2018 Gay Games but did some research and feel comfortable making that commitment as soon as I have the registration and travel expenses saved up. I am looking forward to my time in Paris and hope by then the OutGames situation will be fully resolved.

LEFT FIELD

COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Stretching Exercise

Active 30% Passive 70%

Brad Reece Olympia, Washington Editor’s Note: While it mentions our May 2017 OutGames feature, this letter is in response to the cancellation of Miami OutGames 2017 opening and closing ceremonies and most of the sporting events and not in response to our last month's feature article.

TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 11

We’ll leave you thinking ...

SO MANY

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IN THE AIR SO MANY GAY SPORTS LEAGUES — >>>> WITH STAY UP TO DATE WITH OUR MOBILE APP FIND US ON

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LEFT FIELD

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN MICAH PORTER SR., OUT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IN COLORADO … for writing arguably the most beautiful and powerful Father’s Day letter ever written from a gay dad to his gay son following their shared march in the recent Denver Pride Parade. To read it in its entirety go to www.outsports. com/2017/6/21/15851730/gay-pride-fathersday-son-micah-porter.

NIKE … for featuring transgender voguer Leiomy Maldonado in its latest Be True ad. Known as the Wonder Woman of Vogue, Maldonado is the first transgender woman to compete on America’s Best Dance Troupe. The video narration says: “Which angels gave you their wings? Which skies have you flown? Go ahead, fly.”

SPORTS QUIZ

?

Q. What is the record for red cards given in a single soccer game?

A. In 2011 referee Damien Rubino set a world record by giving out THIRTYSIX (36) red cards in a single match between Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.

After a brawl erupted, Rubino sent off all 22 players, every substitute and some technical staff.

KICKOFF

Source: www.usefultrivia.com

WORLD OUTGAMES MIAMI ORGANIZERS … for lack of fiscal responsibility and due diligence, waiting until the last minute to cancel the opening and closing ceremonies and most of the sports competitions when financial problems were seen early on. It left many athletes stranded, paying double for lodging and angry, and Miami Beach authorities opening a fraud investigation.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS … for having both the Gay Men’s Chorus of LA and the Trans Chorus of LA accompany actress and athlete Dot Marie Jones in singing the National Anthem at the Dodgers LGBT Night last month. Jones’ character on the TV show “Glee,” coach Shannon Beiste, transitioned to a man on the series.

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| COMPETE | 13

Photo courtesy of the NAGAAA Archives

nagaaasoftball.org (636) 3NAGAAA

Join NAGAAA for the Gay Softball World Series in Portland and check out the scenery!

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Photo courtesy of the NAGAAA Archives

nagaaasoftball.org (636) 3NAGAAA

Play Out at a NAGAAA Tournament

Upcoming 2017 Tournament Dates

Northern Classic. .................................... Toronto ON ................. 08/04/17 - 08/06/17 K-Town Klassic . ....................................... Knoxville, TN ................08/05/17 - 08/06/17 Indy’s Hit & Run Softball Tourn . ........... Indianapolis, IN ............... 08/11/17 - 08/13/17 Pacific Cup Intl. Softball Tourn ............. Vancouver BC ..............08/26/17 - 08/27/17 Sacramento Camelia Softball Classic .. Sacramento, CA ..........09/01/17 - 09/03/17 Gay Softball World Series ..................... Portland, OR ............... 09/03/17 - 09/10/17 Tournaments listed as of 6/28/17. For a complete list of NAGAAA tournaments and dates, visit nagaaasoftball.org.

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2017 Gay Softball World Series Portland, OR - Sept. 3rd to 10th

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KICKOFF

COMMUNITY HERO

Babak Dadvand M.D. Plastic Surgeon Sports: Tennis, Triathlon and Yoga

P

lease meet Compete Magazine’s newest Community Hero, Babak Dadvand M.D. – portrait painter, athlete and yes, plastic surgeon. You may think this is a strange combination until you learn more about Dr. Dadvand’s journey to where he is today – a well-respected plastic surgeon from the Los Angeles area who specializes in male breast reduction, also known as gynecomastia, and transgender top surgery.

At first glance you may wonder what it is that sets him apart from other plastic surgeons, making him so important to the LGBTQ community, especially to transgender individuals. Like his peers, he is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has spent years of extensive training honing his skills in aesthetic surgery. But what does set him apart is the relationship he creates with his patients. Based on trust, confidence and caring, he recognizes that the one-onone relationship he builds with each patient goes far beyond the operating room.

Dr. Dadvand understands the deep importance of a person’s self-image. When patients come to him for treatment, he doesn’t take lightly the responsibility of improving their self-image and bringing some balance to their lives. By making patients feel comfortable during their initial consultations, he learns what it is they are hoping to gain as a result of the surgery, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

Growing up in Philadelphia, he was interested in science and always knew he wanted to be a doctor, yet he was also drawn to the arts and the relationship between his two interests. As a result, he was graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a duel degree in chemistry and in fine arts where he specialized in oil painting and figure sculpture with a particular focus on portraiture. He was also named a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Following graduation from medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Dadvand had a general surgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a plastic surgery residency at Indiana University Medical Center followed by a fellowship in advanced cosmetic surgery in

Beverly Hills, California. His early interest in the intersection of the arts and sciences is now a bonus for his patients.

His artistic eye for the human form combined with his scientific study of human anatomy gives him a discerning eye when examining his patients, enabling him to gently enhance certain features, merging them with the patients’ expectations for their surgical outcome.

While he didn’t have much time for sports during his years of surgical training, Dr. Dadvand has recently started running triathlons and playing tennis, noting that “you're never too old to take care of your body!” He’s even given yoga a try, saying that “Plastic surgery can be very physically demanding, requiring hours of strenuous activity sometimes in contorted positions. Sports and physical activity in general, such as yoga allow me to strengthen my body, focus my mind and increase my endurance to help balance the rigors of my profession.”

When talking about what led him to offer his surgical skills to the LGBTQ community, particularly the transgender community, Dr. Dadvand revealed what drives him at his core – a purpose-driven life.

“I am always looking for purpose in what I do. I want to know that I am not just improving how someone looks but also improving their quality of life. Performing transgender surgery, namely top surgery, gives me a sense of fulfillment that most other surgeries do not,” he said.

“There is no shortage of happy tears on the day the bandages come off and my patients can see their results for the first time. Finally they look on the outside how they have always felt on the inside. To be able to have a role in changing the trajectory of a patient's life is very special to me.”

