Compete May/June 2022

15TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

MAY / JUNE • 2022

New Direction

TAKING PRIDE IN A

JESUS GODINEZ is helping to build partnerships

+

FROM THE BLOG: Bringing Queer Visibility to Endurance Racing

2022 PRIDE + SWIMSUIT ISSUE

Mental Health is Emotional Health CompeteNetwork.com • $4.95

•1 CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE PHOTO © LEAKED GLASS PHOTOGRAPHY

How are you spending your Pride funds?

Use LGBTQ vendors for Pride!

We are Brand|Pride; a lesbian owned, LGBTQ certified company with over 20 years of experience creating unique, high quality, cutting-edge promotional items. Items that turn heads as much as they turn audiences into full-fledged brand advocates.

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He gets his Pride merch from an LGBTQ supplier.

Do you?

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MILLENNIAL ON SPORTS

A LETTER FROM DIRK SMITH

Celebrate Pride Month: Become a Sports Diversity Leader Sports has always had the power to bring people together, so what better time for you to get certified as a Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) than during Pride month?

The most exciting part about my new role as managing editor is being able to work with Connie Wardman, Compete’s editor-in chief as we continue to develop Compete’s Sports Diversity Leadership Track education programs.

The Sports Diversity Leader program has been created to help inspire and educate sports professionals and diversity leaders, to equip them with the tools they need to truly make the term, “sports diversity” a living, breathing reality for everyone.

With so much happening these days around diversity in sports, with highs such as Blackpool FC’s footballer, Jake Daniels coming out as gay, to lows such as more than a dozen U.S. states passing laws to ban transgender kids from participating in sports, the LGBTQ+ community faces a lot of uncertainty in sports.

Compete’s vision is to “Unite the World Through Sports,” and it works toward that vision with the SDL certification program designed specifically for sports, community and nonprofit leaders and business professionals as well as travel and tourism professionals.

Professionals with a background in the travel and tourism industry may apply for the SDLT certification, an enhanced version of the SDL specifically for their industry.

Expressly for those who are looking to build or enhance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their own organizations, earning this specialized certification enables you to access a wide variety of current information from experts in the multiple fields of sports, business, community leadership, the LGBTQ+ community and more. It also offers the latest information on changing trends, research and also offers networking opportunities.

The program can be completed entirely online, in person or as a combined program.

Compete has partnered with the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Richmond Kickers to bring the program to Conferences on both coasts.

Elective and continuing education courses are continually updated to ensure current content and give the SDL-designee additional training opportunities throughout the year at no additional cost.

During Pride month, I hope you will join me in becoming a Sports Diversity Leader!

David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL •

HE | HIM | HIS

•

FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

A LETTER FROM CONNIE WARDMAN

Progress: It Goes in Cycles Pride Month is always a time to celebrate the progress made both by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals as well as the many others who now can identify as other than the old binary of male or female. Although some may see this year as a “glass half empty” and others, a “glass half full,” it’s always good to remember that progress is never wholly straight forward; it goes in cycles.

While this year has been filled with tremendous divisiveness over transgender youth and athletes, in particular, President Biden has signed an executive order to combat the historic number of anti- LGBTQ+ bills now in many of our states’ legislatures.

And at Compete, we are particularly proud of the work being done by various individuals, committees and sports teams in taking the concept of our IDEAL Principles – Inclusion, Diversity, Equality/Equity, Acceptance and Leadership – and implementing them in real time in a variety of ways.

One example is the work of the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League’s outreach to the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Rising FC and the Phoenix Suns: it’s a wonderful feature story. Another good example is the Compete Sports Diversity Leadership Track education programs we’ve developed that’s part of our vision to “Unite the World Through Sports.”

I invite you to join us in this leadership development program and be a part of the growing network of gay and ally individuals who believe that we are all worthy of being treated with respect, kindness and equal treatment. Let’s also support those, now openly including the U.S. State Department working to free WNBA star Brittney Griner, still detained in a Russian prison!

So if you’re seeing this Pride month as a “glass half empty,” just remember that the old ways fight to survive; it’s part of the cycle of life. In the end, the fight for Pride will ultimately be a “glass that’s full.” • Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER | HERS

... it’s always good to remember that progress is never wholly straight forward; it goes in cycles.

WITH YOU

A LETTER FROM ERIC CARLYLE

Happy 15th Anniversary, Happy Pride and Happy 16th Swimsuit Issue It’s our 15th Anniversary, Pride and our 16th Swimsuit Issue all rolled into one! Pride is always a busy time of year, and for Compete it is even busier this year. We took last issue off to continue our design update for our 15th Anniversary relaunch, and we are back with a special combined Pride + Swimsuit issue!

