Compete September October 2020

SPORTS DIVERSITY

AROUND THE WORLD SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2020 $3.95 • COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM

#BLM

Diversity makes for a better cocktail party.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM THE GLOBAL LEADER IN SPORTS DIVERSITYTM FEATURE 18 Martin Stark: The World’s Next Ring Leader ONE-ON-ONE 16 Courting Lendale Johnson: First Out Black Professional Tennis Player 22 AFA, Los Dogos Join Forces for Monumental Fútbol Alliance MVP 24

Chase Kinser

LEGENDS 26 Tennis Legend Billie Jean King HEALTH 29

The 8 Best At-Home STD Tests of 2020

CSDC MEMBER SPORTLIGHT 34

Gay Games Hong Kong 2022

FITNESS 36 Six Ways Running Can Relieve Today’s Anxiety WINNERS 38 Who Will Be the 2021 Compete Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year?

GYM BAG 40 Hot Items You Shouldn't Do Without FIT & FAB 42 7 Reasons You're Not Progressing With Your Workout BEDROOM SPORTS 44 Take Me Out to the Ballgame …

PLEASE!

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COMPETE

5

MILLENNIAL ON SPORTS

GREETINGS FROM EUROPE

S

pecifically, greetings from Cologne, Germany. As

This help makes it possible for the clubs to offer a

the world is adjusting to our new reality in light of

wide variety of sports and exercise classes to its members at

the COVID-19 pandemic, in Europe we have seen

a very low cost. Sports include everything from swimming,

some crazy changes in our approach to sports. The biggest

diving, rowing, football, rugby and athletics to cheerleading,

impact that the virus has had on LGBTQI sports this year in

handball and more. Additionally, there is a big emphasis on

Europe has been the cancellation of the 2020 EuroGames

promoting women’s participation, ensuring that there are

that was due to be held in Düsseldorf.

The 2020 EuroGames was set to help try to “reboot” the EuroGames brand following the poorly organized events in 2015 and 2019. But when COVID-19 hit, the cancellation of the games was imminent and unfortunately, this created some tension that led to a rift between the games’ organizing body, the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) and the Düsseldorf organizing committee over the event’s delay. As an annual event, the EGLSF already had the 2021, 2022 and 2023 EuroGames planned for other cities. Fortunately, it was resolved amicably and Düsseldorf is hopeful in bidding for the 2024 event instead.

women’s teams in all the major team sports.

LGBTQI sports clubs are an essential part of the community, holding massive fundraisers for HIV/AIDS research, community events and showcases at local pride festivals, training camps and of course, competitions.

Sports clubs and organizations represent a large part of the community in terms of the social connections, fundraising, sponsorship, even organization for royalty events such as Mr. and Mrs. Gay Germany and Mr. Bear Germany, all of which work with local clubs as part of their events.

As fall is coming around, the local LGBTQI sports clubs are returning to practice and training under new

For LGBTQI athletes and sports clubs in Europe,

COVID-19 restrictions. The important thing is that people

practices are starting up again and people are finding a

are able to attend practices and see their teammates again,

much-needed respite from COVID-19 through sports. The

something that brings a sense of comfort and relief during

2020 EuroGames was not the only sports tournament

these uncertain times. Even some of the social events are

cancelled of course, but the clubs are reopening for training

starting to return. And while there is still much uncertainty

as people are recognizing the need for exercise and sports

in regard to competitions and other community events

to help provide physical, mental and social relief during

returning, athletes and organizers are optimistic that things

such strange and stressful times.

For European LGBTQI athletes, the sports clubs are

will continue to improve over the coming months.

about more than just competing, it’s about coming together (although properly socially distanced) and being part of a community of shared values and goals. For example, the German government highly values the benefits of exercise

Dirk Smith (he, him, his), SDL

and sports for individuals, so LGBTQI sports clubs receive

Sports Editor

a lot of support from their community governments to

dirk@competesportsdiversity.com @competedirk

subsidize the operating costs.

6 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

CATBIRD SEAT

Elevating Global Society Through Socially Aware Athletes We’re really a global society and this issue’s theme of “Sports Around the World” certainly highlights the fact that sport knows no borders. With gay boxing from Sydney, soccer from Buenos Aires, Gay Games diversity in Hong Kong and an interview with Lendale Johnson, the first openly out professional tennis player from the U.S., it reminds me of Nelson Mandela’s famous quote that “Sport has the power to change the world.”

Since Covid-19 has kept recreational sports sidelined and many citizens have either been furloughed or unemployed, our global attention is primarily focused on professional national and international sports teams and athletes headed to the 2021 Olympic Games. And the spotlight is shifting to the growing social justice platform these professional and Olympic athletes are now commanding.

Sponsors’ dollars have long carried lots of weight. When athletes tried to make a difference, it generally meant if “offending” athletes didn’t lose their job, they would most certainly lose lucrative sponsor endorsements, not the team or league. The outcome of Colin Kaepernick’s effort to protest police brutality and racial inequality is the most recent egregious example of the price an elite athlete paid for speaking up.

But the power has shifted, at least for now. Sponsors’ dollars are now pushing owners and leagues rather than athletes, a la getting the NFL Washington team to finally drop its offensive last name.

Thanks to cell phone videos, social media and accurate news reporting, society can’t deny what’s happening. Black athletes are speaking out about fear of being killed, about their families being killed. After the blatant killing of Floyd George and that of Breonna Taylor and so many more with little apparent justice for their families, who can blame them?

And then the NBA, MLB, MLS and tennis all announced they were effectively going on strike following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Ushering in a new day of support from the top down is an open letter from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who wrote, "I wholeheartedly support NBA and WNBA players and their commitment to shining a light on important issues of social justice."