Dr. Dadvand’s mantra is to live a life in balance, saying that “Sports and physical activity balance my mind and body to allow me to continue performing plastic surgeries that can bring balance to my patients' lives.” And we thank you, Dr. Dadvand for being a Community Hero by bringing that same balance to the lives of so many in the LGBTQ community!

For more information on Dr. Dadvand, go to drdadvandplasticsurgery.com.

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

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| COMPETE | 17

THE CHANGING SPORTS SCENE FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

BY ANDY WINDER

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Pictured: Zander Dyer Football pictures courtesy of Joseph Hunsmann

Z

ander Dyer has been involved in sports as long as he can remember. “I've always been passionate about sports and being part of a team,” he says. “I view it as a second family.” Yet as he grew older and hit puberty, he began to feel dissonance between himself, his body and other players. For a time he moved away from athletic competition to cope with his gender dysphoria. When Zander began his transition to male as a young adult, he began to miss the family he once found in athletics. He worried, however, that he would be unable to find a league supportive of his gender identity.

Then he joined the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL) which he happily discovered “includes everyone who wants to play.” Zander regained the sense of camaraderie that he had long been missing. He joins an ever-growing group of young athletes who feel supported in their transgender identity by their local leagues.

As advocates debunk erroneous assumptions about trans athletes competing and people like Zander increase visibility for trans players, opportunities for competition are growing, regardless of gender identity or expression.

In the early twentiethcentury transgender athletes were neither visible nor openly admitted into athletic leagues. The reason behind their exclusion was predominantly misinformation; competitors worried that players would “disguise themselves” as the opposite gender to gain an advantage. These fears increased when Olympic high jumper Dora Ratjen revealed he was designated male at birth following the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. As a result, many sports organizations required female athletes to undergo physical inspection by a team of doctors to confirm their biological gender.

Neither transgender women nor men were allowed to compete on professional teams because of supposed hormone advantages. An additional problem was widespread use by many national and international sports leagues of the original International Olympic Committee (IOC) transgender competition guidelines. They required external and internal gender reassignment surgeries that most U.S. surgeons were unwilling to perform and even fewer athletes could afford, even if they had wanted them.

Fortunately, that has changed for the better. For those who do want gender reassignment surgery, there are a number of surgeons who now offer their skills to help transform the outside body to meet a patient’s known gender identity.

Babak Dadvand M.D. is a plastic surgeon specializing in male breast reduction (gynecomastia) and transgender top surgery. Always looking for purpose in his life, Dr. Dadvand says “I want to know that I am not just improving how someone looks but also improving their quality of life.” And as an athlete himself, he also understands the important balance sports bring to his life as well as the lives of his patients.

Questions about hormone advantage have already been medically answered.

Transgender men injecting testosterone reach levels identical to that of a cisgender man, giving them increased strength and endurance when competing against male players.

Transgender women who undergo hormone therapy, on the other hand, experience a drop in their testosterone levels. While their muscle mass decreases, fat redistributes into curves, and bone density shrinks. Even though in most measurable ways their physical ability mirrors that of a cis woman, trans female athletes still face a barrier when trying to compete with other female athletes.

Photo by Zander Dyer

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 19

Over 40 years ago tennis player Renee Richards was barred from competing in the U.S. Open after refusing to take a chromosome test required for female players. One year prior, Richards had undergone gender reassignment surgery and began living openly as a woman. With the support of her fellow tennis players, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, Richards was able to sue the U. S. Tennis Association for gender discrimination.

After a favorable court verdict she was able to compete in the U.S. Open and other professional matches but she still faced discrimination. Richards received insults and death threats from outraged tennis fans, and some of her competitors walked off the court when she was announced, refusing to compete with her.

Although Zander has not experienced such hostility, he hasn’t always felt he fit in with his teammates.

While he has felt “less than” fellow football players, he considers it a reflection of personal insecurities. “It's easy to get caught up in societal standards of what a man is or isn't supposed to be,” he says.

“But what it all boils down to is that everyone is different, regardless if you're cis or trans.

There will always be someone who's more skilled than you and there will always be someone you're more skilled than. It's a matter of working on your weaknesses and sharing your strengths with your team/teammates.” The more he plays in the PGFFL, the more he feels like just another one of the guys.

Olympic gold medal-winning track runner Caitlyn Jenner brought trans athleticism into the spotlight when she came out as transgender in 2015. Initially competing as a football player, Jenner turned to track and field as a college student. Her mentors encouraged her to train

Photo by Philip Lee

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| COMPETE | July 2017

for the Olympic decathlon and in 1972 she placed third in the Olympic trials and tenth in the Munich Games.

After intense training, she won the decathlon in the 1976 Olympic Games and set a third successive world record.

Jenner dealt with gender dysphoria throughout her youth but for the most part felt unable to openly express herself. She feared losing her right to compete as an Olympic athlete as well as facing discrimination or ridicule for transitioning to female, all of which had the potential to hurt her and her family. Only in the past two years has she felt safe enough to achieve such vulnerability. Although Jenner transitioned after retiring from sports, she now teeters between being viewed as an inspiration for hopeful trans athletes and being a rich white woman of privilege lacking understanding of the trans community as a whole. It is never easy being a well-known athlete and a trailblazer.

One of the most visible and effective change agents for transgender athletes is trans man Chris Mosier. He has always loved sports but was frustrated by the lack of visible role models for transgender athletes. And as a triathlete and sprint duathlete (run, bike, run), he was also frustrated by restrictive trans competition rules due to a lack of basic knowledge. So he created the website TransAthlete.com as a resource to educate and help other trans athletes.

But it was Chris’ seventh-place finish in the men’s 35-39-age-category at the Duathlon National Championship in June 2015 that propelled his desire to change the rules for trans athletes into overdrive. In a groundbreaking moment, Chris earned a spot on the national men’s duathlon team competing for Team USA. While he was supposedly eligible to participate with his teammates at the 2016 World Duathlon Championship in Spain, it

was only IF his sport’s governing body, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) changed their eligibility rules for trans athletes.

Fortunately, due to current medical research data and Chris’ willingness to be a visible role model for other trans athletes, in November 2015 the IOC changed its transgender guidelines and the ITU followed suit. Now, for those whose sports use the IOC guidelines, trans athletes are allowed to compete without having the previously-required external and internal gender reassignment surgeries and their HRT time requirement has also been lowered from two years to one.

While no openly transgender athletes competed during the 2016 Rio Olympics, these policy changes set a new, inclusive standard for many sports. Regardless of how athletes express their gender identity or what transitioning steps they take, all athletes have the potential to qualify.

