Compete May June 2019

PRIDE ISSUE 2019 • MAY - JUNE 2019 $3.95 • COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM

MAY-JUNE 2019 COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM 50 YEARS OF PRIDE 16 Cast of "Pose" Grand Marshals for NYC Pride March 18 50 Years of Pride & Sports Diversity 19 Sports Diversity Movement: Pro Athletes Come Out 28 History of Compete 31 History of Sports & Advocacy Organizations SPORTS HISTORY 15 Gay Rodeo History Being Preserved MVP 24 Adam Vavrek SPORTS DIVERSITY 32

Living Pride the Ogden Way

CELEBRATION OF LIFE 36 Celebrating the Memory of One of Our Own GYM BAG 38 Hot Items You Shouldn't Do Without EVENTS 42

Calendar of Events

BEDROOM SPORTS 44

The Pride of My Life

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Do you love to Compete? Get with the game and shop our online store, subscribe to Compete Magazine, read the hottest news blogs and check out the latest videos online at CompeteSportsDiversity.com.

Photo courtesy NYC Pride

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MILLENNIAL ON SPORTS

STONEWALL WAS A RIOT

H

BY DIRK SMITH

appy Pride everybody! As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City (NYC), it is an excellent reminder of what Pride really is and where we, today’s LGBTQI community came from. Pride started as a riot when hundreds of transgender, lesbian, gay, queer people chose to take a stand

against the systematic oppression of LGBTQI+ people by the NYC police.

While the initial confrontation at the Stonewall Inn was spontaneous, it didn’t occur without precedent. It was the result of years of pent up frustration, discrimination, injustice and oppression that finally reached a breaking point. Despite the efforts of people working unsuccessfully within the system for years to enact change as well as previous riots such as the Black Cat Protests and the Compton’s Cafeteria riot, nothing had changed. LGBTQI people finally had enough! The only way to express their frustration was to literally fight back.

It was an extremely volatile climate for anyone who was LGBTQI to even be out, let alone to fight back. But at that point they had nothing to lose. I’m inspired by this because the people who were demonized by society as nothing more than weak fairies and perverts found the courage and strength to challenge those derogatory labels.

From a trans woman of color throwing the first brick to Rockette-style kicks taunting members of the police riot squad, the police had to barricade themselves inside the bar until protesters finally gave up.

The police had dealt with previous anti-war protests and civil rights demonstrations without major concern, yet they never expected that trans women of color would be the people who ignited a whole community viewed as the lowest rung of society to fight back. It was a different kind of riot than the NYPD had ever encountered, and it came from a community that nobody expected would flex its muscle in such a powerful way.

The confidence, courage, strength and resilience that the people in the LGBTQI community showed at the Compton’s Cafeteria riots, Stonewall riots, Harvey Milk’s campaign, the HIV/AIDS crisis and other major movements are the kind of qualities that even some of today’s best athletes could only aspire to have.

In my own experience many LGBTQI people question the value of sports within such an activist context. Yet sports have played a crucial role in the development of LGBTQI rights and serve as a platform to advocate for larger change. At the birth of the LGBTQI sports movement in the 1980s it helped challenge the stigma of gay men as being weak. At the onset of HIV/AIDS many people who tested positive found that exercise through sports had a positive impact on their health. Not only can people live with HIV/AIDS but they also can be successful athletes.

Even now, sports are the platform people are using to advocate for increased recognition and education about LGBTQI people. Rather than staying in the closet and keeping silent, more people are breaking the social stigma of being LGBTQI simply by participating in sports as out athletes. Whether it be power lifting, cycling, swimming, running, playing football, hockey or hitting the gym, sports have a firm place in LGBTQI rights and progress. As we celebrate Stonewall 50, it is important to remember where we came from and to see just how far we’ve come.

Dirk Smith, SDL Sports Editor dirk@competesportsdiversity.com @competedirk

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WITH YOU

P

PARDON ME, YOUR PRIDE IS SHOWING ride Month – our favorite time of year at Compete! And as we finalize this issue of Compete, the growth of events from MLB “Pride Nights” to flag-football’s Pride Bowl XII, the intersection of pride and sports is more evident this year than ever before.

Over the nearly 13 years we’ve been publishing Compete Magazine it really is a privilege to see everyone’s pride

showing, something LGBTQ+ athletes could hardly imagine even five-to-ten years ago. This year we see a significant uptick in Pride involvement by professional teams and organizations with LGBTQ+ recreational sports. For example, the NFL just announced its partnership with Gay Bowl XIX and the New York Giants and New York Jets Foundation are also partnering with the tournament which is the LGBTQ+ equivalent of the Super Bowl.

Corporate partners are also upping their involvement with Pride. Los Angels Pride is now presented by Verizon.

Companies like MillerCoors, Absolute Vodka and Tito’s Handmade Vodka have become prominent sponsors at many LGBTQ+ sporting events. As part of its agreement, Love, Tito's has committed $12,000 to be distributed to 501(c)3 charities after Pride Bowl XII. And perhaps the best news is that the NY Yankees, the last MLB club to hold a Pride Night, has finally scheduled one this at year at its June 25 game. But they have also created the Yankees Stonewall Scholars program and awarded five $10,000 scholarships to LGBTQ+ students, one from each of the five New York boroughs, who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.

At Compete Sports Diversity we are proud of what we have always given back to the community throughout the years. But this time of year really is extra special. We know that by giving back to those that support us we all benefit.

That is why we started Compete in 2006 and that is why we all get up every day and come to work committed to uniting our mission through sports.

As we celebrate the last 50 years of LGBTQ+ Pride I am excited about the role each of us plays in the next 50 years and excited about our “100 Years of Gay Sports” issue due in 2069 (I’m already planning my letter).

With You,

@CompeteEric

Eric Carlyle, SDLT Publisher/CEO eric@competesportsdiversity.com

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COMPETE EDITORS

CATBIRD SEAT

Yes, Virginia, There ARE Gay Athletes The modern Pride movement began 50 years ago with a riot – a spontaneous six-day uprising at a New York City bar in 1969 by the most marginalized members of society – gay people of color. Led by Drag Queens, transvestites, prostitutes and homeless youth, they unintentionally laid the groundwork for the sports diversity movement to emerge.

This issue celebrates how the sports diversity movement has grown over the last 50 years. It hasn’t been an easy road for LGBTQ+ athletes to claim their right to just be who they are – ignorance, pride and prejudice don’t easily give up their privileges!

But it stimulated the growth of important sports organizations and advocacy groups. And while we can only cover a small fraction of them here, we will continue to cover their stories – they’re the many threads weaving the path of progress.

We also honor the late Patricia Nell Warren, the powerful lesbian activist, athlete and writer.