On the Olympic level, the terrible sexual exploitation of young athletes has been exposed, the doping scandals and more have the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission working to relax Rule 50 that bars athletes from protesting at Olympic venues and sites during the Games, especially since the protests of George Floyd’s death.

This gives all of us in our interconnected global society an opportunity to join these athletes and speak up in support of social justice; to do the right thing for the right reason and above all - TO BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER!

Connie Wardman (she, her, hers), M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com @CompeteConnie

8 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

WITH YOU

Unfair Play?

World Rugby May Ban Trans Women Just over 14 years ago Compete Sports Diversity came to life after I participated in rugby’s Bingham Cup, an international LGBTQ+ tournament held every two years. Because of its lack of traditional media coverage, my cofounder and I began to build a magazine to celebrate sports diversity – Compete Magazine. And in 2012 Compete partnered with World Rugby Champion Ben Cohen, MBE to create StandUp Magazine, the world’s first anti-bullying magazine.

By then, rugby was in my blood. In fact, I sign this letter each issue with “With You”—a rugby phrase used during play.

Rugby made headlines this summer when World Rugby proposed to ban transgender female athletes from playing women's rugby. The proposed ban affects only trans women (trans men will be allowed to play men’s rugby) and applies only to contact rugby; non-contact rugby isn’t affected.

As the world’s governing body for the sport of rugby union, World Rugby organizes the Rugby World Cup, the premier rugby union tournament. The sport of rugby has generally been supportive of diversity. According to World Rugby’s Objects and Functions, By-Law 3 was developed “To prevent discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or groups of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason.”

However, World Rugby believes that trans women have a physical advantage over cisgender women even if they’ve been receiving testosterone reduction therapy for over a year, arguing this could be a safety concern for cis woman. This not only flies in the face of current scientific evidence, it also comes at a time when rugby continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing sports.

International Gay Rugby (IGR), which awards the Bingham Cup, was saddened by this announcement since they’ve been working with World Rugby to help it develop an inclusive transgender athlete policy. In fact, IGR believed World Rugby was building a path toward inclusive rugby for all transgender athletes. Recently, 84 academics wrote to World Rugby, arguing that there is no additional safety risk for cis woman competing with trans women in the sport of contact rugby.

The impact of banning certain athletes from playing their sport of choice may keep them from the sport they most love and the very community they most need. Like Compete Sports Diversity, rugby is a community; it’s a sport that has positions for almost every physiological body type. In 2006 my team played against the San Francisco Fog that had both male and female players. And while that is the only time I have played against women in rugby, the match was fair and no one was injured.

Both my personal and professional recommendation to World Rugby is to continue to work with IGR and finalize a policy that is inclusive. Since 2016 the International Olympic Committee has used scientific evidence to reduce the wait time for trans women taking HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy from two years to one and many international organizations now use that same standard. It’s a policy that’s inclusive and fair to all participants.

With You,

Eric Carlyle (he, him, his), SDLT Publisher/CEO eric@competesportsdiversity.com

@CompeteEric

10 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

LGBTQ+ HISTORY THE GLOBAL LEADER IN SPORTS DIVERSITYTM PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle eric@competesportsdiversity.com

Image via Netflix (copyright-free)

STONEWALL TRANS ICON MARSHA P. JOHNSON HAS STATE PARK NAMED IN HER HONOR

BY CONNIE WARDMAN (SHE, HER, HERS) Marsha P. Johnson, the Black transgender woman who helped instigate the Stonewall Riots of 1969, had a park dedicated to her on August 24th, commemorating what would have been her 75th birthday. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo dedicated the East River State Park in Brooklyn to the civil rights icon, making it the first State Park to honor an LGBTQ+ person. Cuomo tweeted, “NY is indebted to her for her brave advocacy and relentless fight for LGBTQ equality.” He noted that the state wanted to honor Johnson’s work to make sure that her memory lives on forever.

“Too often,” he later wrote in a statement, “the marginalized voices that have pushed progress forward in New York and across the country go unrecognized, making up just a fraction of our public memorials and monuments." Cuomo feels that she is only now getting the acknowledgement she deserves and, that by dedicating this state park for her and by installing public art that tells her story, her memory and the work she did fighting for equality will live on.

Although she said the initial P. in her name stood for “Pay it no Mind,” the pretty woman, often with flowers in her hair and always with a bright smile was an outspoken advocate for homeless transgender youth in New York City. She founded the Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR) which was geared to helping them.

Sadly, she died in 1992 at age 46. Her body was found floating in the Hudson River and was first ruled a suicide although her family insisted it was foul play.

They believed that because she was Black, queer and HIV-positive, the police quickly wrote it off even though she had a large lump on the back of her head. In 2012 the police finally reopened the investigation, but after 20 years the final verdict was the following: Cause of death, drowning; manner of death, undetermined.

A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Johnson is also being recognized by her hometown with a public monument to be built in the city’s downtown area. According to Union County officials, "The monument is anticipated to be the first public monument in the State of New Jersey to honor a LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color."

12 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY Editor-in-Chief 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, Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, Matt Boyles, Ian Colgate, Ryan Evans, Jared Garduno, Catherine (CJ) Kelly, Miriam Latto, Kevin Majoros, Ryan O'Connor, Clay Partain, Brian Patrick, Jerry Del Priore, Naomi "Bez" Zebro Staff Photographer Ariel Stevens ariel@competesportsdiversity.com Vice President Jared Garduno jared@competesportsdiversity.com Administration Bethany Harvat bethany@competesportsdiversity.com Senior Account Manager/Sales Trayer Martinez trayer@competesportsdiversity.com Copyright © 2020 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 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

UNITED STATES GAY SPORTS NETWORK AMERICA’S ONLY ONLINE LGBTQ+ SPORTS LEAGUE DIRECTORY

35 STATES 60 CITIES 450 LEAGUES 39 SPORTS MORE LEAGUES AND CITIES ADDED DAILY! WWW.USGSN.COM FOLLOW US ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES!