Zander has found his flag football team a safe space where his gender identity as a human being and an athlete

is validated. He is aware that others are not so lucky. Many face ostracism for being true to themselves, a fear Zander faced when returning to organized sports. To his surprise and great joy, he found that his PGFFL teammates and opposing team members are overwhelmingly supportive.

Speaking about his feeling of gratitude, he said, “I cannot thank the PGFFL enough for being such an inclusive league.”

He also noted that according to TransAthlete.com, only seven of 50 states have a discriminatory policy that requires an amended birth certificate, gender reassignment surgery or HRT for trans athletes to compete; the rest allow trans athletes to compete without restriction. Although athletic policies vary from one state to the next, Zander feels that “progression is on the rise.”

In a 2012 survey of LGBTQ youth, nearly 10 percent of respondents reported identifying as “transgender” or “other,” with the latter category featuring nonbinary, genderqueer and additional identities on the

Phoenix Gay Flag Football Team: Zander Dyer is first row, center.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 21

spectrum between male and female. Young athletes are much more open and self-aware of their gender identity than older generations. And they are in desperate need of trans athletes as role models. When children and young adults see people like them accomplishing great athletic feats, they’re more likely to believe in their own athletic abilities and goals.

In Chris Mosier’s case, he began his transition to male in 2010 after one year of competing as a professional athlete. Although he knew by age four that he was male, his biggest concern about transitioning was whether or not he could continue to compete as an elite athlete; he found no trans athletes he could use as role models. Today, Chris lives his life by the motto he reads every day: “Be who you needed when you were younger.” When he earned that spot on Team USA sprint duathlon men’s team for the 2016 World Championship, he became the first openly trans athlete to join a U.S. national team of his identified gender.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Mosier also works with LGBT sports leagues to improve transgender inclusion. Currently he is vice president of program development and community relations for the You Can Play Project, an organization that ensures the safety and well-being of all athletes, including LGBTQ players. He is now more widely known after being featured in a Nike

“You may not be where you want to be right now but you will get there. Keep in mind that everyone is transitioning in their own way,”

Photo by Zander Dyer

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advertisement during the 2016 Rio Olympics and that same year was also chosen as the first transgender athlete to be featured in ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue. If anyone gives hope to trans athletes hoping for a spot in professional sports, Chris Mosier’s successes bring great encouragement.

As for Zander, he doesn’t draw inspiration from one particular role model but instead admires a variety of people. “I like to draw inspiration from anyone who is an athlete,” he said, “because we all have different stories, and sports have influenced everyone's life differently.” Trans, cis, or somewhere in-between, every athlete brings unique strengths and abilities to the table. What matters isn’t how players expresses their gender but whether their gender identity is supported enough to give them a fair chance playing the sport they love.

Although the uphill climb for transgender athletes has not ended, they have every reason to be hopeful. With elite transgender athlete role models like Chris Mosier and local trans advocates like Zander to admire, the path for transgender athleticism is becoming more visible. And it is that visibility that continues to improve environments for future transgender athletes.

When asked what advice he’d give young athletes who either have not come out or have just begun the transitioning process, Zander encouraged them to keep pushing forward when life tests their limits. “You may not be where you want to be right now but you will get there. Keep in mind that everyone is transitioning in their own way,” he said. “Life is not stagnant and no one is ever the same day-to-day. Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future; concentrate the mind on the present moment.” He finished by adding, “Embrace your journey and know that your journey is valid.”

Photo by Zhenesse Heinemann

RYAN HAYNES

JULY 2017

TEAM COMPETE MVP

I grew up in a loving family that still believes the person I was born goes against God’s plan for my life.

After quite a few years of personal struggle to accept and celebrate who I am, I want all young people to know ... it’s OK to be ginger. GAY. IT’S OK TO BE GAY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY’S INCLUSION IN SPORTS DIVERSITY? It is absolutely necessary for athletes of all sexual and gender identities to participate in every realm of human activity.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Becoming a capable union rugby referee; 2. Working with our club to achieve a winning record for a season; and 3. The American dream: Buying a house, a dog, a man ... however one does these things. I’m not a details-person.

Remember: when someone attacks you for something outside of your control, it comes from a place of pain or fear in their own past. Do not validate their opinions.

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL/TEACH YOUR YOUNGER SELF? And/or is there anything you hope to teach the younger generation that may be looking up to you.

GREATEST ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Contributing the tries that got the Scandals our first recorded W.

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Achieving professional fluency in Mandarin.

WHAT’S YOUR DAY JOB: Government contractor.

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: Soccer (midfield), wrestling and track and field (100m, 200m, 400m, 4x400m).

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN SPORTS: Mom forced me into soccer at age 5.

WHY YOU LOVE SPORTS: Sports gives me a chance to balance my shut-in tendencies and provides the opportunity to work together with other people to achieve a common goal. It’s what being a human being is all about!

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Smile.

INTERESTS/HOBBIES: Gym, viola, classical music, electronic and tabletop gaming.

FAVORITE TEAM: New Zealand All Blacks.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: James Haskell, England Rugby.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single.

CURRENT SPORT(S) PLAYED: Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club for 3 years.

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Baltimore, Maryland.

HOMETOWN: Yorba Linda, California.

AGE: 33.

To be included in our MVP section, e-mail: MVP@competenetwork.com

Photos by Robert Mercer, Ripped Genes LLC

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INTERVIEW

BY KELLI KULICK

CAPTURING MAILE GORION'S GOOD SIDE PHOTOS BY KELLI KULICK "MAKE SURE YOU GET MY GOOD SIDE,” SHE says with a sly smile. With her flawless Polynesian complexion and glossy black hair, there is no bad side when I focus the camera on Maile Gorion. But I humor her anyway. She turns to her right and I wait until she takes that first relaxed breath, that fraction of a second when she forgets that I am watching, and I snap the picture. Looking down at the image of this 34-year-old athlete and Army veteran, I have a sly smile of my own.

Like most competitive athletes, Gorion first started playing sports as a child. But in her native Hawaii there were few girls’ teams when she was growing up. Rather than avoiding sports altogether, she spent her youth playing as the only girl on a boys’ team. Although being the only girl on a boys’ team, whether for baseball or basketball made her nervous at first, she said that ultimately it made her better and faster than the competition. “[My dad] said I was just as good as them and even better than most of them. It’s about how much you practice your skills and get better at everything you do. He said not to worry about them and just do me and play my game.” He was right. She repeatedly made All-Stars in both baseball and basketball, proving she could do so much more than just keep up with the boys.