While the Stonewall Riots provided initial energy for the gay community to be seen and heard, her most famous book, “The Front Runner” was the booster rocket that blew open the door for LGBTQ+ athletes worldwide.

Visibility equals normalcy. As professional athletes have come out, it’s provided the muchneeded visibility showing people that the LGBTQ+ athletes they rooted for are just like straight ones.

You can see the important domino effect as the number of out pro athletes has increased.

Thanks to all these people and organizations, it has gotten better. It has enabled us to say, “Yes, Virginia, there ARE gay athletes … and they’re just like you and me.”

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT A graduate of Chatham University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Connie is an adult educator by profession and has a Master's Degree in Adult and Community Education. She has been the editor of Compete Magazine since 2011.

SPORTS EDITOR DIRK Dirk (David) Smith , SDL Dirk holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and Nutrition from MSU Denver and is NSCA, ACSM, AFAA and AFPAI-certified in addition to being a Red Cross Certified Emergency Medical Responder.

A medal-winning swimmer, he is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Cologne, Germany.

COMMUNITY EDITOR AT LARGE Ty Nolan, SDL An experienced LGBTQ community counselor, Ty is also a Native American storyteller and a USA Today and New York Times Best Selling Author, winning the 2014 BP Readers Choice Award for "Coyote Still Going: Native American Legends and Contemporary Stories."

Leadership Committee Eric Carlyle, SDLT: Compete Jared Garduno, SDLT: Compete Shiego Iwamiya, SDLT: NGFFL Dr. William Kapfer: JPMorgan Chase Sam Lehman: NAGAAA, NGFFL Jake Mason, SDL: USA Dodgeball Larry Ruiz, SDL: GLASA Ken Scearce, SDL: Sin City Classic Angela Smith, SDL: ASANA Connie Wardman, SDLT: Compete CSDC Executive Advisory Committee Eric Carlyle, SDLT Patrick Higgins, SDLT, Connect Sports Catherine Kelly, SDLT, NAGAAA

MISSION STATEMENT The Global Leaders in Sports Diversity COMPETENETWORK.COM FACEBOOK.COM/COMPETEMAG

@CompeteConnie

CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com

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@COMPETESPORTS COMPETE MAGAZINE INSTAGRAM.COM/COMPETEMAGAZINE

COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY COUNCIL PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle eric@competesportsdiversity.com COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY Executive Editor Connie Wardman connie@competesportsdiversity.com Sports Editor Dirk Smith dirk@competesportsdiversity.com Community Editor at Large Ty Nolan ty@competesportsdiversity.com Art Director Heather Brown heather@competesportsdiversity.com Contributors Ryan Adams, Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Ryan Evans, Jared Garduno, Aurelio Giordano, Catherine (CJ) Kelly, Miriam Latto, Kevin Majoros, Ryan O'Connor, Clay Partain, Brian Patrick, Elaine Wessel Staff Photographer Ariel Stevens ariel@competesportsdiversity.com Consultant Barbara Harwell barbara@competesportsdiversity.com Vice President Jared Garduno jared@competesportsdiversity.com Administration Bethany Harvat bethany@competesportsdiversity.com Compete Sports Diversity Council Consultant Raleigh Dombek raleigh@competesportsdiversity.com Copyright © 2019 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Compete Unites the World Though SportsTM All Mail PO Box 2756, Scottsdale, AZ 85252 • (800) 489-1274 Corporate Office 6991 East Camelback Road, Suite D-300, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 West Coast Office 3415 South Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90034

What A Small World The Compete Sports Diversity Council’s members thrive on competition. At its core, competition is strategy, preparation and execution.

When the moment opportunity meets preparation, few are able to execute a plan that allows a champion to be crowned (or born).

Moments when the blood boils to the point that people will no longer be bullied are moments that change history, just like the Stonewall Riots that happened 50 years ago. Not a surprise that a group of Drag Queens stood up and said “no more,” changing the course of history.

Today one the most successful competitions in the LGBTQ+ herstory is "RuPaul’s Drag Race;" it has conquered nine Emmy Awards. RuPaul’s success led to other competition shows—reality and drama. FX’s "Pose," whose cast is featured in this issue demonstrates that.

While shows like "Drag Race" and "Pose" capture competition via the television, events such as Gay Bowl XIX in New York City, Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong, Gay Softball World Series in Kansas City, IGLA Melbourne 2020 and the Sin City Classic in Las Vegas prove that live competition breaks through barriers and tears down walls. Both types of competition are worldwide phenomena.

And it is the Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC) that brings together these events, each with over 100 other members in one place—sportsdiversitycouncil.com. The CSDC is a membership organization that unites our members to harness The Power of Sports Community, proving that no matter where you are, it’s a small world.

I encourage you to visit our website and become a part of our sports community.

East Coast Office 100 Church Street, 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10007 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC Sports Diversity Leadership Council, Sports Diversity Leader and SDL are trademarks of Media Out Loud, LLC. Subscribe to Compete Magazine online at CompeteSportsDiversity.com

@jaredgarduno

JARED GARDUNO, SDLT Vice President jared@competesportsdiversity.com

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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HIGH FIVE

5 HIGH

Compete Sports Diversity celebrates five who get a High Five for a job well done!

BEYONCE & JAY-Z … for receiving the GLAAD Vanguard Award and sending a strong message of love and acceptance. Jay-Z spoke about the love shown by his lesbian mother, Gloria Carter who was honored by GLAAD last year. Beyonce dedicated the award to her Uncle Johnny, calling him “… the most fabulous gay man I’ve ever met who helped raise me and my sister. He lived his truth. He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn’t as accepting. Witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever lived. I’m hopeful that his struggle served to open pathways for other young people to live more freely."

WOMEN COACHES JOIN THE PRO RANKS … thanks to NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and NBA Philadelphia 76ers general manager Elton Brand.

• Arians hired Maral Javadifar as assistant strength and conditioning coach and Lori Locust as assistant defensive line coach. They are the first fulltime female coaches in the Bucs franchise.

• Elton Brand, general manager of the Sixers has promoted Lindsey Harding from pro scout to player development coach USROWING PARA TRAINING CENTER – BOSTON … has opened in association with Boston’s Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) that’s been supporting athletes with disabilities for 30+ years. The new training center enables Para rowers to train year-round in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

DWYANE WADE, GABRIELLE UNION AND CHARLIZE THERON … for openly supporting their LGBTQ+ children:

• Wade and Union’s 11-year-old son, Zion recently marched in the Miami Beach Pride Parade with Union by his side. Wade had an away game but posted a picture of older son, Zaire at the parade with a caption, “We support each other with pride.”

• Charlize Theron has revealed her older child Jackson identifies as a girl and says her role as a mother is

to celebrate and love her kids regardless of their gender identities.