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@USGSN

HIGH FIVE

5 HIGH

As an early leader in the sports diversity movement, Compete Magazine normally gives out High Fives to deserving athletes, teams, leagues, organizations and corporations as well as high profile celebrities for their contributions to promote diversity, inclusion, equality and acceptance for all.

BRUCE ARIANS, HEAD COACH FOR NFL TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS … for being named 2020 Champion for Equality by the Women’s Sports Foundation. Arians, a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year is an NFL trailblazer. In 2015 he hired the 1st female coach in NFL history while in Phoenix.

In Tampa Bay he has the only NFL team with all-Black coordinators and multiple fulltime female coaches plus a female director of football research.

Photo courtesy of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

COLIN KAEPERNICK, FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT DR. ANTHONY FAUCI … for being honored as 2020 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope award laureates as leaders who use their platforms for good and demonstrate a commitment to social change.

TIGER WOODS, THROUGH HIS TGR FOUNDATION IN UNISON WITH U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND WALT DISNEY CO. … for building an 87-acre sports facility for at-risk kids in Carson, California.

MACKENZIE SCOTT, PHILANTHROPIST (former wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos) … for giving $1.67 billion to 116 non-profits so far in the following categories:

• Racial Equity: $ 586,700,000

• LGBTQ+ Equity: $ 46,000,000

• Gender Equity: $ 133,000,000

• Economic Mobility: $ 399,500,000

• Empathy & Bridging Divides: $ 55,000,000

• Functional Democracy: $ 72,000,000

• Public Health: $ 128,300,000

• Global Development: $ 130,000,000

• Climate Change: $ 125,000,000

THE NBA AND ITS PLAYERS … for launching a foundation to support Black Lives Matter and combat U. S. racial inequality by pledging $300M in initial funding for economic empowerment for the African American community through employment and career advancement.

14 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

COMPETE READER SURVEY & GRANDSTANDING ARE YOU EXERCISING MORE, LESS OR THE SAME AS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC?

GRANDSTANDING

15% MORE

25% SAME

LETTERS to COMPETE

60% LESS

Pride (In the name of love) Pride certainly wasn’t as much fun this year. Even though I still get to see my friends on social media there is nothing like hugging a teammate or shooting the shit until last call. The one big takeaway I have gotten from not being able to play sports in person is that technology cannot provide the same experience.

I am hoping that we can get back to normal soon.

“The sooner, the better” as they say.

Jamie Barnes Portland, Oregon Editor’s note: Jamie, we certainly are with you on this one. Until then, check out CompeteNetwork.com for the latest sports diversity news.

Please submit all Letters to Compete via email to: letters@competesportsdiversity.com

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

15

ONE-ON-ONE

Lendale Johnson may not be a household name … yet. But as the world’s first out

gay professional tennis player, he’s starting to make waves on the court. He’s also an actor, model, entertainer and he’s now hosting a new reality TV show, “Deuces and Love” that’s bringing awareness and education about civil rights for Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ+ community. You’re sure to see and hear more about him as his star continues to rise.

Eric Carlyle: Congratulations, Lendale – It’s really exciting to know that tennis now has its first openly gay professional player!

How old were you when you started playing tennis?

Lendale Johnson: I was about seven.

Photo courtesy of Christian Coleman

EC: How did you get started in tennis?

LJ: My dad and I would go to the community park in Kalamazoo, Michigan to play basketball with everyone. I wasn’t a big fan of basketball as a kid but I looked up to Michael Jordan as he was a black professional star athlete. There were some slum tennis courts next to the basketball courts and I fell in love with tennis from there on.

EC: Who is your favorite professional athlete? Michael Jordon still or maybe a tennis player?

COURTING

LENDALE

JOHNSON: FIRST OUT PROFESSIONAL BLACK TENNIS PLAYER

BY ERIC CARLYLE (HE, HIM, HIS)

16 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

LJ: Definitely Venus Williams. I watched her win Wimbledon on TV in 2000 and I was just so inspired and amazed. That was a few months before I turned 14. On the ATP Tour I’m always rooting for Djokovic.

EC: Lendale, please share your coming out story with our readers.

LJ: You could say I fully came out right after high school. My family knew but I wasn’t comfortable at all with it. It’s something I knew not to talk about around most of them.

Deep down, I know my grandma on my mom’s side was OK with it, so that was comforting. There’s a ton of homophobia in the black community and being a double minority has been and still is very difficult to navigate.

Photo courtesy of Al Cooley

ONE-ON-ONE

EC: How did your professional tennis career get started?

Well, things really began to kick off for me when I moved from my small town to Chicago. There was so much diversity there it was much easier for me to find other pros to train with. I attended Harry S. Truman College and trained in-between studying.

My first professional tournament was in 2013 in Calabasas and right after Costa Mesa. That was my first time ever in California and I was beyond excited and nervous. Thank God my friend, Mike Weekley lived there: he’s the drummer for rock band, Dirty Machine.

Funny story. I ran into former tennis star, Taylor Dent in the Players Lounge. I was so star struck because during the tournament he would see me and totally say, “Hey Lendale, how’s it going?!” I felt so cool – Taylor Dent remembered my name. Then I ran into Disney’s star sister act, Aly & AJ while I was dining, I took a photo with AJ and finally got flown back to Chicago by a sponsor I got blessed with.