We’re also hosting our 2022 Compete Sports Diversity Summer Membership Conference, partnering with the 2022 IGLFA Championships, Pride Run St. Pete and Pride Run Richmond.

We have lots of surprises in store for the Summer Membership Conference, including a visit from the Richmond Kickers Chairman and their mascot, Kickeroo.

We will also be introducing the National Transgender Sports Association as our newest Compete Sports Diversity Council member.

My letter is short but we’ve got to get back to work.

PUBLISHER/CEO

Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com VICE PRESIDENT

Jared Garduno • jared@competenetwork.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com MANAGING EDITOR

David “Dirk” Smith • dirk@competenetwork.com ART DIRECTOR

Dara Fowler • dara@competenetwork.com CONTRIBUTORS

Harry Andrews, Matt Boyles, Lisa Chastain, Ryan O’Connor, Miriam Latto, Joshua Magallanes, Brian Patrick, Maria-Belle Zuniga PROJECT COORDINATOR

Ariel Stevens • ariel@competenetwork.com ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Bethany Harvat • beth@competenetwork.com To partner with Compete Sports Diversity, please contact our Sales & Partnerships Team SALES & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Trayer Martinez • trayer@competenetwork.com SALES & PARTNESHIP SPECIALIST

Please enjoy this issue!

•

Pavel Antonov • pavel.antonov@competenetwork.com COMPETE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Eric Carlyle, SDLT, CEO

• HE | HIM | HIS

Eric Carlyle, SDLT Connor Shane, SDLT Angela Smith, SDLT John Deffee, SDLT Joel Horton, SDL All Mail: PO BOX 2756, Scottsdale, AZ 85252 Corporate Office: 6991 E Camelback Rd., D-300, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (800) 489-1274 Copyright ©2022 Media Out Loud, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Compete Sports Diversity, Sports Diversity Leadership Council, Sports Diversity Leader and SDL are all trademarks of Media Out Loud, LLC.

Three great reasons to celebrate: It’s our 15th Anniversary, Pride and our 16th Swimsuit Issue all rolled into one!

OUR VISION:

Compete Unites the World Through Sports

15TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE

MAY / JUNE • 2022

FEATURES 18 POLAR PREET

A Rebel With a Cause

22 TAKING PRIDE IN A NEW DIRECTION An Interview with Jesus Godinez

28 FASHION FORWARD Swimsuit Edition

34 PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 36 TITLE IX

Revision Adds First Time Transgender Student Safeguards

DEPARTMENTS

18

38

12

KICK OFF Grandstanding • Survey

16

NEWS WORTHY

38

FROM THE COMPETENETWORK.COM BLOG

44

FIT & FAB

White House Pride Bringing Queer Visibility to Endurance Racing Mental Health is Emotional Health

48

BEDROOM SPORTS Finally, I Can Just Be Myself

EVERY ISSUE 14

HIGH FIVE

26

MVP Jesus Godinez

42 EVENTS

46

46 GYM BAG 28

22

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KICK OFF SURVEY

GRANDSTANDING

What is your favorite Pride Song?

Ken Scearce Still Makes People Smile I have been a fan of the Sin City Classic since I first started playing softball in 2014. I was heartbroken to see that Ken Scearce passed away but happy to read your article about Ken. I will always remember Ken’s big smile and bigger heart and this article reminded me of the many times Ken made me smile and laugh.

TRUE COLORS by Cyndi Lauper 40% I’M COMING OUT by Diana Ross 35% BORN THIS WAY by Lady Gaga 25%

Johnny Robert Chicago It’s About Time’s 2021 Athlete of the Year I enjoyed reading that Simone Biles was named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. I also liked the new format and style of Compete. It’s a good look.

Patti Toon-Abbot Las Vegas

PHOTO © RHYTHMANDMOTION.COM/PRIDE

Check out the latest in sports diversity at COMPETENETWORK.COM

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HIGH FIVE

Deserving athletes, teams, leagues, organizations, and corporations as well as high profile celebrities receive High Fives for their contributions to promoting diversity, inclusion, equality-equity and acceptance for all.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS … for finally honoring Dodger Glenn Burke, the first out gay MLB baseball player. BILES The team traded Burke in 1978 because the manager SIMONE disapproved of him beingMOST gay. Today’s team is officially honoring Burke’s THE WORLD’S DECORATED legacy and his familyGYMNAST at its ninth annual Pride Night with players also wearing custom rainbow caps, a first for the franchise.

TOM DALEY

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL-WINNING DIVER

… for launching a Pride clothing collection to support Canadian-based LGBTQ+ non-profit Rainbow Railroad that helps LGBTQ+ individuals escape state-sponsored violence and persecution in their home countries by providing resources and assistance needed to get to safety.