CITY OF WILTON MANORS, FLORIDA … for being one of the friendliest LGBTQ+ cities in the U.S. complete with a rainbow-wrapped police car

Photo courtesy of SFGN Rocbeyonce - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FWT11.jpg / https://www.facebook.com/shawntok

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COMPETE READER SURVEY & GRANDSTANDING FAVORITE

DESTINATION

LETTERS to COMPETE GRANDSTANDING

40%

NEW YORK

20%

CHICAGO

20%

SAN FRANSISCO

10%

LOS ANGELS

10%

OTHER

Flashback Friday [Mar-Apr 2019] It was great to see your flashback issue. It contained some great past stories and new updates that made the read worthwhile. The issue reminded me to pull out my Compete stash and read through many other important articles you’ve featured in the past. As an early subscriber and avid reader, I keep my Competes for a reason and that reason is to pull them out every once in awhile and enjoy.

Michael Hall Atlanta, Georgia Editor’s Note: Thank you Michael. The entire team at Compete is pleased to know that you enjoy our work and that readers like you help us “Unite the World Through Sports.”

Sin City Classic [Jan-Feb 2019] I simply loved the cover of your Las Vegas issue because it featured an African-American woman. It is sometimes rare to see that on magazine covers and I am really glad to see that Compete is truly diverse.

S. Carter Washington, D.C. Please submit all Letters to Compete via email to letters@competenetwork.com.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

GAY BOWL XIX OCTOBER 10-13, 2019 HOSTED BY THE NEW YORK GAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

GAYBOWL.ORG @NGFFLGAYBOWL ON FACEBOOK

@NYGFL ON FACEBOOK @NYGAYFOOTBALL ON INSTAGRAM

SPORTS HISTORY

PRESERVING THE HERITAGE OF THE LGBTQ+ RODEO The first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada in 1976

replace and preserve the LGBTQ+ contributions to the sport

thanks to Phil Ragsdale’s idea to have an openly gay rodeo.

of rodeo. It also includes addressing the needs of the gay

Other states followed suit until 1985 when the International

rodeo community outside their locales.

Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) was formed with founding

Through the hard work of some IGRA members, the

members Colorado, Texas, California and Arizona. Keeping

Foundation’s comprehensive online archive of nearly 45

the history of LGBTQ+ rodeo and the history of this western

years includes printed materials –

lifestyle, of neighbor-helping-neighbor, of competition and

and newspaper articles, association

festivities is the reason the Gay & Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation™ (IGRS) was formed in 2009 as an umbrella to preserve and promote the history of gay rodeo.

The IGRS has a strong history of philanthropy. The Foundation is a recently formed charitable partner for gay rodeo, including IGRA. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation’s mission is to “support the contributions of the GBLT community to the western life and sport of rodeo.”

Philanthropy is a required component of every IGRAsanctioned rodeo but many smaller local rodeo associations lack the charitable resources to undertake a national outreach to gay youth and their allies to promote, encourage and to

newsletters,

even

old

programs, magazine

rodeo

rule books. Also included are images from rodeos, videos and “Informative stuff” – all the great historical tidbits that infuse the personalities back to the faces captured in the historic photos of those cowboys and cowgirls, bringing them back to life once again.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS

CAST GRAND MARSHALS FOR NYC PRIDE MARCH Stars of “Pose,” the Golden Globe-winning television drama on FX, are Grand Marshals for the 50th Anniversary of New York City’s Pride March.

Transgender women Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore and MJ Rodriguez are representing the rest of the incredible cast and writers behind the hit show now starting its second season.

Based on the ball scene of the 1980s, it captures the desperate need for love, acceptance, family and a sense of worth queer people of color, trans men and women and homeless kids living in New York City face during the HIV/AIDS crisis. After all, when you don’t have something you need, you create your own – a sub-culture of family filled with love and acceptance set in a fabulous ballroom where you can vogue.

DOMINQUE JACKSON Photos courtesy NYC Pride

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50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS

"Pose" proves that competition from sports like dancing and voguing really do enrich communities at all levels.

The show has the largest cast of trans actors in regularly appearing roles in TV history, meaning that they have already lived their on-screen roles.

Adding to the beautifully-painful and powerful realism of the show is trans woman Janet Mock as a co-executive producer and writer.

MJ RODRIGUEZ

INDYA MOORE www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS Happy Anniversary for 50 years of PRIDE for the LGBTQ+ community! It’s time to celebrate, a time for parties, parades and rainbow-themed gear of all kinds. But it’s also a time for deep reflection and appreciation for the people and events that moved us to this 50-year mark. It hasn’t been all unicorns and glitter! It’s been cycles of resistance, sweat and tears as well as joy for forward movement in a struggle for LGBTQ+ civil rights. It began one night at the Stonewall Inn when members of the LGBTQ+ community finally rose up in a demand for equality that has now encircled the globe.

WE’RE MAD AS HELL AND WE WON’T TAKE IT ANYMORE In an eternal struggle for power and control,

YEARS OF PRIDE & SPORTS DIVERSITY

members of so-called “polite society” have always devalued those they considered beneath them. That marginalized group has always included a varied mix of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, people of color, women and those with disabilities. Having the least amount of power, as a group they have long been preyed upon in a variety of ways by those who do.

At the time of the uprising, being gay was illegal in New York as well as many other places. Can you imagine a legal entity decreeing that your gender identity, something you’re born with is against the law – like, those born with blue eyes, black skin or a club foot?

Yet being identified as gay at this time could not only send you to jail, it could end your family life and your career; it could leave you homeless or even end your life.

On June 28, 1969 a sixday riot begun by gay patrons of the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village ignited a fire under the city’s gay community that turned into a unifying moment. The Stonewall Inn sat on Christopher Street near the Cristopher Street wharf. It was a mafia joint owned by the Genovese crime Photo courtesy of Diana Davies, copyright owned by New York Public Library

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50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS family that trafficked in blackmail and prostitution under owner Ed Murphy. It operated without a liquor license, fire escapes or even running water – dirty glasses were simply rinsed in a tub of water.

But the Inn was a relatively safe haven for gay people, particularly for people of color; drag queens and trans women, for sex workers and homeless youth.

It was a place where they could come together and be their authentic selves. While police from the Public Morals Squad would regularly stop by for ID checks to hassle and arrest gay bar patrons, payoffs to the crooked cops allowed the club to continue business as usual, On that night, however, the gay community’s pent-up anger and frustration erupted – they declared they were mad as hell and not willing to take it anymore.

That night’s raid was the tipping point that galvanized the gay community nationally and is widely acknowledged as the start of the modern gay rights movement.

FROM RIOTS TO PRIDE While details remain lost in the chaos, it was reported that patrons and locals attracted by the commotion were throwing bricks, bottles, Molotov cocktails, even pennies at the police. And when police retreated inside the Inn for protection, the rioters tried to burn it down. It was a full-blown riot!