" You could say I fully came out right after high school. My family knew but I wasn’t comfortable at all with it. It’s something I knew not to talk about around most of them.

Deep down, I know my grandma on my mom’s side was OK with it, so that was comforting.

There’s a ton of homophobia in the black community and being a double minority has been and still is very difficult to navigate." extra and since my face was around media, many people instantly recognized me and freaked out.

It was really crazy. I had a flood of DMs from family, fans and classmates from high school that I didn’t really talk to. It was weird hearing from them but if you know me, I’m usually down to earth so I probably said thanks or something.

Most recently I was featured in Vogue Italia this summer; that was a dream come true. I haven’t done any more acting lately because I’ve been so busy with my reality show and other projects. But we’ll see. I’m mainly focused on professional tennis; it’s a short-lived career. Being an actor doesn’t have an expiration date so that can wait.

EC: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in tennis?

LJ: I ’d say get a great coach like me, haha!

But seriously, just take your time when hitting the ball if you’re a beginner and be aware of your racquet face opening up too much. I see a lot of beginner players fly balls all over because of that. It can easily be fixed.

A lot of people don’t understand how ridiculously expensive it is to play Photo courtesy of Al Cooley EC: What else would you like to share with professional tennis if you’re not ranked inside the top Compete readers, Lendale?

100 in the world. I ran out of money, so I’m very lucky to have had sponsors. When I got back to Chicago I LJ: I’m so proud of Billy Porter and all the talented coached tennis for a bit and was back in the clear!

LGBTQ+ actors/actresses on” POSE.” They all deserve an Emmy.

EC: Tell us about your modeling/entertainment career, Lendale.

EC: Knowing how busy you are, Lendale, I want to thank you for taking time to talk with me.

LJ: Tyra Banks followed me on Twitter after I did a runway interview for America’s Next Top Model And I think I speak for all our readers when I say that Cycle 21. Miss J called me “Fierce” too, so after all we’re so proud of you and all you’re doing, not only that I was completely full of belief. Lee Daniels in sports but also as one of the upcoming leaders in acknowledged me as well when I began my acting inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance for us career on Empire Fox in 2015; that was for season 1.

Although I was only an extra, I was a featured

all!

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

17

WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS:

THE WORLD'S NEXT

BY BRIAN PATRICK (HE, HIM, HIS)

18 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

THE WORLD’S NEXT RING LEADER I was fortunate to recently speak with Martin Stark of Sydney, Australia who has organized a new international organization for gay boxing championships.

Brian Patrick: Thanks for sharing this exciting news with us, Martin. How did you get involved in boxing? Is it one of your favorite sports?

Martin Stark: I almost lost my life to Addison's disease in December 2017 and was introduced to boxing as part of a self-defense course. I immediately discovered a passion for the sport, realizing I was capable of something I never considered I could do. I now consider my favorite sports as boxing, boxing, swimming and boxing.

BP: What motivated you to start this new organization and what is its name?

MS: It’s the World Gay Boxing Championships Limited or WGBC. I wanted to compete on the world stage and was motivated to create the WGBC after learning boxing was not included in the list of sports for the 2022 Gay Games.

BP: When and how did you found the WGBC? MS: It started with me sharing my passion for boxing and my vision to create the WGBC on LinkedIn with friends offering to help me.

We have been working on the creation of the WGBC since August 2019 and it was formally registered as a not-for-profit organization in August 2020. Also, we are straight-friendly. I have straight mates who are incredible allies and want to compete in the championships.

The goal is to have the first championship in Sydney.

BP: What is your title within the organization, Martin? And do you have a role model or mentor helping you with all this?

MS: I am the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WGBC. Being as passionate about inclusion and diversity as I am, I am fortunate that Dr. Joseph Nwoye is mentoring me.

He is the founder of Systemic Diversity and Inclusion: Creating and Nurturing Progressive and Positive Work Environment (SDIG).

BP: What is the mission or goal of the WGBC? Photos courtesy of Martin Stark

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

19

Photos courtesy of Martin Stark

THE WORLD’S NEXT RING LEADER

MS: The mission is to promote boxing amongst the LGBTQI and wider community, providing opportunities for LGBTQI people to compete in the sport of boxing in a safe and friendly environment.

We want to co-ordinate and organize boxing tournaments and championships all over the world aligned with Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) rules, sanctioned by a boxing authority, ensuring that no individual shall be excluded, shamed or intimidated from participating based on sexual orientation or identification.

We want to collaborate with boxing governing bodies, boxing clubs and other partner organisations to increase the participation and acceptance of LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people at all levels in the sport of boxing.

BP: Where do you see the WGBC in the next three-to-five years?

MS: We will have established deep and meaningful relationships with the boxing community through having held multiple events in cities all over the world. This will result in an increased participation, involvement and engagement of LGBTQI community members in the sport, with boxing being recognized as one of the most welcoming and inclusive sports in the world.

BP: Please share with our readers how you envision the first championship happening in Sydney.

20 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

MS: I envision the first championship bringing the LGBTQI, boxing and wider communities together and sharing a love for the sport, developing friendships and creating a spirit of camaraderie with lots of fun. People will see others breaking down barriers and removing negative stereotypes of the LGBTQI community by competing and becoming boxing champions.

As the Championships will be held shortly before Sydney hosts World Pride 2023, I look forward to people experiencing the amazing city of Sydney and the wonderful country of Australia. Everyone is welcome!

BP: How can people help you, Martin? And how do they best reach you?