CRAIG NAPIER AND LLOYD WILSON SCOTTISH FOOTBALL (SOCCER) REFEREES

… for choosing Pride Month to come out as gay.

They’re the first out gay participants in men’s Scottish football since Justin Fashanu, the English player who came out in 1990 but tragically took his own life in 1998 due to homophobia.

@madewithlovebytomdaley

US SOCCER ... for finally agreeing to equal pay for U.S. men’s and women’s national teams. And to Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Becky Sauerbrunn for getting the “ball” rolling in 2016 by filling a wage discrimination complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as the 28 members of the USWNT who in 2019 kept the “ball” rolling with a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer, seeking more than $66M in backpay damages.

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JUSTINE LINDSAY

AND THE CAROLINA PANTHERS TOPCATS CHEERLEADERS

… for openly transgender Justine being confident enough to audition and for TopCats director Chandalae Lanouette for hiring her based strictly on her performance! It’s believed this is the first openly trans cheerleader that’s been hired for an NFL squad.

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NEWS WORTHY

CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER | HERS

A NEW DAY IN LGBTQ+ SUPPORT “Pride is back at the White House,” said President Joe Biden as he announced his signing of an executive order protecting LGBTQ+ people from the increasing legislation in conservative states that is targeting the rights of this all-too-often marginalized population.

For the first time in the history of U.S. democracy, the President of the United States has officially not only openly mentioned the LGBTQ+ community, he has openly supported it by issuing both a proclamation (included in full on page 35 due to its historic significance!) and by signing this historic executive order that advances equality for the LGBTQ+ population!

This is to help those facing the heinous effects of things like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that prohibits any mention of gender identity or sexual orientation in educational instruction or those of Texas’ attacks on not only transgender children requiring gender-affirming care but also their parents and their doctors.

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PHOTO © JERAME DAVIS

To see the interior of the White House lit up in rainbow colors for all to see is perhaps even more special than the exterior – it’s the heart of a home, the heart of the man who lives and governs there, and whose decency and caring honor his beliefs. •

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Polar Preet: A REBEL WITH A CAUSE

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER | HERS PHOTOS COURTESY OF @ POLARPREET

PREET CHANDI IS THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR to complete a solo, unaided expedition over 700 miles to the South Pole in just 40 days! Chandi, now better known to the world as Polar Preet, is indeed a rebel with a cause. Just 32 years old, she is a British Army Captain, a physiotherapist, Nordic skier, ultra-marathon runner and endurance athlete whose life story has a strong message for women everywhere: “You would be amazed at what you can achieve if you believe in yourself.”

Born and raised in Derby, England of Punjabi heritage, Chandi pulled a sled with almost 200 pounds of equipment and freeze-dried meals, daily averaging 11 hours of skiing uphill (yes, up to the South Pole!) in temperatures down to minus-58 degrees F and winds up to 60 miles per hour.

An Asian woman who has experienced prejudice, discrimination and personal attacks because of her skin’s color, Chandi’s story is especially inspirational for other women of color. She recognizes the power of visibility, of having a role model, of one person changing society’s limiting expectations. Throughout her 40-day journey she kept a blog: some pertinent parts are shared below (with British spelling).

DAY 5 Today I was thinking about my journey to this point, the fact that I had this idea 2 and a half years ago when I knew absolutely nothing about the polar world. I created the name Polar Preet 2 years ago, my partner created my website, it was really hard getting support at the start which is why I’m so grateful that I have it now. I spent so much money, all of my money plus my life savings on a lot of the training and all my leave on the training and it was really tough at times but it was all worth it because I’m actually here now. You would be amazed at what you can achieve if you believe in yourself.

DAY 11 So I was told no a lot of the time and I ignored it most of the time. I was more often than not discouraged to push boundaries and was often labelled disrespectful for voicing my opinions. I was labelled the rebel for doing things out of the norm. But I think we create our own normal.

Right now my normal is being on an expedition in Antarctica.

Normal can be whatever you want it to be. And surrounding yourself with people that believe in you, I know I’m on my own out here but I also know that there are so many people who believe in me and are supporting me.

DAY 15 This post is for anybody that needs to hear this. It can often be those closest to us that hold us back. I am often called a rebel for doing things out of the norm, for pushing my boundaries.

For a long time, I stopped telling as many people about the challenges I was doing or I would down play them.

You may not be able to relate to the challenge I am currently on, but I want to tell you it is ok to push your boundaries and I want to encourage you to do so. You can achieve anything you want and it soon becomes addictive, when you start pushing those boundaries. You’ll soon realise what you are capable of, I have (I say sitting in Antarctica.)

I think we create our own normal.

It is ok to push your boundaries...