Despite conflicting information on who threw the first brick or bottle, two trans women of color are always mentioned as important figures in the ongoing call for equality and acceptance that night and in the years following – Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Both were drag queens and known then as transvestites rather than transgender women; today, realizing they identified as women we honor them as such. They co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR).

PRIDE MOVEMENT IS LAUNCHED As a movement, Pride grew out of the Stonewall Uprising and proclaimed to the world at large that: 1. people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity 2. diversity is an important gift 3. sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent

Photo courtesy of New York Daily News

always at the expense of the LGBTQ+ patrons.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, three cities held parades: New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles where members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies marched together in support of gay rights. By the next year the number of Pride Parades began to spread across the U.S. and eventually took on a happier party face. But the root cause still wasn’t fixed, causing many to remain closeted for years.

REAL PROGRESS BUT FAR TO GO In 1999 on the thirty-year anniversary of the riots, President Bill Clinton issued Proclamation 7203 marking

Rivera, a Latina American who died in 2002,

June as Gay & Lesbian Pride Month and had the National

was the vocal, in-your-face activist. Johnson, an

Park Service add the Stonewall Inn as well as “the nearby

African American who died in 1992, was known for her

park and neighborhood streets surrounding it to the

acceptance of everyone. She was always known for the

National Register of Historic Places.” And when the U.S.

response, “pay it no mind” since she never seemed to let

Supreme Court passed the Marriage Equality Act on

things get to her, also for wearing flowers in her hair.

June 26, 2015 there was a groundswell of happiness and

Both women have long been overlooked for their efforts

gratitude for all the people involved in helping LGBTQ+

to gain social and economic justice for the LGBTQ+

people have some real control over their lives.

community and they’re now being honored by a number

Then in 2016 President Barack Obama issued a

of businesses and organizations during this 50-year

Presidential Proclamation that declared that June is

anniversary celebration.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS a few. There will also be a human rights conference, arts and cultural events that feature LGBTQ+ film screenings, a Pridefest street party, live music on Pride Island and of course, lots of parties to dance the night away. But there will also be a family-friendly movie night and interactive experiences and entertainment as part of Youth Pride.

And the gamechangers of tomorrow will be celebrated as the spirit of Stonewall is commemorated.

And in the Stonewall spirit, the Yankees baseball club, the last Major League Baseball (MLB) club to hold

By Rhododendrites - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49720738

– here was recognition that also included the bisexual and transgender communities. At the same time he designated the Stonewall Inn and its surrounding Christopher Street Park as the first national monument to the reflect the LGBTQ+ struggle for civil rights. He had this to say about it: I’m

designating

the

Stonewall

National

Monument as the newest addition to America’s National Park System. Stonewall will be our first national monument to tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights. I believe our national parks should reflect the full story of our country, the richness and diversity and uniquely American spirit that has always defined us. That we are stronger together. That out of many, we are one.

This was a genuine move toward inclusion, equality and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. But a horrific hate crime shocked the country on June 12 when a lone gunman killed 53 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This attack came right before the New York City Pride Parade on June 26, tragically showing that there is a long way to go in changing people’s hearts and minds to recognize and accept that people are people and love is love!

WORLD PRIDE IN NYC – CELEBRATING THE BIG 50!

This year WorldPride 2019 is holding its celebration at the home of the Stonewall Uprising – New York City.

There is a packed schedule of over 50 events throughout the entire month of June that reveal the growth of today’s gay community. There will be NYC’s traditional Pride March and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies featuring headliners like Whoopi Goldberg, Cindi Lauper, Ciara, Toderick Hall and Melissa Etheridge to name just

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a Pride Night, has finally gone all in this year to honor NYC’s LGBTQ+ community. They have awarded five scholarships to honor graduating high school students, one from each of the City’s five boroughs, who have made important contributions to LGBTQ+ equality. The Yankees-Stonewall Scholars Initiative is to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and on May 22 the Yankee Stonewall recipients were presented their awards in front of the Stonewall Inn by members of the team’s front office, the City’s first lady and Billy Bean, MLB vice president and special assistant to the commissioner. Bean is the first MLB player to come out following his retirement from the game. The students also will be acknowledged on the field at a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium on June 25.

There are many, many more important coming out stories by professional athletes and weekend warriors alike than we can cover here. The following are just a few of them but we will continue to acknowledge those individuals who are making a difference just by being themselves.

50 YEARS OF GAY SPORTS

THE SPORTS DIVERSITY MOVEMENT Sports have always brought people

together and contrary to a popular belief that still persists today, LGBTQ+ individuals can and DO play sports! But for early LGBTQ+ athletes, that path to inclusion, equality and acceptance wasn’t a straight-forward one. However, in the 1970s thanks to the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the publication of Patricia Nell Warren’s

groundbreaking

book,

“The

Front Runner” in 1974, more gay people were willing to come together to play on gay teams with people they knew, keeping them all safe from being outed.

What started with local pickup games began to grow when athletes looked for some competition from teams in neighboring gay sports communities.

As this began to spread by word of mouth, tournaments began to get larger and add some fun events where gay athletes could socialize openly in a safe environment.

As a result, national and international gay sports organizations and gay sports advocacy groups began to grow.

VISIBILITY OF PRO PLAYERS COMING OUT While all this was slowly changing on a recreational level, it wasn’t until some professional players came out as gay that caused the public to pay attention. Sadly, some early players were outed in salacious articles, but a number of players who came out after retiring from the NFL, NBA and MLB wrote books or did TV interviews detailing the pain and suffering being closeted had caused them.

Any movement grows as its mission begins to resonate with people.

As the public began to see professional athletes as people they had cheered for and obsessed over in a new light, things actually did begin to get better. There has never been a “Stonewall Uprising” moment that has allowed LGBTQ+ athletes to feel safe and comfortable coming out en masse. But looking at the graph below you can see that 2013, the year Jason Collins came out and received both public and private support for his courageous decision, the list of out athletes began to grow, many of them becoming vocal advocates for change and acceptance.