But at the age of 13, Gorion left Honolulu for the U.S. mainland and the change required a multiple-year hiatus from sports while acclimating to her new environment – a life in Las Vegas. When asked what the hardest adjustment to make was, she said, “The cold. And the time change [referring to Daylight Savings Time]. Time is not supposed to change!”

By high school, however, Gorion was ready to re-enter the sports world. During a basics of softball class, her PE teacher was wowed by Gorion’s throwing arm. It was then that she was first introduced to softball. And the love she experienced for the game would later lead to appear-

“[My dad] said I was just as good as them and even better than most of them. It’s about how much you practice your skills and get better at everything you do. He said not to worry about them and just do me and play my game.”

ances in seven ASANA (Amateur Sports Alliance of North America) World Series competitions across the nation, including our photo shoot on the steps of a vacant school in Atlanta, Georgia. But come September 2001, softball and basketball no longer mattered. The course of Maile’s life – along with the zeitgeist of the entire nation – was forever altered.

It was on September 11, 2001 that the Twin Towers came crashing down, planes collided with the Pentagon and a farm field in Pennsylvania, and nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives. Like many Americans, Maile Gorion’s life was irrevocably changed by witnessing the tragedy of 9/11. Within two months of that horrific day, at the age of 19 she enlisted in the Army Reserves to show her support for the nation that had given her so much freedom and opportunity as a child. She spent a total of 15 months in Kuwait and Iraq operating specialized military logistics vehicles to receive bulk ammunition supplies and distribute them to troops in the field.

(Contiunued on page 28)

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 27

BY KELLI KULICK

INTERVIEW

It was not only 15 months of service to her country but also 15 months of hiding. Maile Gorion had just come out to her family the year before her enlistment. But in 2002 the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was still in full effect, meaning that any observance or disclosure of homosexual behavior could result in military discharge. Gorion knew this prior to entering the service but still felt it was worth the risk and personal sacrifice of hiding something she had only recently come to accept.

When coming out at the age of 18 Gorion was fortunate to have the immediate love and support of her family. She said her sister claimed she already knew. After all, Maile had been shopping in the boy’s section since she was a little kid. And when she confided to her mother, her mom shrugged and said with the brutal honesty that only one’s own mother can get away with, “You walk like a dyke, so I knew you were gay.” And that was that.

Although serving in the Army Reserves often meant restricting what she talked about and certainly meant never bringing a girlfriend around, Gorion said she was fortunate during her tour of duty that those with whom she was the closest knew the truth of her sexuality and simply accepted her for who she was.

That unquestioning acceptance felt like family, a feeling she sought out again once returning to civilian life in the States.

After spending eight years in the Army Reserves, Maile Gorion returned to civilian life in 2009 and was living in Atlanta when a friend asked her to tag along to a team softball practice.

Gorion offered to help out the girls by shagging balls from the outfield. Impressed by the distance and accuracy of her throws, the team asked if she could hit the ball as well as she could throw it. After sending several balls into the outfield, she was invited to join the team. And so began a nearly decade-long relationship with the Hotlanta Softball League (HSL).

Founded in 1981, HSL is Atlanta’s only LGBTQ-friendly softball league. It currently has over 550 members making up 35 teams, only three of which are currently all-female.

“HSL is different because we play against guys too,” Gorion says. “It’s more competitive because there are only three all-girl teams. It makes us better because we are used to guys hitting the crap of the ball.” But for Gorion, the camaraderie off the field is just as important. “There’s no (Continued from page 27)

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| COMPETE | July 2017

separation between gays and lesbians [in the league],” she says. “It’s just an extension of the gay community. It’s a family.”

But if HSL is Maile’s family, it is just an extended one.

Her immediate family, her REAL family, is her team, the Night Riders. “We are all really close and support each other,” she says of the girls on the team. “We hang out with each other. We have each other’s back, which I love.”

A member since the team’s inception in 2013, Gorion is preparing to compete in her fourth ASANA World Series with the Night Riders, her seventh since joining HSL. Now celebrating its ten-year anniversary, ASANA is comprised of women dedicated to promoting the participation of LGBTQ+ people in organized softball competition. Its premiere World Series event is played each year at one of ASANA’s 23 member cities and brings together women from across the nation for four days of competitive softball in multiple skill divisions.

This year Gorion and her Night Riders teammates are headed to Austin, Texas for the World Series that begins July 4th.

She knows the Texas heat will be intense and the competition even hotter but the softball games are just part of the fun. The extracurricular activities are what make the series memorable. “The team always wants me to perform on someone [when we are] at the Series,” says Gorion with a laugh.

She is well-known in HSL and the Atlanta drag king community for her dancing prowess. “Lap dances are my specialty!”

As Maile sits there on the steps of the vacant middle school in her combat boots and army fatigues, asking me to capture her good side, she isn’t in any position to show off her dance floor moves. Instead, as she cradles her bat and glove she eagerly asks me how that photo turned out. I look at my camera again. The image I see is more than just another girl who managed to outplay her male counterparts, more than just another member of Atlanta’s gay community, more than a military veteran, more than an athlete who intends to play until her heart gives out. I see the embodiment of all that I aspired to be when I came out late in life – strong, confident, loyal and completely accepting of all that she is. “Eh,” I tell Maile with a shrug, knowing she will never see in that photo what I see. “It came out OK.” Sometimes a person’s good side is the one that too few ever see.

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TEAM

BY DAVID SMITH

CELEBRATING PRIDE WITH U.S. SOCCER AND YOU CAN PLAY PROJECT PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISIPHOTOS.COM HOLD THE PHONE AND SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams celebrated LGBTQ Pride last month with their fabulous rainbow-numbered jerseys! Done in partnership with the You Can Play Project, U.S. Soccer along with the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association and the Women’s National Team Players Association, the rainbow-numbered jerseys were part of several initiatives activated by the group during June to recognize LGBTQ Pride month. It also included filming a public service video featuring members of both senior National Teams expressing acceptance and inclusion for and of athletes from all backgrounds.

One set of game-issued jerseys from each team were available in an online charity auction following the games but fans can still purchase limited edition customized men’s and women’s jerseys with the rainbow numbers via ussoccerstore.com. A special “One Nation. One Team” hat with rainbow lettering is also available for purchase and monies from all three items are being donated to the You Can Play Project which is dedicated to ensuring equality,

(Contiunued on page 32)

respect and safety for all athletes, coaches and fans without regard for sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Both the men’s and women’s National Teams donned their gay apparel during last month’s June friendlies.