MS: We want to grow and build the LGBTQI boxing community so please help by sharing your stories, offering messages of support and if you are interested in competing, start training.

You can reach us through our website: worldgayboxingchampionships.org and through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ worldgayboxingchampionships/

BP: Many thanks for spending time sharing your wonderful vision of the new WGBC with us, Martin, and we look forward to your first championship in Sydney!

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AFA, LOS DOGOS JOIN FORCES FOR MONUMENTAL FÚTBOL ALLIANCE

BY JERRY DEL PRIORE (HE, HIM, HIS)

Photos courtesy of Los Dogos

22 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

When the Argentine Football Association (AFA) backed Los Dogos, a non-profit Argentina LGBTQ+ friendly fútbol [soccer] club, several people within the game believed it was a monumental step forward for gay sports in the country.

Based in Buenos Aires, AFA is the country’s governing body for all fútbol. It organizes the main divisions of the Argentine league system, including domestic cups, Copa Argentina and Supercopa Argentina. The association also manages all the Argentine national teams, including the Senior, U-20, U-17, U-15, Olympic and Women's squads.

Gus Penaranda, president of the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), an organization founded to promote and foster the growth of LGTBQ+ fútbol worldwide, said the connection between the two could not be understated.

"To have an organization like Los Dogos being sponsored by [AFA], that's huge, said Penaranda. "It's such a big deal because being gay in South America is difficult [enough]. That's why it's so huge."

Penaranda called AFA's support of Los Dogos a sign of the times, showing how things are changing for the better for LGTBQ+ sports. “When an organization that huge supports Los Dogos, that's progress," he said. "That would be unheard of in the 1990s."

In addition to AFA’s prestige and acceptance, Penaranda said that Los Dogos players get to practice at the training facility used by the national team.

Former Los Dogos player Pablo Cargneletti said it gives the team a sense of pride and empowerment to have AFA positively acknowledge them, especially given how fútbol-crazed the country is right now. "We feel seen, we feel recognized that they are sharing our values," Cargneletti said. "In Argentina, soccer is a big deal.

Having the national association support us is huge."

But the connection did not happen on its own, according to Cargneletti.

"Claudio [Blanco] was key for us," the 35-year-old graduate student at the University of Central Florida said of the present Los Dogos member. "He was talking to people, making this happen. He was more on the side of making something huge happen."

Blanco added his thoughts while Cargneletti translated for him: "We are part of the group of national teams. We think that is a huge positive direction for us." He added that team members not only get to wear the association’s logo on their uniforms, they are also provided with training clothes, hydration for each practice and soccer balls. Plus, the AFA helps Los Dogos organize international tournaments and puts the team in contact with its marketing staff to attract sponsors.

Noting that Los Dogos, created in 1997, had a chance several years ago to make things happen on a national level, Blanco said the club was too young and inexperienced at the time and society needed more convincing that gay fútbol could be a legitimate sport.

"It would be a little more difficult to make things happen back then, but we had the opportunity," Blanco said. "But at the time, as a team we were too immature to pursue that."

However, said Cargneletti, that was then and this is now, giving way to a more accepting society, especially when it comes to gay-friendly sports.

"A lot of people are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community," he explained. "I think it was a combination of the environment; our community and society,-and private and public people. Plus, having the right people on our side, and the right people at AFA. It was a matter of being accepted."

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

23

Photos courtesy of Varsity Gay League

TEAM COMPETE MVP POWERED BY TALTY BAR

CHASE

KINSER TALTYBAR.COM

Name: Chase Kinser.

Favorite Athlete: Joe Thornton.

Age: 32.

Favorite Team: 49ers.

Hometown: Los Gatos, California.

Current Sport(s) Played: Kickball, flag football.

Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, talking chisme [gossip] with my friends, watching the latest hit TV show, playing with my dog, playing any type of game, sports, listening to podcasts, wine-tasting and planning my next adventure.

Relationship Status: In a relationship with my boyfriend of three years.

Best Physical Feature: Everyone seems to notice my butt.

Current Residence: West Hollywood, California

24 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

TEAM COMPETE MVP POWRED BY TALTY BAR Why You Love Sports: I love how sports challenge us physically, mentally and strategically. They have a unique ability to build bonds between strangers who just joined the same team or happen root for the same one. I see sports as a healthy, productive way for self-improvement, to build relationships in our community and to have fun.

How You First Got Involved in Sports: I’ve played ever since I was a kid since it was mandatory in my dad’s family; my grandpa and uncle were both football coaches so there was lots of pressure to play.

Other Sports Played Growing up: football, track, soccer and wrestling. In adulthood: flag football, kickball, bowling and soccer. I really want to take up golf so I have something to play +50.

my best friends and my boyfriend through the leagues, so I am very grateful I joined.

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 don’t want to tell myself I should be have been out because I don’t think my team or I were emotionally ready to handle a gay teammate in the mid-2000s. I would tell myself that I am not less a person because of who I am. Those who fear gay people are doing so out of insecurity or to fit it. There are other people out there going through very similar struggles, and eventually you’ll meet them. You will have the resources and opportunity to find friends, love and community.

Focus on school and being the best athlete you can be and it’ll all come together in the end. Be patient.

What’s Your Day Job: I work in supply chain at a medical device company. I’m also producing a fictional podcast.

I would tell the younger generation to do the same except if it is safe for you, be out.

Greatest Personal Achievement: I finally made Los Angeles my home after struggling for 10 years. I have a great group of friends, I love my job(s), my apartment, my boyfriend and my dog, Goose.

What are your future goals? I hope to be able to afford property in the L.A. area and have kids. That simple middle-class goal is rather expensive these days but I’m not giving up. I really want to coach my kid’s soccer team.