Professional Athletes Come Out EARLY 1970S •D r. Tom Waddell is out Olympic decathlete who founds Gay Games based on Olympic Games; 1st Games held in San Francisco 1975 •D ave Kopay is 1st NFL player outed by newspaper article quoting unnamed NFL player as its source 1977 •T ennis pro Renée Richards comes out as transgender woman 1981 •T ennis superstar Billie Jean King outed when ex-lover files palimony suit; King pushes for gender equality & equal pay; 1973 defeats Bobby Riggs in famous Battle of the Sexes; 1974 establishes Women’s Sports Foundation • Tennis great Martina Navratilova comes out as bisexual 1988 •O lympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis outed as both gay & HIV-positive when hits his head & bleeds into water at Seoul Olympics; 2016 poses for ESPN’s Body Issue 1992 •N FL player Roy Simmons retires; comes out as gay 1999 •B illy Bean retires from baseball; is 1st pro MLB player to come out; 2014 becomes MLB’s 1st Ambassador for Inclusion; 2016 becomes VP of social responsibility & inclusion; now VP & advisor to MLB Commissioner 2002 •R etired NFL player Esera Tualolo comes out as gay; active advocate with Vikings & NFL for LGBTQ+ community inclusion; 2014 honored with Compete Sports Diversity’s Legacy Award

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay. … No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. … It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie.”

- Jason Collins, Sports Illustrated, April 29, 2013 Photo Credits: Billy Bean: Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] Jason Collins: Keith Allison [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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FEATURE 2003 • Trailblazer pro soccer player Joanna Lohman comes out while active; 1st female sports envoy for U.S. Dept. of State; works with empowering women & girls through soccer worldwide; 2019 retires from pro ranks, will continue local/worldwide advocacy work 2005 • WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes comes out as lesbian while active player; 2011 gets engaged to a man & marries in 2017 but never admits to being bisexual 2007 • John Amaechi, OBE becomes 1st NBA player to come out after retiring from game 2009 • Rep. Brian Sims, D-Pa, captain of Div. 1 football team at Bloomsburg Univ. comes out as gay to teammates, coach & administration; 2012 becomes first openly gay elected legislator in Pa. history • Welshman Gareth Thomas comes out as gay while still playing professional rugby 2010 • Triathlete Chris Mosier comes out as transgender man; 2013 honored as Compete Sports Diversity’s Athlete of the Year; 2015 becomes first openly trans man to earn spot on Team USA in his identified gender; 2016 is 1st openly trans man in ESPN’s Body Issue; 2018 becomes 1st openly trans athlete to appear in Nike’s Unlimited Courage ad premiering during NBC's primetime coverage of Sochi Olympic games

•K ye Allums comes out as transgender man without hormone replacement; becomes first trans man to play on women’s team in NCAA Div. 1 basketball history 2011 •O regon State Univ. women’s softball coach Kirk Walker comes out as gay when he & partner adopt baby girl 2012 •A ttorney & pro bowler Scott Norton kisses soon-to-be husband at PBA tournament; shown on ESPN •W BO professional boxer Orlando Cruz comes out as gay •M egan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist & pro soccer player for MLS comes out in 2012; 2018 she & girlfriend WNBA player Sue Bird become 1st same-sex couple on cover of ESPN’s Body Issue; 2019 becomes first lesbian featured in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue •W ade Davis comes out after retiring from NFL play and becomes strong LGBTQ+ advocate 2013 •J ason Collins, 1st active NBA player comes out in Sports Illustrated to national attention; he & twin brother Jarron (also NBA player & straight) honored with the Compete Sports Diversity Legacy Award; advocate for LGBTQ+ community •P ro soccer player Robbie Rogers retires from British league to come out; then hired by LA Galaxy of MLS & becomes 1st pro team sport athlete hired as openly gay man •B rittney Griner No.1 pick in WNBA draft; as open

lesbian plays for Phoenix Mercury & a team in Russia • Stephen Alexander becomes America's first publicly out transgender high school coach • State-champion Colorado high school track coach Micah Porter comes out as gay; continues to teach & coach • Trans woman Fallon Fox, MMA pro fighter comes out in Sports Illustrated to beat leaked story • Lesbian Liz Carmouche becomes 1st openly gay athlete in UFC • Olympic gold medal diver Tom Daley comes out; 2017 marries Dustin Lance Black; 2018 have a son 2014 • Michael Sam comes out to Univ. of Missouri team; drafted by NFL as 1st openly gay player; retires in 2015 for mental health reasons; becomes LGBTQ+ advocate • NBA umpire Violet Palmer comes out while still active to marry partner of 20-years • NFL umpire Dale Scott comes out while active; becomes 1st openly gay umpire in pro football • Chip Sarafin, OL for Arizona State Univ. football comes out; 1st gay player in NCAA Div. 1 FBS 2015 • Olympic silver medal skier Gus Kenworthy kisses boyfriend in front of live cameras at Sochi Olympics; seen as major step forward in visibility of gay athletes • Figure skater Adam Rippon, Olympic silver medalist at Pyeongchang becomes first U.S. openly gay athlete to win a medal at any winter Olympic games

Photo Credits: Joanna Lohman: Rwetendorf [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)] Chris Mosier: Photo by Zhenesse Heinemann Megan Rapinoe: Brittney Griner: УГМК [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)] Fallon Fox: Hambone Productions https://www.facebook.com/hamboneproductionsfanpage

22 COMPETE may-june 2019

• Caitlyn Jenner comes out as transgender woman; becomes trans advocate • WNBA coach Curt Miller comes out officially; 1st known openly gay active coach of pro sports team in U.S. 2016 • Pro hockey player Harrison Browne comes out as trans man but delays hormone replacement to help women’s team win title; 2018 makes full transition & becomes 1st openly trans pro hockey player 2017 • Retired NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan comes out; establishes The Ryan O’Callaghan Foundation to support talented LGBTQ+ youth with scholarships • Active WNBA star Elena Delle Donne & Amanda Clifton chosen as 1st same-sex couple for popular “The Knot’s “Dream Wedding; a landmark in LGBTQ+ visibility • WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi comes out officially when weds former teammate Penny Taylor; 2018 they have a son 2018 • Collin Martin, pro soccer player for MLS’ Minnesota United comes out publicly at team’s Pride Night; posts selfie wrapped in Pride flag • Pro golfer Tadd Fujikawa comes out on World Suicide Prevention Day to address depression and anxiety

Caitlyn Jenner: Photo by James White Elena Delle Donne: https://upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/commons/8/85/Della_Donne-20170914.jpg Collin Martin: https://twitter.com/martcw12?lang=en

MVP

TEAM COMPETE MVP:

ADAM VAVREK

Photos by: Patrick Lentz Photography & Design

24 COMPETE may-june 2019

HOMETOWN: Midland, Texas.

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Seattle, Washington.

AGE: 34 CURRENT SPORT(S) PLAYED: Flag Football.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Spoken for.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: G ronk (football) and Venus Williams (tennis).

FAVORITE TEAM: Patriouts (Sponsors of Gay Bowl XVII) INTERESTS/HOBBIES: T ennis, traveling, volunteering, digital marketing.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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MVP WHY YOU LOVE SPORTS: I love sports because it brings people together. It has created a lot of opportunities for me and introduced me to people I normally wouldn’t have met.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN SPORTS: My mom encouraged my twin brother and me to get out of the house and stop playing so many video games.