The men’s team took on Venezuela with the home field advantage and tied while the women’s team took on both Sweden and Norway to come home with two wins. This is the first time a U.S. National Team has made an official demonstration in support of the LGBTQ community.

While many individual athletes in the past have made smaller shows of support, including Men’s National Team (MNT) captain Michael Bradley who wore a special rainbow armband bearing a #OneNation hashtag in support of the victims of Pulse massacre in Orlando, this is the first time an entire team has shown its Pride.

This show of support from U.S. Soccer will contribute to FIFA’s (soccer’s governing body) ongoing effort to combat homophobic, racist and discriminatory remarks and chants that are still quite prevalent around the world by soccer players and coaches but even more so by the fans. Most recently the Atlanta United Major League

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 31

BY DAVID SMITH

TEAM

Soccer (MLS) team had to contend with fans using a chant involving a gay slur to distract the opposing team’s goalie.

Over the last few years FIFA has used fines to try and stop the homophobic chants by fining teams from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico for their fans chanting at qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup. Unfortunately, the fines have made little-to-no impact; Mexico has already been fined eight times with no positive change. So this month FIFA has added a new, more severe punishment for discriminatory behavior.

Prior to the start of a match, a video will be played on the big screens of FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums sharing an anti-discrimination message. If that is ignored, referees now have the authority to pause a match and make a loud speaker announcement warning fans to stop using discriminatory language.

And if it still doesn’t stop, they can suspend or even end the match. FIFA will also place anti-discrimination observers at all matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.

For its part, Atlanta United has publicly stated that it does not condone homophobic chanting and has been working to discourage the use of it. Team representatives told Outsports, “We are working directly with supporters to educate them on our views and to develop alternative chants.” They also stated that fans using any inappropriate chants will be ejected from the facility.

In a group environment it is easy to challenge the strength and confidence of an opposing team and individual players by using discriminatory words and actions.

Behavioral science suggests that many sports fans strongly identify with their favorite sports teams. Since sports have the power to bring out a person’s true identity and character, that may also include internalized homophobia.

“We are working directly with supporters to educate them on our views and to develop alternative chants.”

(Continued from page 30)

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| COMPETE | July 2017

While a person may not consciously admit being homophobic, even protesting by using the standard adage, “I have gay friends,” actions speak louder than words.

While slightly better than other national soccer leagues, the Atlanta United story reveals the U.S. teams are certainly not immune to instances of overt homophobia. There was some minor controversy regarding the U.S National Soccer teams and the rainbow jerseys. One player with a history of being an anti-gay, conservative Christian chose not to take part in the matches where the rainbow jerseys were being worn. An announcement was made that the athlete in question was absent from play, citing “personal reasons” without mentioning the rainbow jerseys.

With displays of homophobia now so well covered by the media, it brings this issue to the forefront and challenges professional sports organizations to take an active role in standing up to this discrimination.

There is still a lot to tackle (pun intended) in terms of homophobia in sports and even more regarding transphobia in sports. However, with similar efforts such as NHL’s partnership with You Can Play, the creation of dozens of You Can Play videos featuring NHL teams, MLB sponsoring “Pride Nights” throughout the year and the recent announcement of the New England Patriots becoming an official sponsor for the 2017 Gay Bowl, many of the stigmas and stereotypes associated with being a gay athlete are being dispelled.

While there may never be a “gay” Jackie Robinson to finally erase the erroneous assumptions about LGBTQ athletes, the continuing contributions of each individual team and league are helping to build the awareness of the LGBTQ community and its presence in our everyday lives. It will do much to break down traditional sportsrelated masculine and feminine stereotypes. Hopefully, the byproduct of that will be the empowerment of current and future LGBTQ athletes to feel accepted by their peer athletes and to feel comfortable and safe so they can come out on their own terms while they are still active in the sport(s) they love.

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SPORTS

COLORADO RIDES WITH PRIDE AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL RODEO PHOTO COURTESY OF ©COWBOYFRANK.NET SADDLE UP! THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL Rodeo is prepared to open the gate for their 35th annual event. Put on by the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association (CGRA), the rodeo takes place every year, drawing hundreds of contestants to take part in a large number of different events. This year the rodeo is set to take place on July 7-9 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds just west of Denver, Colorado.

If you’ve never seen a gay rodeo or taken part in one, it is definitely an event not to be missed. There will be many traditional rodeo contests, including roping skills, bull riding and chute dogging. Chute dogging is where the rider is strapped on the back of a steer in a small, confined chute before it is released; then the rider has to remain on the steer for as long as possible. In addition to traditional rodeo events there will be some excellent events that are more unique to Gay Rodeo, including a Wild Drag Race and the infamous Goat Dressing where the contestants are tasked with putting underwear on a goat!

The Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo is the flagship event for CGRA. A member of the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA), CGRA was formed in September 1981 by a group of gay men who had a strong interest in Country-Western dance and culture. Gay country-western really started to become popular around this time in the United States with gay country bars popping up all across the nation. A gay rodeo set to take place in Reno, Nevada

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| COMPETE | July 2017

in 1981 inspired this small group to attend the rodeo and find out what it was all about. They found the experience overwhelming! They said groups from all over the country come together for square dancing, clogging, line dancing, rodeo and a royalty pageant for Miss National Gay Rodeo.

Most importantly, this group of Denver cowboys saw the level of community togetherness and empowerment the rodeo brought to the LGBTQ community in Reno and beyond. That power to build a strong sense of unity and community inspired the group to start the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association, beginning with a goal of bringing a large group to the Reno Rodeo for the next year.

At the 1982 Reno Rodeo and the first official year for CGRA, Colorado had over 400 participants wearing shirts bearing the slogan, “Colorado Rides with Pride.” The contingent made up over two-thirds of the total rodeo participants. Upon returning to Colorado, CGRA set its focus on the next challenge for the organization; bringing the rodeo to Denver.

Today we continue to honor and celebrate this 35-year legacy of the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo. CGRA hosts a variety of events and fundraisers to support various charity and non-profit organizations throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. From the rodeo, itself to the Mr. and Mrs. CGRA pageant, dance competitions, drag shows, beer busts and much more, the members’ active involvement within the local community makes the CGRA a leader in and a champion for the LGBTQ community. Many of the funds raised go toward the Wayne Jakino Educational Scholarship that is awarded to members of the local community to pursue higher education at a college or university within Colorado.