Greatest Athletic Achievements: I had the fastest 40-yard dash time junior and senior years of high school.

Please feel free to include any additional pertinent information you think would be of interest to Compete readers.

There should be significant improvement to make LGBTQ+ people feel accepted in all sports environments.

I look forward to the generational change needed in sports where all LGBTQ+ athletes feel safe in a locker room because we are safe; where cis-straight men welcome and don’t fear an intimate friendship with us like they have with their other teammates.

What’s your personal story? I grew up in a locker room and really struggled in middle and high school when I realized I was gay. I was forced to play sports because of the long tradition of males playing football in my family. I also happened to be strong and fast, so there was additional pressure on me to succeed. Even in a liberal, affluent area like Silicon Valley my teammates were very hostile to the mere threat of a gay person on the team. The worse insults were to call someone gay, and any time a teammate did something remotely effeminate, the rest of the team would immediately chastise him. I was surrounded by toxic masculinity.

I spent most of my energy hiding any semblance of gayness, and it damaged my athletic achievements since I didn’t want to stand out. I didn’t push myself or achieve my potential because I feared being found out. When I moved to L.A. I joined L.A. Flag Football and Varsity Gay League where I could just play without hiding. I felt significantly more confident and was able to succeed at higher levels and eventually captain elite teams in national tournaments (while winning a couple). I felt I was finally able to take back what I feel was stolen from me in high school. In a weird, way, playing in gay adult recreational sports leagues gave me peace. Additionally, I met most of

Many of the best gay athletes I’ve met avoided team sports due to its toxic nature. Like me, these individuals never hated the sport but rather the environment manifested inside the locker room. The only solutions I have are to teach kids that being LGBTQ+ is normal and that there is nothing to fear. If one of us gets the wrong signal and hits on you, then just politely say no.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

25

TENNIS LEGEND

BILLIE JEAN

KING

BY NAOMI "BEZ" ZEBRO (HIM, THEY)

credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, 26 Photo COMPETE sePtember - october 2020 AZ, United States of America / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

LEGENDS Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billie_Jean_King_and_Bobby_Riggs_1973.jpg

In 1973 King won the infamous “Battle of the Sexes,” a match staged by well known tennis hustler Bobby Riggs who proclaimed women’s tennis so inferior that even an older player like he could beat any female contenders. When he defeated tennis ace Margaret Court, King stepped up to prove him wrong in a televised worldwide event that was more spectacle than tennis match.

Billie Jean King is known for many things: as a celebrity, a lesbian and an LGBTQ+ advocate. She is perhaps most well known for her tennis prowess and could be considered by many as an absolute legendary figure on that alone, but she is so much more.

From her earliest playing days King was a winner. She entered the Grand Slam in 1959 while only 15 years old.

Although she lost there, she kept on going and by age 17 she became one of the youngest doubles winners. But even as she stacked up victories, getting both minor and major titles to her name, her most infamous challenge was yet to come.

In 1973 King won the infamous “Battle of the Sexes,” a match staged by well-known tennis hustler Bobby Riggs who proclaimed women’s tennis so inferior that even an older player like he could beat any female contenders.

When he defeated tennis ace Margaret Court, King proved him wrong in a worldwide televised event that was more spectacle than tennis match.

What made “Battle of the Sexes” great was that it was more than a simple tennis game – it was based on Riggs’ challenge that proclaimed female sports to be totally inferior. King proved him wrong by winning the match.

She also introduced tennis to an audience of millions while proving that women’s tennis was able to match the men’s game. To quote ESPN’s headline, “Billie Jean won for all women.”

Not only did King win for all women, she was also an activist for gender equality in the tennis profession, fighting for both male and female players to be paid the same amount. As part of this campaign, she and nine other professional players founded the Virginia Slims Circuit, which later became the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.

As a powerhouse tennis player, King certainly smashed through gender expectations and taught people that women athletes are just as powerful as their male counterparts. But she has also smashed through the expectations of her sexuality, coming out as a lesbian in public although this was not a voluntary act at the time.

King was forced to come out due to a 1981 palimony lawsuit filed by her female lover while she was married to her husband, Larry. And although they’ve talked about marriage, King and Ilana Kloss, former tennis player and

current commissioner of World Team Tennis, have now been a couple for 40 years.

In 1987 King was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and in 2006 the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, home of the U.S. Open Grand Slam tennis tournament, was rededicated as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, making her the first woman to have a major sports venue named in her honor.

Her latest professional tennis honor was just announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

For King’s foundational work in equality and social justice, the Fed Cup is changing its name to the Billie Jean King Cup, once again making her the first woman to receive such an honor. This rebranding follows on the heels of bringing prize money in line with the men’s Davis Cup and coincides with King’s pioneering effort of 50 years ago to launch a women’s pro tennis circuit.

However, King’s passion for equality and social justice hasn’t been limited only to tennis nor has all the recognition accorded her been only for her sport. In 1974 she founded the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) to provide better access to sports and physical activity for women and girls. As a strong advocate of Title IX, WSF was also meant to protect the sports provisions of Title IX that had been passed in 1972.

And in 2014 King’s passion for equality led her to found the non-profit Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative that is dedicated to addressing the critical issues required to achieve diverse, inclusive leadership in the workforce.

The organization works with individuals in positions of power to increase diverse opportunities for inclusive leadership.

For her many years of LGBTQ+ advocacy work, in 2000 King received an award from GLAAD and in 2009 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2013 she was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

King’s lifelong leadership in supporting inclusion, diversity, equality and acceptance is what has made it possible for many athletes, perhaps even recently out tennis professional Lendale Johnson, to achieve their dreams.