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: Tennis, softball, beer pong.

WHAT’S YOUR DAY JOB: Director of marketing at a content marketing startup.

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Valedictorian of high school; raised money to volunteer for two weeks in Tanzania; surviving growing up in conservative West Texas.

GREATEST ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: Volunteer of the year in 2016 for Boston’s FLAG Flag Football league; ranked in Texas in high school tennis.

WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL STORY? Tell us something about you, what interactions you have had with the sports community, LGBTQ community, etc : As a teen, sports was merely a way to get out of the house and stay active. I learned it meant more in my life a few years later when I moved to Boston in 2010. In Boston I only knew a handful of people and had a tough time making new friends. A friend suggested I join the flag football league, where I instantly made friends and felt part of a tight-knit community.

I fractured my skull in four places competing in a national tournament a couple years ago. It was a very difficult time and many people wonder why I still play flag football after going through such a traumatic event. What I say to them is this – the sport has given me so much and continues to do so; it’s one of my outlets, something that brings me joy, something I look forward to week-after-week. I’ve met best friends, boyfriends and made lifelong connections through the league.

It doesn’t make sense for me to stop doing something that brings me so much happiness.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Smile.

26 COMPETE may-june 2019

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? I wasted a lot of time being concerned with what others thought of me, therefore not pursuing what I was truly interested in. If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be to do what makes you happy and feel complete.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Eventually, to raise a family with happy and healthy children; lead a highly successful marketing team; run a local nonprofit. And of course, win a national flag football championship.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY’S INCLUSION IN SPORTS DIVERSITY? I think it’s a great way of breaking down barriers and building a strong community. I think there are certain preconceived notions about gay people that no longer exist as more top athletes come out of the closet.

HOW WILL YOU BE CELEBRATING PRIDE ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL? I’ll be celebrating Pride in Chicago, which is my favorite Pride in the country.

Playing in the annual Pride Bowl means I get to compete alongside my close friends and hundreds of other gay athletes who share a common passion.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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SPORTS COMPETE'S TIMELINE

2006 • Eric Carlyle and David Riach participate in International Gay Rugby’s Bingham Cup in New York; agree to start a magazine focused on covering LGBTQ+ sports • Media Out Loud is formed in Tempe, Arizona to publish Sports Out Loud magazine 2007 • Sports Out Loud launched at Phoenix Pride • Sports Out Loud garners nationwide media attention causing so much traffic its official online subscription page goes down for 12 hours • Carlyle and Riach claim runner-up in Planet Out’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” contest 2008 • Sports Out Loud announces first-ever Sports Out Loud “Athlete of the Year” contest

2011 • Compete Radio launched nationwide on QTalk Radio & in syndication • Compete distributed nationwide at Barnes & Noble, Borders & Target 2012 • Compete partners with World Rugby Champion Ben Cohen, MBE to form Stand Up Magazine, world’s 1st anti-bullying magazine • Compete partners with National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) to publish Rebound magazine & approved by National Basketball Association (NBA), Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) & Harlem Globetrotters • Lexus & Microsoft both title sponsors of 2012 Compete Sports Diversity Awards

2009 • Sports Out Loud changes name to Compete • Compete launches 1st website and social media page

2013 • Recently out athletes Jason Collins and Robbie Rogers honored with awards at 2013 Compete Sports Diversity Awards Engineered by Lexus

2010 • Compete hosts 1st Sports Diversity Awards in Los Angeles; Greg Louganis hosts

2014 • Compete starts what’s to become Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC)

2015 • Compete Sports Diversity Council hosts 1st event in partnership with Sin City Shootout (now Sin City Classic) • Compete begins printing official guide of Sin City Classic • Founding members of Compete Sports Diversity Council include Athlete Ally, Federation of Gay Games, Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA), National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) & North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) 2016 • Online readership surpasses print readership • Compete Sports Diversity Council hosts first conference in partnership with Sin City Classic 2017 • Compete begins limited printing of official tournament guides • Major League Soccer (MLS) joins Compete Sports Diversity Council 2018 • National Football League, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Coyotes and Arizona Diamondbacks join Compete Sports Diversity Council

COVERS THROUGH THE YEARS

28 COMPETE may-june 2019

• Compete officially becomes Compete Sports Diversity • Compete Sports Diversity adopts motto: “The Global Leaders in Sports Diversity” 2019 • Compete Sports Diversity publishes tournament guides for both ASANA & Softball World Series, Gay Bowl XIX, Gay Softball World Series (GSWS), Sin City Classic, World Gay Rodeo Finals (WGRF); now offer this service to tournaments nationwide • Compete Sports Diversity announces revival of Compete Radio and Compete TV • Compete Sports Diversity hosts Sports Diversity Jubilee in Richmond, Virginia • Compete Sports Diversity hosts first Sports Leadership Influencer in Overland Park, Kansas 2020 • Compete Sports Diversity hosts 10th Compete Sports Diversity Awards in partnership with Sin City Classic at 2020 Sin City Classic in Las Vegas

SPORTS

SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS

1974 • Frontrunners. frontrunners.org 1976

• International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) www.igra.com 1977 • North American Gay Amateur Alliance (NAGAAA) nagaaasoftball.org 1980 • International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) igbo.org 1982 • Federation of Gay Games (originally founded as Gay Olympics) gaygames.org 1985 • North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) nagva.org 1987 • International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) www.igla.org 1990 • Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) glta.net • North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association (NASSPDA) nasspda.org 1992 • International Gay & Lesbian Football (Soccer) Association iglfa.org • International Gay Rugby igrugby.org

2000

2002 • National Gay Flag Football League ngffl.com 2003 • National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) ngba.org • Gay Polo League www.gaypolo.com

2006

2007 • Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) asana.com • Sin City Classic sincityclassic.org • WeHo Dodgeball. wehododgeball.com

2008

2012

2016 • Pride Cheerleading Association. pridecheerleadingassociation.org • LGBT International Powerlifting LGBTpowerlifting.org

SPORTS ADVOCACY GROUPS 1974 • Women’s Sports Foundation womenssportsfoundation.org 1977 • National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) www.nclrights.org • Athlete Ally www.athleteally.org

2011

2012 • You Can Play Project www.youcanplayproject.org 2014 • Champion Women www.championwomen.org • LGBT SportSafe lgbtsportsafe.com

2016

This is just a small sample of important sports and advocacy organizations. We will continue to acknowledge all the organizations that are working to further sports diversity.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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SPORTS

The sports diversity movement really began to grow as more ally (straight) athletes started to rethink their stereotypes of gay athletes as weak “sissies” they’d once bullied on the school playground – these were real athletes who actually played at the same high competitive level they were used to. A growing number of allies wanted to play on their local gay teams: some for their willingness to promote sports diversity but some just because they had more fun on LGBTQ+ teams.