The rodeo has participants from community members that include all races, gender identities and sexual orientations – they simply love the rodeo. The final deadline to register will be on the opening night of the event, July 7 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. However, you are highly encouraged to register before then to avoid late fees. Saddle up and don’t get thrown out the back door!

For more information, go to http://www.cgra.us/rmrr.

BY DAVID SMITH

SPORTS

DIVA: AUSTIN SUMMERFEST 2017 GET READY TO SPIKE (AND NOT JUST THE PUNCH) on July 29-30 when everybody’s favorite DIVA, the Dallas Independent Volleyball Association will be hosting this year’s edition of the North American Gay Volleyball League’s (NAGVA) Annual Summerfest Volleyball Tournament. Yes, the event is hosted by DIVA and yes, the event is set to take place in Austin, Texas.

NAGVA is very inclusive and welcoming for all players who love volleyball, so get involved. If you’ve ever attended Summerfest you already know how much fun it is. It will offer tournaments in 3 divisions. A-3, BB, and B. Registrations are limited to a max number of teams so if you’re thinking about going, sign up today at http://www.divadallas.org/.

The tournament is open for all LGBTQ+ people. However, you must be with a team in order to register since there are no individual slots offered for the tournament. NAGVA is “an organization, committed to promoting and developing the sport of

volleyball in the GLBT community,” so if you are ready to play but are still looking for a team or league to join, visit https://nagva.org/. You can quickly find leagues and teams in your area.

So how’s your game? Are you and your team ready to take on the best of Texas? Volleyball is such a fun, active and high energy sport.

Get your game in gear for Summerfest 2017 with some of these training tips: PREVENT INJURIES • Volleyball players have a high rate of shoulder injuries stemming from the powerful, overhead movements that can cause a strain or tear within the muscles and joints of the shoulder. If you’re lacking strength and stability within your shoulder joints, you are at a higher risk of injuring yourself during practice or a game. Consider adding some of these exercises into your training routine: rowing machine, inverted rows, horizontal shoulder external rotation and reverse flys on fitball.

GET THAT STABILITY AND CORE TRAINING IN • In volleyball, you are constantly pivoting, jumping and moving in all directions. Adding balance and stability exercises, especially with one foot at a time can really add an extra level of strength and stability to enhance your game.

AGILITY TRAINING IS KEY • Going along with the stability training, adding extra agility training and getting your legs and feet used to pivoting and moving around with power and speed in all directions will help you step up your skills, making you an even more valuable member of your team.

BE A CHAMPION FOR YOUR TEAM • Always put in your best effort, whether it’s during practice, during Summerfest or other tournaments, even in your own training outside of volleyball.

Give it your best effort and show that you are there to support your teammates and to do your part in helping the team succeed. Even if you don’t win, you’ll know that as an individual and as a team member, if you put in your best effort, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.

• Stay focused on the moment. Don’t let yourself get distracted by the future outcome of the game or what has already happened. Get in the zone and focus on completing the task at hand; any other distractions can wait until after your task is completed.

HAVE FUN • That’s why we take part, right? The most important part of your game is to have fun!

• Always be supportive, enthusiastic and positive with your teammates. Everybody is there for the same reason and you can really come together as a team when you lift each other up.

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| COMPETE | July 2017

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SPORTS

SUMMER RACING: TRAINING FOR ENDURANCE NOW THAT SUMMER HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED, every weekend you will find a wide variety of endurance races taking place all across the country. Distances vary, ranging from 5k to 100+ mile running events, triathlons, bike tours, obstacle course races, fun runs and the list goes on. For the sake of time and efficiency, we will refer to all of it as endurance racing and then highlight specific sports, such as running, cycling, swimming, climbing, hiking, etc.

Endurance racing is awesome and it’s growing in popularity. Part of its appeal is that it’s the easiest, most accessible sport for people to get involved in. As human beings we instinctively know how to run. While it may not look pretty or take us very far, barring any physical barriers, we can do it. Endurance racing is a perfect place to start for someone looking to get involved in sports and participate without much logistical effort or money.

Remember, you don’t have to be athletic to be an athlete. Endurance racing is accessible to all who are ready to challenge their limits. There are competitive races for time and there are races that celebrate the accomplishment of simply finishing the race. It is easy to find a race that fits you and challenge your limits, whatever they may be.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can just get off the couch and run a marathon. To be successful at whatever endurance race you choose, make sure to give yourself enough time to train effectively. When you invest yourself into the training process, putting in the time, energy and sweat, by race day you will find your accomplishment to be much more fulfilling. You’ll also discover capabilities within yourself you might not otherwise have known about.

Here are some excellent tips to help you get into endurance racing: CHOOSE A RACE • As mentioned above, there are countless events from which to choose. For you, find one that looks like it would be fun, new and perhaps even outside your comfort zone.

• Be sure to choose one that gives you at least 6-8 weeks of training time. For longer distance events, you will need more time to train.

• Having an event to look forward to and train for gives your training a sense of purpose and focus that will guide you to constantly improve and challenge your limits.

• Remember, do it because you *want* to do it. It’s all about having fun!

START TRAINING • It’s OK if you don’t know what to do; you’ll learn more as you go. The first step is taking a step.

If you’re training for a running race, start going for runs. If it’s a biking race, get a bike and start going for rides. Whatever it is, just start doing it.

• Focus on what you can do and keep with it. Even if you can only run a block, a marathon might seem a long way off. But if you keep pushing your limit, keep practicing and putting out your best effort you will find that one block will turn into two, three, four blocks and you will be that much closer to your marathon.

BIG GOAL, SMALL STEPS • It’s a cliché but it works; remember, the Grand Canyon wasn’t carved in a day. Stay focused on what can you do today … right now … to get closer to your goal. By chipping away at the wall and taking every step, you will find yourself closer to your goal today than you were yesterday.

• Remember, every champion athlete has had to start from the beginning. Michael Phelps was afraid to put his face in the water, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and you are just now taking the first step.

SEEK OUT RESOURCES • There is no shortage of people who can help you to succeed. There are hundreds if not thousands of local groups, organizations, teams and people in your area who share a passion for endurance racing. From your local Frontrunners group, LGBTQ+ cycling groups to swim teams. Local running and cycling stores often host group rides and runs as well.