You can achieve anything you want.

DAY 22 I also wanted to add in tonight’s blog, that it took me a long time to be proud of the colour of my skin. I used to be embarrassed, having eggs thrown at me and people spit at me when I was a teenager because I ‘looked different’ certainly didn’t help. It took me a while to appreciate my culture and my roots, so when I describe myself as a ‘woman of colour’ it is because I am finally proud of my skin colour, my roots, my culture. This term isn’t used to offend anyone. It is part of me and doing this expedition as a woman of colour is incredibly powerful. Having been told on many occasions that I don’t look like a polar explorer … lets change the image you expect to see.

DAY 26 So, I finished Will Smiths audiobook the other day and he talks about how other people give you advice and basically mentions that other people give you advice based on their fears, their preducices and their experiences which I thought was really interesting. So, you’re living your life for the first time and how does anyone else know what you’re capable of, you may not even know yourself yet.

DAY 40 …..I want to encourage people to push their boundaries and to believe in themselves, and I want you to be able to do it without being labelled a rebel. ... I don’t want to just break the glass ceiling, I want to smash it into a million pieces. •

• COMPETE | MAY / JUNE 2022 PHOTO 22 © LEAKED GLASS PHOTOGRAPHY

Taking PRIDE

NEW DIRECTION in a

BY DAVID “DIRK” SMITH, M.SC., SDL • HE | HIM | HIS

WHEN DAVID KOPAY CAME OUT IN 1975 he did it after ending his professional football career. Since then 15 other players have come out — including active player Carl Nassib. Many people thought the day would come when the NFL would welcome an openly gay player.

But getting to this point wasn’t easy. Three of the many pieces getting to that point include the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL), Compete Sports Diversity and local flag football leagues, such as the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL). A member of the NGFFL even announced an Arizona Cardinal’s pick at the recent NFL Draft.

One outstanding example of partnerships built between the NFL and other professional sports teams is between the Arizona Cardinals and the PGFFL. Jesus Godinez has played a firsthand role in building those partnerships. Jesus has not only created strong relatiosnship with the Cardinals, but also the Phoenix Rising and other professional sports teams. We had the opportunity to interview Jesus.

DIRK SMITH: The PGFFL, one of the National Gay Flag Football League’s (NGFFL) member-city leagues, has been actively growing a local partnership between the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, the Phoenix Rising Football Club, an American professional soccer club and Compete Sports Diversity. I was pleased to interview Jesus Godinez, Director of Sponsorships & Community Impact for the PGFFL to learn about the work he’s been doing.

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Left: Opening party for Gay Bowl 2022, Greg Lee, Cardinals CFO and Cardinals cheerleaders with Jesus Godinez.

Right: PGFFL Spring 2022 closing party at Cardinals State Farm Stadium.

DS: Jesus, please tell us when you joined PGFFL and how your role has expanded since joining.

JESUS GODINEZ: I was new to Phoenix in 2017 and needed to find a core group of friends out here. Someone said a spot opened in the PGFFL. When I joined I had no prior experience playing flag football or football in general, being more of a soccer and track athlete. But by the second year Jared Garduno, a former NGFFL and PGFFL commissioner asked me to think about running for the board.

DS: What position did you run for and how was that experience?

JG: I ran for assistant commissioner and was elected. Shortly after I started, our current commissioner had to relocate so I was appointed commissioner. When that term was up, I ran to be elected as commissioner and took the initiative to make sure I was understanding the operational foundation of the league. I took very seriously the impact it has made on the local community and learning who its partners were.

DS: What did you learn from that and how did you put that information into action?

JG: I learned we weren’t hitting our maximum potential as an organization. Phoenix is home to about five million people. I decided to start with our existing sponsors (now called partners), then bring on new partners already aligned with our mission, vision and values. We had local community partners but we didn’t have any sports-to-sports partners and that was the first new partnership I wanted to have. I thought regardless of how they identified it, if I could get a national sports organization to recognize the PGFFL, just making sure LGBTQ+ athletes had a presence in the athletic world, that’s what I needed and wanted to do!

WE WORKED ON BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CARDINALS by inviting them to our games to see

that our athletes are just that; that regardless of whether our members are straight, gay, bi, lesbian, transgender or queer, they can compete with the best of them.

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Left: PGFFL All Star game at PHX Rising Pride Night. Right: PGFFL gives back to foster families at Cardinals 1st ever Pride Night.

WE BUILT AND EXPANDED THAT RELATIONSHIP BUT DIDN’T WANT TO LIMIT IT TO FOOTBALL. From there we’ve been able to partner with the Phoenix Rising, helping them to host their first ever Pride Night, and also with the Phoenix Suns.

DS: Wow, that’s a very bold initiative. How did you pull that off?