Once their gay teammates became visible, the blinders came off for allies – their gay counterparts became teammates, then friends. The walls came down.

It’s 50 years of Pride; pride for progress we’ve made in changing the hearts and minds of what I like to call Team Human Race. Let’s go have fun for Pride – be outrageous, wear glitter, dance till your booty drops off! But remember to hit a ball out of the park, take a three point shot or try a new sport.

But whatever sport you love to play, just be YOU!

SPORTS DIVERSITY

PRIDE: LIVING THE OGDEN WAY

BY ANISSA BROWN, SDL When someone asks if Ogden, Utah knows and outdoor venues. Ogden also hosts an annual global anything about Pride, about uniting those with different

conference that brings together military dignitaries with

religious beliefs, colors or sexual preferences, we let our

different beliefs from over 30 countries. They meet as

history speak for itself. We not only welcome diversity,

allies, as a unified force for peace and justice.

we regularly celebrate it!

Today an estimated 5,000 youth ages 12-18 find

Ogden has a long, rich cultural history as an

themselves homeless, some due to unaccepting homes.

accepting place for people of ALL races, cultures,

With a mission to Embrace, Encourage and Empower,

sexualities and backgrounds. Mormons didn’t come to

Ogden Pride’s Youth Futures organization provides

Salt Lake until long after fur traders had already settled

homeless, unaccompanied and runaway youth a safe

in Ogden. As a gathering place to do business, it united

place to call home and receive supportive services.

Native Americans, Mormon settlers, fur-traders and

Mama Dragons, founded by Mormon women in

gold prospectors. We even united the nation! We just

support of their LGBTQ+ children, was founded right

celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike

here in Utah to support mothers (parents) around the

being driven that connected the U.S. by railroad.

world looking to support one another and their children

And in 2002 we united the entire world for the love

by embracing and loving them for who they are.

of sports as Olympic athletes competed in both our in-

Yes, Ogden has Pride - we live it every day.

32 COMPETE may-june 2019

Softball World Series + ASANA Bowl + 5K Run 2019 ASANA Series | Long Beach, CA | August 24 - 31, 2019

Each year ASANA partners with a Host City to deliver the ASANA Series, one of the largest, annual female sporting events in the world. Over 1,500 athletes, coaches and fans from across North America travel to compete and celebrate equality one game at a time.

In 2019 ASANA will be celebrating its 12th year when the Series takes place in Long Beach, CA August 27 - 31st.

Activities will include our annual ASANA Softball World Series, our re-vamped flag football tournament, the ASANA Bowl, as well as our first 5K run to benefit our partner, Athlete Ally. Join us for a memorable week in beautiful California!

asanaseries.org

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Celebrating

THE MEMORY OF ONE OF OUR OWN

P

atricia Nell Warren was an original columnist for Compete Magazine. Her All Out column was a staple of the magazine and loved by many of our readers. She was and still remains an iconic leader in the sports diversity movement.

The short segment below is taken from an Op Ed piece written by our executive editor Connie Wardman. I urge

you to read the complete piece found on competesportsdiversity.com and discover the incomparable Patricia Nell Warren for yourself.

Published a short five years after the 1969 Stonewall Riots, this [book ‘The Front Runner’] was a bellwether novel that made the New York Times bestseller list. It hit a generational shift in attitudes. Many comments I’ve both heard and read by those who read the book reveal that it shattered their overwhelming sense of isolation. It made them aware that they weren’t the only gay person out there, that there were others like them also struggling to accept their sexuality. It gave them hope they could be themselves and lead an open life.

There are many who credit Warren with saving their lives as a result of “The Front Runner.” Thanks to friend Shamey Cramer who provided this picture of Warren, his post is typical of so many: ‘If you had told the 19-year-old me in 1979 when I was first coming out, and read the groundbreaking novel "The Frontrunner [sic]," which played a critical role in my own acceptance, that I would have a decades-long friendship with its author Patricia Nell Warren (… pictured here in 2001), even being next door neighbours for 2 years, I would have been dumb-founded and probably cried. #ItGotBetter thanks to you Patricia.’

Warren also hoped that for the straight community her book would erase or at least soften the stereotypes of gay men as ‘limp-wristed liberals.’ In a synopsis of the book for www.thefrontrunnermovie. com she wrote, ‘Harlan is a crusty gay ex-Marine, a drill-sergeant kind of guy. I wanted to confront readers with the inner reality of such a man because I know they exist.’

There are many of today’s younger generation who have no idea how dangerous it could be for a gay man to be outed 50 years ago; he could lose his job, his family, any respect he might ever have had, his place in the community, even his life. To prevent that, he would have to live a lie; he might never know what it was like to love and be loved. It can and still does happen today!

Describing his decision to come out during his keynote address at the recent Human Rights Campaign’s gala, 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said, ‘By the time I stepped away from the mayor’s office, on leave to serve in Afghanistan, I was seized with the awareness that I could be killed in action at the age of 33, a grown man and an elected official, with no idea what it was like to be in love.

I knew that I had to be who I am.’

Gay stereotypes and prejudices still exist but thanks to Patricia Nell Warren, it has gotten better … we have all been positively touched by her prodigious gifts and pioneering spirit.

On behalf of all of us at Compete, we send our deep condolences to her many family members and friends.

36 COMPETE may-june 2019

GYM BAG

GYM BAG

you s m e t i t o H t! u o h t i w o shouldnt d CONVERSE PRIDE COLLECTION

STAND TALL PRIDE SOCKS® For this year’s Pride festivities wear a pair of Stand Tall Pride Socks. Retired out NBA player Jason Collins has collaborated with Pride Socks to design this pair for their Custom for a Cause collection.