Billie Jean King continues to advocate for all of us, making her a true legend in her own lifetime.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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belcorva.com

8

AT-HOME STD TESTS

BEST AT-HOME STD TESTS OF 2020 ELIZABETH BOSKEY, PHD, (SHE, HER, HERS)

Sexually transmitted diseases, better known as STDs or STIs, are very common, putting you potentially at risk if you’re sexually active. And that’s true whether you’re young or old, straight or gay, male or female. How common are they? Well, that depends on the STD. Here are a few of the most common conditions tracked by the CDC: • Genital Herpes - More than one out of every six people aged 14 to 49 years have it.

• Chlamydia - Between two and three million new chlamydia infections happen annually. About one in every 20 young women between 14 and 24 have chlamydia. In some particularly high risk populations this number may be as high as one in 10.

• Syphilis - After dropping for many years, the rate of syphilis is again on the rise.

The vast majority of STD infections go unrecognized, sometimes for years or even decades since many people with STDs have no noticeable symptoms. The only way to know whether or not you have an STD is to get tested.

Why Should You Consider an At-Home STD Test?

Since STD testing isn’t usually a part of preventative health care, people generally have to ask for it. Due to potential embarrassment on the part of both you and/or the doctor talking about sex and sexual risk as well as asking for a test or knowing about the latest tests, there’s a growing interest in at-home STD testing kits. Additionally some people are worried about their doctor or health insurer knowing about their sexual history, increasing their reluctance to seek out testing through the usual channels.

Be aware, however that not all at-home STD tests are the same. The most accurate at-home STD tests are the same tests you’d get in a doctor’s office except that you order them online. Then you go to a commercial laboratory and they take a urine sample and/or blood.

There are also at-home testing kits that allow you to collect your own sample of urine or saliva and send it into a company for testing. These tests are likely to be less accurate than lab-based testing. Both options are highlighted below so you can see which route you feel more comfortable taking.

OUR TOP PICKS

COMPANY

STDCheck.com Lab-based testing _

TESTS TIME TO GET COST AVAILABLE RESULTS Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis A, B & C

1-2 days

$24-$349

With STDCheck.com you choose which STD tests you’re interested in and order them online or by phone. That order is then sent to a lab near you, where you provide a urine and/or blood sample.

This company has an option for HIV tests that can detect a new infection, and they also provide in-depth information about each STD they test for. You can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests. A doctor is also available for you to consult with by phone.

2-10 business days

$24-$349

This site offers more STD testing options than many other companies, but it is difficult to navigate. There is also relatively little information about STDs for which they offer testing. However, doctors consultations are available, and they will prescribe prescriptions to treat certain STDs.

"My Lab Box offers kits that allow you to self swab the mouth and rectum, not just test for genital STDs."

Persona Labs

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, HIV-related, Hepatitis A, B & C, "Doctors consultations are herpesvirus, EpsteinBarr virus, human t-cell available, and they will lymphotropic virus prescribe prescriptions to treat certain STDs." Lab-based testing _

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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AT-HOME STD TESTS

OUR TOP PICKS (CONT.)

COMPANY

HealthLabs.com Lab-based testing _

"With flexible payment options, you can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests."

QuestDirect Lab-based testing _ "Using QuestDirect cuts out the middle man. Quest also offers confirmatory testing for several STDs, which reduces the risk of a false positive."

NURX

Self-collected samples _

TESTS TIME TO GET COST AVAILABLE RESULTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis B & C, herpes type 1 and 2

1-3 business days

$129-$444

Like most lab-based testing companies, with HealthLabs.com you choose which STD tests you’re interested in and order them online or by phone. That order is then sent to a lab near you, where you provide a urine and/or blood sample.

This company has an option for HIV tests that can detect a new infection, and they also provide good information about appropriate testing windows for all of their options. You can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests.

They have specialists who will help you understand your results, and physicians are available for a consultation if your results mandate it.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes simplex 1 and 2, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis B&C

Typically within 7 business days

$24-$349

Many other at-home STD tests will send you to Quest for testing. Using QuestDirect cuts out the middle man.

Quest also offers confirmatory testing for several STDs, which reduces the risk of a false positive. However, the STD testing information on their site is less comprehensive than many. In addition, this company does not connect you to a healthcare provider.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis C

Within 7 business days

$150-$220; accepts insurance

Although self-collected samples aren’t necessarily as good as samples taken in the lab, NURX tests do one very smart thing. Instead of just collecting urine and/or blood, they also have you collect a vaginal swab, throat swab, and/ or rectal swab. This makes it possible to test for oral and anal STDs that might otherwise be missed. Because of this, NURX tests might be a better option than some lab-based tests for individuals who have unprotected oral and/or anal sex. In addition, they provide unlimited access to a medical team.

2-5 days

$79-$369, $499 for a couple’s kit, coupons available

Like NURX, My Lab Box offers kits that allow you to self swab the mouth and rectum, not just test for genital STDs. They also have several additional test options, such as a kit that provides tests for both parts of a couple, and tests to diagnose different causes of vaginal discharge. It has some information about each STD, but no good information about testing windows.

Physician consults are available if you test positive, and it may be possible to get a prescription for treatment.

Otherwise, a certified STD counselor is available, but not a physician.

"Instead of just collecting urine and/or blood, they also have you collect a vaginal swab, throat swab, and/or rectal swab."

MyLAB Box Self-collected samples _

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HPV, herpes, HIV, mycoplasma. PreP and "My Lab Box offers kits vaginal discharge options that allow you to self swab available. the mouth and rectum, not just test for genital STDs."