JG: I was very fortunate that the Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC) invited me to one of its annual Sports Diversity Awards in 2018. The PGFFL was asked to present the Arizona Cardinals with an award and then have an opportunity to make an informal introduction during the evening. We worked on building a relationship with the Cardinals by inviting them to our games to see that our athletes are just that; that regardless of whether our members are straight, gay, bi, lesbian, transgender or queer, they can compete with the best of them. Eventually we were able to bring them on as a season sponsor, and right away they saw the impact that our organization has on the community. As a result, that season sponsorship turned into a yearly one.

An important aspect of our partnership was education, wanting to make sure our sponsors knew our mission, vision and values as well as the importance of the stigma that comes with being an LGBTQ+ athlete. We shared with them statistics of athletes who stop pursuing sports from the pain of constant exposure to casual homophobic and transphobic locker room banter.

We built and expanded that relationship but didn’t want to limit it to football. From there we’ve been able to partner with the Phoenix Rising, helping them to host their first ever Pride Night, and also with the Phoenix Suns. Now that people are wanting to be involved with the LGBTQ+ sports community and LGBTQ+ athletes in general, we continue as an organization to push the message that regardless of your athletic abilities, athletic aspirations or how you identify, you have a place in the PGFFL family and you have a place in any sporting arena.

DS: Wonderful story, Jesus! Thank you for sharing the impact you and the PGFFL have made.• The Arizona Cardinals have partnered with Compete Sports Diversity for its upcoming Summit at State Farm Stadium September 15-17. The Cardinals will also be hosting an Equality Night this October.

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MVP

REPLAY

JESUS GODINEZ • HE | HIM | HIS PHOTO BY LEAKED GLASS PHOTOGRAPHY INSET PHOTO BY KG PHOTOGRAPHY

JESUS HAS BEEN OUR MVP BEFORE — BUT IS WORTH THE REPEAT! Click here to see all his info in our March/April 2018 issue.

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FASHION

F

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Forward SWIMSUIT EDITION

BEGINNING 15-YEARS AGO as Sports Out Loud with the tag line of “We Are Gay Sports,” Compete was an early leader in the sports diversity movement, growing and changing through the years. Our last issue featuring entrepreneur and CSDC member Jimaye Nguyen drew lots of positive attention, not only for his dramatic swimsuits and accessories but also his passion for using under-represented Asian, Black and Latino models.

So this year to honor that kind of fashion forward thinking, as well as your positive comments about him, we asked Jimaye Swimsuits to be our 15th Anniversary swimsuit models. Enjoy!

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A Presidential Proclamation EDITOR’S NOTE: In an historic “first-ever” gesture for a United States President, the Biden White House has issued an official Proclamation “on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2022.” We felt it important enough to share the entire document!

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A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2022 MAY 31, 2022 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month, we reflect on the progress we have made as a Nation in the fight for justice, inclusion, and equality while reaffirming our commitment to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad. I often say that America can be defined by one word: possibilities. This month, we celebrate generations of LGBTQI+ people who have fought to make the possibilities of our Nation real for every American.

Today, the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans are under relentless attack. Members of the LGBTQI+ community — especially people of color and trans people — continue to face discrimination and cruel, persistent efforts to undermine their human rights.

An onslaught of dangerous anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has been introduced and passed in States across the country, targeting transgender children and their parents and interfering with their access to health care. These unconscionable attacks have left countless LGBTQI+ families in fear and pain. All of this compounded has been especially difficult on LGBTQI+ youth, 45 percent of whom seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year — a devastating reality that our Nation must work urgently to address.

This month, we remind the LGBTQI+ community that they are loved and cherished. My Administration sees you for who you are — deserving of dignity, respect, and support. As I said in my State of the Union Address — especially to our younger transgender Americans — I will always have your back as your President so that you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.

Today and every day, my Administration stands with every LGBTQI+ American in the ongoing struggle against intolerance, discrimination, and injustice. We condemn the dangerous State laws and bills that target LGBTQI+ youth. And we remain steadfast in our commitment to helping LGBTQI+ people in America and around the world live free from violence.

Since my first day in office, I have taken historic action to ensure that everyone — no matter who they are or whom they love — has an equal place in our democracy.

I signed a landmark Executive Order charging the Federal Government with preventing and combating

discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

This includes non discrimination protections for LGBTQI+ Americans in housing, health care, education, employment, credit and lending services, and the criminal justice system. My Administration has expanded access to inclusive passports for transgender Americans and instituted reforms to the traveler screening process at United States airports. We are supporting the open service for patriotic transgender military members and providing better services for LGBTQI+ veterans. I am honored by the service of the first openly gay Cabinet Secretary and the first transgender person confirmed by the Senate and to have been able to establish the first White House Gender Policy Council.