•

38

As you train you will meet a lot of people who are involved in the sport in many ways. Endurance racing is quite a large community that will warmly welcome you to be a part of it. Not only will you find new resources to help you learn and grow but you will make new friends, too.

| COMPETE | July 2017

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HEALTH

O BRAVE NEW WORLD “OH, WONDER! HOW MANY GOODLY CREATURES

my innermost self, that I really am, even if the resulting conglomeration of parts doesn't fit together into a neat picture that resembles any of society's commonly accepted versions. Self-acceptance requires being OK with the person I see in my personal mirror, without being overly bothered by the fact that I may look more like a Picasso In Hinduism, Ardhanarishvara is the synthesis of the rather than a Gainsborough. masculine and feminine energies of Shiva, a literal demonChristopher Bollas coined the term "the unthought stration of the inseparability of male and female principles known" to refer to things we have an intuitive or felt sense in the universe. Carl Jung believed that in the collective of at some level, though we may lack words to explain unconscious reside anima and animus, archetypes that either how we know these things or even what we're embody the unconscious feminine qualities every man talking about. I knew I was gay long before I could tell you possesses and the precisely how I masculine ones each knew that I was gay woman has. And or what exactly that Hedwig reminds meant and entailed. us that “When the I would argue earth was still flat… that gender the children of the identity is also an moon looked like "unthought known". a fork shoved on a And if I can live my spoon. They were life certain beyond part sun, part earth, any doubt of the part daughter, part fact that I am a gay son ... the origin of man, I don't see any love.” way to deny another This concept person's gender L-R: Jason Collins, Kye Allums, Fallon Fox, Terrence Clemens and Michiel Thomas of gender being a self-identity and Photo courtesy of Michiel Thomas "both/and" proposisexual orientation tion rather than an "either/or" one has been around for anatomy and expectations be damned. thousands of years. So why should the idea of someone Freud once wrote, "Homosexuality is assuredly no being "transgender"-- more one gender than the other advantage, but it is nothing to be ashamed of". Being transdespite what external appearances suggest -- evoke puzzlegender in the world of sports can also engender its share ment? Apparently, while I can acknowledge that I have a of complications and disadvantages. Tennis player Renee bit of the "other" in me, I still also want to maintain that Richards transitioned at age 40 and the U.S. Tennis Associa"[external] anatomy is [or should be] destiny". tion promptly banned her from play, arguing that a female Really? Is this what I want to believe? player with one Y chromosome had an unfair advantage Really? over someone with two X chromosomes. Kye Allums was So. I entered this world equipped with male anatomy, forced to delay transitioning and to continue as a member which makes me...uh, you know...a guy. And being a guy of the George Washington University's women's basketball doesn't really need any definition, because we all know team even after he acknowledged his FtM transgender what that means, like thinking like a guy, and talking like a identity. While his teammates were supportive of him, the guy, and liking guy-type things.

University and the N.C.A.A. were less so.

Like sports.

The relative contributions of physiology and training And beer. in sports is uncertain territory, and it may take years to And girls. grasp fully the additional complexity of being a transgender Oops. athlete. That shouldn't keep us from examining our own Part of coming out - to family, to friends, to myself hearts and assumptions. The title of the magazine you're - means acknowledging and accepting who I know, in reading says it well: "Compete. Sports. Diversity." are there here!

How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in’t!”

Shakespeare, The Tempest

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HOT ITEMS YOU SHOULDN’T DO WITHOUT GYM BAG FITBIT ALTA HR Note: Compete received a personal review on this newest FitBit option from a Compete reader.

From its heart-rate tracking, tap display and sleep tracker to its long battery life, this Fitbit Alta HR. does it all. The super slim model (.61”) reminds me when to move, monitors my sleep stages and alerts me of texts, calls and calendar events. It syncs wireless and fits seamlessly into my daily routine. It has not only become a part of my fitness routine, it’s become a part of me.

Although water resistant, the Fitbit Alta HR is only splash proof and the user manual recommends not using it in the shower or submerging it in water. I liked the Fitbit Alta HR so much I purchased one for my cousin, my mother and my father hoping it would get us all more fit. We share our stats, stay connected and motivate each other through the Fitbit mobile app. I like the ease of the app for tracking weight, measuring water intake and logging food. If I’m not near my mobile device, I also can view my progress with the customizable dashboard on my computer.

Features at a glance: • PurePulse® Heart Rate - Get continuous, wrist-based heart-rate tracking and simplified heart rate zones.

• All-Day Activity - Track steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity & stationary time.

• Reminders to Move - Friendly reminders to move encourage you to reach an hourly goal of 250 steps.

• Smartphone Notifications - See call, text & calendar alerts on display when your phone is nearby (Smartphone notifications unavailable on Windows devices).

• Auto Sleep Tracking & Silent Alarms - Automatically track your sleep quality & wake up peacefully with a silent alarm.

• Sleep Stages - See your time in light, deep and REM stages to better understand your sleep quality.

• SmartTrack™ - Automatically recognizes select activities and records them in the exercise section of the Fitbit app.

• Interchangeable Accessories - Switch up your look with accessory bands in metal, leather & more.

• Long Battery Life - Battery life up to 7 days so you can track all day & night without needing a charge (Battery life and charge cycles vary with use, settings, and other factors; actual results will vary).

• Tap Display - Tap to see your stats, time & notifications on an OLED display, plus customize your clock face.

• Syncs Wirelessly - Sync stats wirelessly & automatically to computers and 200+ leading iOS, Android and Windows devices.

Cost is $149.95 with free shipping over $50; one-year limited warranty and 45-day money back guarantee.

www.fitbit.com ADIDAS miCOACH SMART SOCCER BALL

UNDER ARMOUR SPEEDFORM® VELOCITI RECORD-EQUIPPED RUNNING SHOE

Take your game to a new level with the Adidas miCoach soccer ball that trains you to control and strike the ball like a pro. Compatible with Bluetooth Smartcapable devices using iOS (version 7 or later), Android (4.3 or later) or Windows 10. Great training tool for placing kicks, it has an integrated sensor package that records strike point, speed, spin and trajectory when ball is kicked. Size 5 regulation weight with highest quality thermal-bonded 23-panel ball that requires inflation. Battery life is approximately 2,000 kicks/one week; charging time approximately 1 hour. Package includes charging base and AC power plug; available through Amazon for $199.99

Here is Under Armour's new digitally connected eight-oz. shoe that tracks, analyzes and stores virtually every metric that matters to runners wanting to improve performance. The sensor inside the shoe syncs with UA MapMyRun through your own smartphone; purchase includes 1-year membership to UA MapMyRun MVP. Focused on speed, this shoe delivers a super lightweight feel & a bouncy cushioning system and will still track all your data running with or without your phone. The first smart shoe to use a simple jump test—they call it the Jump Around—to help you decide the intensity of your next run.