Jason included the tall palm trees from his native California because like him,

Converse says its Pride collection this

they also stand tall. And he included all

year is to celebrate the 50th anniversary

colors of the rainbow to illustrate the

of Pride “with a glitter-dipped collection

BY DIRK SMITH

importance of including everyone.

of parade-worthy sneakers, including our first-ever trans flag design.” Since it began in 2014, contributions

Socks made of 63% olefin,

from the Pride collection support their longstanding

22% polyester, 9% nylon,

local and global partners, including It Gets Better

6% spandex and come in S, M,

Project and OUT MetroWest. You can also customize

L and XL. Made in the U.S., $5 from

your "Chucks" - here are two options:

every pair sold is donated to the Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship granting

Chuck Pride Low Top - $95

organization for LGBTQ+ students. $15

Chuck 70 Pride High Top - $100

pridesocks.com/standtall

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38 COMPETE may-june 2019

coat when you‘re done. LactiGo has been bannedsubstance-tested for athletes‘ assurance. You can learn more about LactiGo and watch videos of satisfied amateur and professional athletes by heading over to www.LactiGo.com. $17.99 www.lactigo.com

JOIN US TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IT CO UN C

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COMPE

O P S

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SPORTSDIVERSITYCOUNCIL.COM

EVENTS: FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT WWW. COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM AQUATICS

HORSE RACING

TENNIS

IGLA 2019

Kentucky Derby

GLTA Grass Court Championships 2019

New York, N.Y., June 23-30

Louisville, Ky., May 2

Rancho Mirage, Calif., May 2-5

AUTO RACING

Preakness Stakes

Columbus Classic 2019

Baltimore, May 17-19

Columbus, Ohio, May 3-5

Belmont Stakes

2019 City of Decatur Tournament

New York, N.Y., June 7-9

Decatur, Ga., May 13-19

Royal Ascot

2019 Nelson Knight Memorial Bluegrass Open

Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis, May 26

87th 24 Hours of Le Mans Le Mans, France, June 15-16

Monaco Grand Prix

Ascot, England, June 18-22

Louisville, Ky., May 25-27

Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 23-27

ICE HOCKEY

Canadian Grand Prix

Stanley Cup Finals

Montreal, Canada, June 6-10

Canada/USA, June

BASKETBALL

RODEO

French Open

NBA Finals

Hot Rodeo 2019

USA/Canada, June

Palm Springs, Calif., May 3-5

MCTC2019

BOWLING

A Texas Tradition Rodeo

Greater Rochester Eastern Area Tournament

Zia Regional Rodeo

Denton, Texas, May 24-26

Rochester, N.Y., May 3

Santa Fe, N.M., June 28-30

Sunshine Invitational Tournament

RUNNING

Orlando, Fla., May 3

Philly Pride Run

Rose Bowl Classic

Philadelphia, June 9

Pasadena, Calif., May 31

St. Louis Pride 5K/10-K

Cleveland Gay/Lesbian Invitational Fellowship

St. Louis, Mo., June 30

Cleveland, June 7

DANCESPORT Hoedown in the Dunes Saugatuck/Douglas, Mich., May 17-19

SOFTBALL NAGAAA Cup 2019 Denver, May 24-26

North Star Classic Minneapolis, Apr. 24-26

USA Dance New World DanceSport Challenge

Liberty Bell Classic

Columbus, Ohio, May 24-25

Big Peach Softball Tournament

Gateway DanceSport Festival New York, N.Y., May 25-26

Sundance Saloon at San Francisco Pride San Francisco, June 29-30

FLAG FOOTBALL pride Bowl XII

Philadelphia, May 24-26 Atlanta, May 24-26

Texas Shootout Austin, Texas, May 24-26

Texas Shootout Women’s Division Tournament Austin, Texas, June 15

Chicago, June 28-29

SOCCER

GOLF

Falcons 30th Anniversary Tournament

U.S. PGA Championship Farmingdale, N.Y., May 16-19

119th U.S. Open Pebble Beach, Calif., June 13-16

42 COMPETE may-june 2019

Philadelphia, May 24-26

21st Annual Rehoboth Beach Classic Rehoboth Beach, Del., June 14-16

Pride on the Pitch Chicago, June 15

2019 United State Gay Open San Francisco, Calif., May 25-27 Paris, France, May 26-June 9 Southfield, Mich., June 7-10

Boston Tennis Classic 2019 Boston, June 14-16

Seattle Classic 2019 Seattle, June 28-30

VOLLEYBALL NAGVA Championships XXXVII Denver, May 24-26

MULTI-SPORT TOURNAMENTS Compete Sports Diversity Jubilee Richmond, Va., May 17-19

Stonewall Sports National Summer Tournament Raleigh, N.C., June 21-23

BEDROOM SPORTS

THE OF MY LIFE

BY RYAN O’CONNOR, GUEST COLUMNIST

I

t's Pride season and it's getting warmer outside. The sand is beautiful; the water is calling my name. Swimsuit season is here. Great!

Just a few years ago when I was still in my twenties, I looked forward to this time of year. What I really

looked forward to was showing off my body in AussieBum’s latest and greatest. Now, since I passed the big 3.0-mark I tend to look forward to gay ski weeks’ après ski hotties over the boys of summer.

The reason I bring all of this up isn’t just the impending hot weather. It’s because I have a date with a surfer. I know, it sounds hot. In reality, I’m freaking out. My body hasn’t seen any sunlight in four months, I forfeited my gym membership and my last lap was around the casino buffet. I’m not being hard on myself, just realistic.

I’ve got eight days to turn my thirty-something sun deprived body into a surfer’s dream date. The first thing I will do is call my girlfriend, Pepper. We all have a Pepper in our lives, right? She was cute, lots of fun and liked the same things I did so I dated Pepper briefly until she wanted to kiss me. Let’s just say that didn’t work out.

I know what Pepper will say. She’ll tell me I look great. She’ll tell me to just be myself. Then she will ask me why the hell I’d accept a date invitation right after I had indulged in eggnog and Christmas cookies for a whole month (maybe more).

She definitely won’t sugar coat it for me. In fact, she will tell me to get my fat behind to the gym and work out for eight days straight. Then she’ll tell me get a spray tan and put on a double layer of Spanx garments. Can you envision what I’d look like? I’d be the only guy at the beach in Spanx and full body wetsuit looking like a rubber toothpaste tube squeezed in the middle. No thank you, Pepper.

I could call Mom, of course. Moms always want the best for their sons. My mom would tell me to relax and just have a good time. She’d say if my surfer date was worthwhile, he wouldn’t notice my bloated midsection. She’d have me in a tank top and board shorts faster than I could say “catch a wave.” Probably with knee-high gym socks, too. What a vision! Now that I think more about it, I’ll just act like I called Mom and save myself an hour-plus of listening (yeah, I said an hour-plus).

Or maybe I should ask my friend Josh. Josh has a great body, beautiful eyes, sparkling white teeth and perfect hair. He would first stroke my ego, pump me up and then inadvertently, I hope, find a way to say something like “even if I looked like you, I would still wear Speedos.” I’ve decided I will just save myself that low blow.

OK, so I learned something from Pepper; I should just be myself. Mom taught me that I should just relax and enjoy myself. Josh didn’t really teach me anything.

Maybe I’ll call my surfer date and tell him I feel a cold coming on but I know I’ll be better by September, maybe even October.

RYAN O’CONNER is just a regular guy who is dating in this great big world.

His advice comes from personal experience and his advice is for entertainment purposes only. We recommend you consult a physician, counselor or therapist in your area for specific advice about your personal situation. Otherwise, questions can be submitted to bedroom@competenetwork.com.

44 COMPETE may-june 2019