But there is more work to be done. That is why I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Equality Act, which will enshrine long overdue civil rights protections and build a better future for all LGBTQI+ Americans. We must also fight for LGBTQI+ seniors so that they can age with dignity. And we must confront the disproportionate levels of poverty, homelessness, and unemployment in the LGBTQI+ community.

This month, we honor the resilience of LGBTQI+ people, who are fighting to live authentically and freely.

We reaffirm our belief that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. And we recommit to delivering protections, safety, and equality to LGBTQI+ families so that everyone can realize the full promise of America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2022 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

— JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Title IX TITLE IX 2022 REVISION:

Transgender Student Safeguards Added For First Time

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER | HERS IN ADDITION TO REMOVING TITLE IX GUIDELINES set by the Trump administration, ones that officials from the Biden administration have declared too grueling for victims of sexual assault, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is about to also include codified safeguards for transgender students that will pack a one-two punch in the latest revision to Title IX. In March the Washington Post reported that a draft of Cardona’s Title IX proposal said: “Discrimination on the basis of sex includes discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex-related characteristics (including intersex traits), pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity.”

In what appears to be a clear case of political ping-pong, this will be a third revamping in three successive administrations of the convoluted rules for universities and K-12 schools to follow when resolving allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

This latest interpretation is based on the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, making good on President Biden’s executive order that this case about transgender rights in the workplace applies to Title IX. As in both previous administrations, this will definitely be met by another volley of lawsuits.

The number of states already having passed or working on passing individual state policies banning participation by transgender athletes in sports from elementary, middle and high schools is growing. This is seen as a response to stave off being required to comply with this newly updated version of Title IX protecting transgender student athletes.

While the rule proposed by Cardona won’t take effect for several months while the regulatory process finishes running its course, there is no doubt that the education secretary is fully behind both its letter and its spirit.

In one of his ongoing Department of Education “Conversations with Cardona” videos, Secretary Cardona taped one with his cousin, Alex Cardona, a transgender man. In it, Secretary Cardona says: “I also want to send a message really loud and clear: We’ve got your back, that our schools need to be safe places for all students.”

While this appears to be an incredibly positive step forward in the protection of those who are the most vulnerable among the LGBTQ+ student population, at this point it appears that much will depend on the mid-term elections. •

“I also want to send a message really loud and clear: We’ve got your back, that our schools need to be safe places for all students.”

— EDUCATION SECRETARY MIGUEL CARDONA

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FROM THE COMPETENETWORK.COM BLOG

BY JULES BURSEE & KRISTINA NUNGARAY • SHE | HER | HERS

Bringing Queer Visibility to Endurance Racing It’s only after 11 a.m. and I’m sitting across from the one person who has become a constant force of nature in a messy, chaotic, always funny, sometimes heartbreaking life. It becomes very clear in an airport restaurant just how little sleep was had the night before. Packing. Organizing. Planning. Letting it all sink in that in just a few short hours the moment we have been talking about for months will finally be springing into reality. The level of “it’s finally here” giddiness can’t be displaced by lack of sleep — after all, losing sleep isn’t new to a duo who has made the better part of a year juggling fulltime jobs, starting a small business, waking up for 4:30 a.m. track sprints and training daily with two- and three-a-day workouts.

Suddenly it’s clear how everything over the past 12 months has been leading up to this moment and the year ahead. While it’s the start of a new year, there are no “new year, new me” resolutions here. Instead we’re waiting to board a flight for the first race of several in 2022, the first event in a year ahead full of endurance events – 21 to be exact – where our sole goal is to take up space. Be visible. We’re bringing queer (LGBTQ+) visibility to endurance racing, creating space for others, using movement as a vehicle for community building.

The “Say Maybe” team formed as any good duo begins — as friends. Ironically, our friendship started as two neighbors who each thought the other one hated her. It wasn’t until chance meeting as members of the same fitness community led to the discovery of shared interests in fitness and healthy meal prep.

From there, a small business and lasting partnership was born. In building this partnership, the idea of giving back and community building was always at the forefront. Likewise, much of our friendship has been built on leading by example to push (by way of encouragement) the other to do hard things, finding fulfillment in pushing forward and giving back.

Our lives kind of collided into one other at a time rife for change. Early in the pandemic we both moved into the same building at the same time and quickly bonded over mutual need

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Somewhere along the way we decided to take something we love and make it work for us physically, mentally and soulfully with the hopes of building something greater than just two friends tackling a bunch of races. for something different in life. From there came budding ideas of a healthy meal prep business aimed at finding ways to provide food in food-desert neighborhoods, seeking coaching certifications to build communities around movement, even the long-shot goal of training for and competing in a first triathlon in a little under a month. Spoiler alert: one of us couldn’t swim and the other one couldn’t ride a bike.