Features: innovative UA SpeedForm® construction molds to the foot for a precision fit; engineered mesh delivers light, comfortable fit & amazing breathability; internal heel counter provides seamless, lightweight support & structure; embedded sockliner for added cushioning & seamless comfort and Charged Cushioning® midsole uses compressed foam for even greater responsiveness & durability, providing optimal cushioning & energy return. Sells for $139.99; comes in Black/Rhino Gray; also available for women.

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www.underarmor.com

TRAINING TOMORROW'S LEADERS TODAY

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WWW.SPORTSDIVERSITYLEADERS.COM

OVERTIME

EVENTS

CURRENT EVENTS IN JULY FOR A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT COMPETENETWORK.COM/EVENTS

BOWLING Greater Indianapolis Fourth of July Classic & Scratch Masters Indianapolis, July 1 Music City Invitational Tournament Smyrna, Tenn., July 14 Menopause – The Tournament Orlando, July 28

RODEO Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo Denver, July 7-9

RUNNING

Seattle Classic 2017 Seattle, July 7-9 Philadelphia Open 2017 Philadelphia, July 28-30

VOLLEYBALL Windy City Open Chicago, July 1 Red White and Blue Ball 7 San Francisco, July 1 2017 NAGVA Austin Summerfest Austin, July 29-30

San Deigo Pride 5K Run & Walk San Diego, July 15 Vancouver Pride Run & Walk Vancouver, BC, July 22

LGBTQ RELATIONSHIP COUNSELING SERVICE AT WILTON MANORS PRIDE CENTER

SOFTBALL

JUNE MARKED THE START OF COUPLES SPEAK AT the Wilton Manors Pride Center in Wilton Manors, Florida. The new four-week counseling program for LGBTQ couples or those who want to be, was launched last month. According to the Pride Center’s deputy director Kristofer Fegenbush, “One of the things that makes this program unique is the fact that it focuses on couples in relationships.” The program is offered through the Pride Center’s PALS (Positive Action for Living Safely) Project underwritten by the Community Foundation of Broward.

The program will help participants with a wide range of issues faced by gay and bisexual couples, including communication, negotiating sexual agreements, managing conflicts, the stigma of AIDS in mixed-status couples and much more. Launched in June with five couples, new groups of approximately six couples will be formed every month.

Joining Fegenbush in an interview with SFGN (South Florida Gay News) were Frank Gurucharri, PALS project manager; Lorenzo Robertson, a facilitation consultant and David Fawcett, lead clinical program consultant for Couples Speak. Noting that “We’re breaking new ground,” Gurucharri said that “most programs aimed at reducing health risks in the LGBT community focus on individuals and don’t take couples into consideration. PALS has been working with individuals for a long time and now we’re taking what works for individuals and applying it to couples.”

For more information, go to www.pridecenterflorida.org.

Liberty Classic Long Beach, July 1-2 Metro Nashville Classic Nashville, July 1-2 Emerald City Classic Seattle, July 1-2 Minuteman Softball Tournament Boston, July 1-2 Gotham Softball Classic New York, July 1-2

SOCCER Portland Netrippers FC 2017 Summer Friendly Portland, July 1

TENNIS Rocky Mountain Open 2017 Denver, June 2-4 San Diego Open 32 San Diego, July 1-3 Liberty Open 2017 Flushing, N.Y., July 1-4 Boston Tennis Classic 2017 Boston, July 7-9

Sports Club

Pat Gamble

Graphic Design and Marketing

at

Your Uptown Fitness Experience! www.sportsclubatcitysquare.com (Indian School Rd and 2nd Ave)

602-285-2929 44

| COMPETE | July 2017

patgamble.com pgamble@mac.com

p (623) 252-5MAC

BY BOBBY CILETTI

STYLE

SUMMER AND SUNGLASSES: THE ESSENTIAL COMBINATION WHETHER YOU ARE BY THE POOL, WALKING TO work or wanting to enhance your summer look, summer and sunglasses are an essential combination. Even though it is such a small accessory, it can harmoniously infuse style along with an array of benefits, dramatically transforming your look. This definitely makes it the “must have” staple of the season. While benefits like polarized lenses never go out of style, certain trends come and go. Here out the best shade styles for summer 2017.

SHIELD Get ready to play throwback Thursday in your closet.

Go through your drawers because the shield shades of the 2000s are back. The shield shade is versatile and works on many faces. It is perfect for providing maximum coverage from the summer sun. The shield shade is broad in concept so it leaves room for you to find the pair that works for you and your face type. Pay attention below for more help on selecting shield shades based on the shape of your face.

COLOR Tinted lenses in every color are popping up in every area of the country. Getting to see color in fashion from head to toe is such a fun trend for summer. Colored lenses are a great idea, especially when you need to amp up a mostly neutral look. Dark lenses can be very heavy feeling so this is a great alternative.

WHITE When it comes to chic summer eyewear nothing really plays the part as well as white. It is so versatile and screams summer. White is a great way to stand out from the crowd without picking anything too ostentatious.

FUTURISTIC Speaking of flashy, a more cutting-edge look that will surely get you more attention is this trend. While it is not always the most practical, for the right person it can be a lot of fun. Think robotic glam, mixed materials and unusual lens-frame configuration.

AVIATORS A classic that never goes out of style, aviators really need no introduction. A good pair of aviators should make its way into everyone’s sunglass rotation.

OVERSIZED The oversized trend has been solid for a while and for good reason. They look great on many face types and hide your face by monopolizing much of its real estate.

BOBBY SAYS …

Frame your face using the shape that’s right for you. A diamondshaped face is a pair of sunglasses’ best friend because it is the most versatile face shape for frame styles and size. Oval-shaped faces can wear virtually every option but you may want to avoid circular frames.

Heart-shaped faces and aviators are perfect together. If you have a square-shaped face, seek out curvy or oval frames. Round-shaped faces look great in something with edges so look for rectangular or square frames.

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IF YOU THINK PRIDE SHOULD LAST LONGER

THAN A MONTH,

Austin may be home to live music, but those same stages also host nightly drag shows, dance-offs and LGBTQ stand-up comedy. From surprise “Queer Bombs” to a Varsity Gay League, you’ll find we celebrate our pride 365 days a year.

Start planning your next trip at

V IS ITA US T IN . O RG