The support and volume of messages we both received around that first endurance event led to the birth of another kind of partnership — a racing duo.

Over the course of the last year that chance acquaintanceship turned two lost souls into becoming best friends who, not without sacrifice, used every opportunity and resource within sight or within reach, to build a dream life. And that dream life made giving back to a community in need as big a priority as traveling and doing the things we loved.

As a racing duo, we’re now taking the year ahead to push our physical and mental limits competing in 21 different endurance events that include marathons, half marathons, trail races, road races, open water races, triathlons, swim meets and even our first Ultra. The locations range from Oregon to Ireland.

For us, this year in endurance sports is not only about visibility but also about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. It represents a lot of firsts for us; new events, longer distances, shorter recovery turnaround, loftier performance goals and a partnership that relies on high levels of trust, communication and loyalty.

It’s not without sacrifice or putting in the work. A typical day starts with a 4 a.m. wakeup, earlier if track sprints and speed training are involved. In addition to fulltime jobs and cofounding a small business, it also includes squeezing in intense training sessions three times a day. Why are we putting ourselves through it? Because nothing makes us happier. Somewhere along the way we decided to take something we love and make it work for us physically, mentally and soulfully with the hopes of building something greater than just two friends tackling a bunch of races.

Early in our friendship we would challenge each other to lead by example. This year we decided to form a racing team to do just that.

For the year ahead we want to lead by example by chasing hard things and taking up space even if you don’t yet see a place for yourself in that space. As queer athletes we want to bring LGBTQ+ visibility to endurance racing and to build community around that. We’re currently forming a queer running club in Jersey City, New Jersey where we

PHOTO BY FWEE CARTER

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FROM THE COMPETENETWORK.COM BLOG

CONTINUED

both live and train, and we look forward to what that will bring. We’re also forming an LGBTQ+ Ragnar racing team for our first Ragnar race in September.

Our plans also include bringing movementbased activities to New Jersey with the aim of giving back. We’re actively beginning a partnership with a local shelter to offer a running program for its residents aiming to build confidence and empowerment through movement. And through our small meal prep business we’re working to implement community fridges in Jersey City and starting a weekly run club aimed at community building and food assistance.

During training for our first triathlon, sharing some of our training wins and learning curves, people started reaching out to us. They confided their desire to try something new or challenging but also shared they were waiting ... for the right time; to be the right size and shape; for the triathlon world to be less male dominated; to have enough support; to do the hard things. The basic takeaway we were getting from these messages was, I really want to do this (insert some cool, hard, badass thing) but I don’t fit into this space.

It’s become startlingly clear to us that visibility matters and the only way you can create space for others is by taking up a little of your own. We believe resilience is built and fostered, through community. We’re using this year to race as a team focused on giving back through movement to build community in a very ‘Come as you are’ sense so you can find your own community. This is especially important where your community often becomes your chosen family, like in the queer community, we want to use movement as a platform to invite others to join us, to take up space in every possible way, just as you are, and know that you are welcome here.

We’re also using the races as a platform to raise funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations that foster community, lend resources and support services to the community at large. As it’s been brought to our attention time and again, society has a way of making others feel less than, or unworthy of participation in certain activities, or like they don’t belong in certain places.

That’s not lost on us. While progress has been and continues to be made, members of the LGBTQ+ community are all too often relegated to a status of other or unworthy.•

The basic takeaway we were getting from these messages was, I really want to do this (insert some cool, hard, badass thing), BUT I DON’T FIT INTO THIS SPACE.

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EVENTS

IGLFA 7X7 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Washington, D.C.

June 7-12 MOTOR CITY TENNIS CLASSIC: GLTA MASTERS SERIES EVENT Southfield, Michigan

June 10-12 2022 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY SUMMER MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCE Richmond, Virginia

June 16-18 PRIDE RUN RICHMOND Richmond, Virginia

June 18 U.S. OPEN Brookline, Mass.

June 16-19 CMSA PRIDE BOWL Chicago

June 24-25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL RODEO Denver

July 1-3 PRIDE RUN CASPER © PRIDEBOWLCHICAGO.COM

Casper, Wyoming

July 11 8TH ANNUAL STONEWALL SPORTS NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AND SUMMIT Cleveland

July 8-10 NORTH STAR REGIONAL RODEO Minneapolis-St. Paul

July 29-31 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL PRIDE TENNIS TOURNAMENT Vancouver, Canada © NSGRA.ORG

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July 30-August 1

Scan the QR Code & check us out at

democraticswag.com

@DemocraticSwag @democraticswag PROUD MEMBER

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FIT & FAB

BY JOSHUA MAGALLANES MA LMHC NCC • HE | HIM | HIS

Mental Health is Emotional Health

Playing in the Sin City Tournament in 2020 seemed like any tournament until threeto-four weeks later when we began to hear about the first COVID-19 infections. We never dreamed what would come from this event — the world, and life for many of us changed in the blink of an eye.

As a nation we never knew what would erupt during this pandemic. From civil unrest to all the repressed feelings, emotions and thoughts from our past, and perhaps past decades that were going to resurface. I was not only navigating the landscape of the world personally but also as a mental health and behavioral emotional wellbeing practitioner.

The last two years have helped individuals find new ways to live. Some have become very isolated while others have thrived. So how can some thrive when others are just trying to survive? As a nation, we’ve had to learn new ways of being and how to live differently. For some, it was focusing on creating positive change; for others it was a time of despair. Many of us lost loved ones and had to process grief and navigate these pesky emotions we didn’t know what to do with. So what do we do with emotions that cause us to feel hollow, depressed, anxious, etc.?

As a mental health therapist seeking ways to help individuals process these feelings, it’s sometimes difficult.

And it’s difficult for clients to understand where all this hidden baggage is coming from. More importantly, “how is it that I have been hiding these emotions and feelings trapped inside me for so long?” The reality is that we sometimes interchangeably use mental health for what’s really emotional health, and vice versa.

Mental Health involves processing all the information we encounter whereas Emotional Health is more about the feelings provoked by the data that’s processed. For example, the Summer and Winter Olympians’ amount of stress and performance pressure was added to the stresses of the

media, their coaching and prior trauma. So we saw athletes suffer, pull out of events and not compete to their highest ability. If we support those in need, the feedback loop can be interrupted and negative self-talk can be reframed.

We’re forced to look at the daily challenges we face and that sometimes can be overwhelming for many. Mental health professionals saw an influx of 50-60 percent more clients from March 2020 through February 2022: that rate continues to climb. While this is really positive, we need more practitioners to help.

More of us need to determine exactly where the pandemic has left us. Not just this post-pandemic time because these feelings and emotions have been here before this began. Instead, we have to talk about the difficult and uncomfortable topics in the room, like the isolation, the grief and the cultural mandate to focus on doing instead of being. We need to talk about leaving out whole groups and communities of people from jobs, policies and conversations that involve and impact us all. WE have to listen when our communities say they are hurting. Finally, we need to listen to ourselves when we feel like our buckets are empty.

So why the continued stigma when it comes to mental health and emotional health? The two are intertwined, helping us navigate a world that can sometimes feel like the dripping faucet that just won’t stop dripping. We can no longer treat them separately but instead with duality.

So as I’m playing softball this summer, I’m reminding those around me to notice what is really going on for them.

I’m also taking stock, acknowledging what I can control and what is “an uncontrollable”. •

Joshua is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Faculty Member in Washington State.

Magallanes is also a native Arizonan and plays softball for Los Gallitos in Seattle in the Emerald City Softball Association under the umbrella association NAGAAA.

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BEDROOM SPORTS

BY RYAN O’CONNER • GUEST COLUMNIST • HE | HIM | HIS

Finally, I Can Just Be Myself Ah, it’s Pride month. I have to admit there was a time in my life when Pride month really stressed me out.

Am I young enough? Am I thin enough? Am I straightacting enough?

There, I said it. Ten years ago “acting straight” was considered attractive to many gay men. I hate that I bought into that. Just the fact that people have to “act” is a total turnoff for me now.

As corny as it sounds, I just want to be, well, me.

I have to ask myself, “what does being me even mean?” I guess me means being a 35-year-old man that has a wrinkle here, a sag there and maybe even a few missing strands of hair from atop my head. It also means I don’t have to “act.”

I like to listen to Celine Dion and Madonna. I like to wear Prada jeans. I like to have a mimosa (or two) at brunch. But I also like to play soccer, chug a beer after practice and cheer on the Arizona Cardinals.

If you roll all of that together, that’s me. I’m not traditionally masculine but I’m certainly not feminine.

Most people don’t think I’m gay when they first meet me, but isn’t that the way it should be? I rarely meet someone and ask myself “is she straight?” Unless I’m online looking for a date, I really don’t care.

As I look forward to attending Pride this month it would be nice to meet Mr. Right. I would really like to turn this from a dating column into a love column. But until then, it’s good to know that many of the next generation don’t have to obsess about fitting in. That’s because they already do. And that’s the way it should be. (I know, I said that earlier but some things need to be repeated!) •

... it’s good to know that many of the next generation don’t have to obsess about fitting in.

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.

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