30 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

AT-HOME STD TESTS

OUR TOP PICKS (CONT.)

COMPANY

Everlywell Self-collected samples _

TESTS TIME TO GET COST AVAILABLE RESULTS Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, herpes, Hepatitis C, HIV

Website says "within days"

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, herpes, ureaplasma, gardnerella, mycoplasma

2-5 days

"The Everlywell test kit uses different methodologies for testing men and women. Men are tested with urine and blood, women with vaginal swabs and blood."

LetsGetChecked Self-collected sample _ "A nurse will call you if you test positive to help you figure out what to do next. Nurses are also available to answer questions during the process."

$49-$199, coupons available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Everlywell test kit uses different methodologies for testing men and women. Men are tested with urine and blood, women with vaginal swabs and blood. The site offers consults for positive results through their independent physician network and there may be options for treatment. You can pay for your tests using an FSA/ HSA card.

$99-$269, At-home tests like this, where you collect your own sample, are not as Let's Get Checked is accurate as tests performed in an on-site lab. In order to use these tests you will offering a 25% off be asked to collect urine in a sample coupon at tube and/or prick your finger for blood. least the next LetsGetChecked laboratories are CLIA two years. approved and CAP-accredited and use capillary testing; it's a simple and Get 25% off with painless method of blood testing that is "VeryWell25." as accurate as a venous blood draw.

Some collection kits for this company can also be purchased at CVS. A nurse will call you if you test positive to help you figure out what to do next. They are also available to answer questions throughout the testing process. Should you test positive with chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma, gardnerella, or mycoplasma a nurse will send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choosing. Your data is never shared with a third party and it is completely anonymized. Doctor consultations are not available.

This information has been prepared by Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, a sexual health educator for over 20 years, and fact checked by James Lacy as part of verywellhealth.com, a proud partner of The Cleveland Clinic.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

31

CONNECT WITH COMPETE: • Read The Latest LGBTQ+ Sports News • Find LGBTQ+ Sports on our LGBTQ+ Sports Calendar • Discover Current & Past Issues • Subscribe to Compete

Photo courtesy of Gay Games Hong Kong 2022

COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBER SPORTLIGHT

THE GAY GAMES HONG KONG 2022 UPDATE

BY DIRK SMITH (HE, HIM, HIS)

The Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 committee hosted an informational webinar on August 27. The webinar was opened by the committee’s director of outreach, Betty Grisoni. The Games are scheduled to take place in November 2022. The webinar, the first in a series of ongoing monthly updates, was designed to address concerns around the Covid-19 impact on sporting events globally as well as the recent social unrest in Hong Kong.

With the Games over two years out, the organizers announced the formation of a contingency planning committee to address the risks ahead of the event.

According to the organizers, the government of Hong Kong strongly supports the event and is dedicated to providing a safe and accommodating venue for the thousands of Gay Games athletes and supporters. In addition, the organizers said that they have assembled a team of over 100 volunteers that are already working enthusiastically to provide a seamless event which includes a Festival Village open to everyone.

I was excited when Dennis Philipse took the lead for Hong Kong in the bidding process against eight other world cities wanting to play host to this quadrennial tournament in 2022. This made Hong Kong the first Asian city to ever have bid to play host to the Gay Games and is a true milestone for the Asian LGBTQ+ community! Part of the bid included 36 events that included Dragon Boating, Trail Running and Tower Run ICC. The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) narrowed eight cities down to three finalists: Hong Kong, Washington,

34 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

D.C. and Guadalajara, Mexico. Ultimately, it was Hong Kong that won the honor to host Gay Games 11 over Washington, D.C. and Guadalajara. The Hong Kong committee was awarded the 2022 games by the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) at the conclusion of the successful Paris 2018 Gay Games.

Paris was the most successfully attended Gay Games event in the Games’ nearly 40-year history. I loved participating in the Paris Games and I also loved the “Out in HK” team with their Out in HK T-shirts, flags, stickers and buttons for Hong Kong 2022! The group of athletes from all over Asia was the largest contingent of Asian athletes in the history of the Gay Games and they made the most of their large representation to raise excitement for their hosting debut. The closing ceremony also included a Chinese cultural routine to celebrate the passing of the flag and give all of us a hint as to what we could expect in 2022.

So come 2022 there are thousands of participants from more than 100 countries around the world expected to attend the Gay Games Hong Kong. The Gay Games is truly an international event with substantial resources allocated to marketing the event to the international community, and that includes producing marketing material in eight different languages.

To find out more about the Federation of Gay Games, visit gaygames.org. And for details about Gay Games Hong Kong 2022, visit GGHK2022.com.

FITNESS

WAYS RUNNING CAN RELIEVE TODAY’S ANXIETY

BY BPT

Feeling stressed these days? Here are six ways running can address today's anxiety.

If you've ever experienced that almost Zen sense of calm just after a workout, then you understand the positive effects exercise can have on your mental health.

By now, most people know about the physical health benefits achievable through running and other fitness activities.

But in these mentally and emotionally taxing times, it's more important than ever to understand how exercise can help control the stress and anxiety we feel in response.

"It may seem counterintuitive that exercise, a form of physical stress, can help the body manage general stress levels," notes the American Psychological Association. "But the right kind of stress can actually make the body more resilient.

Many experts believe routine exercise is as powerful in treating anxiety and mood disorders as antidepressants."

Anshan Moore Eckard, licensed psychologist and coach for women's running program, Moms on the Run (MOTR) stresses the importance of channeling our stress into healthy avenues when life starts to seem overwhelming. "It is really important to focus on the things we can control," she says.

"Right now, that is what we do in our own lives and in our own homes, continuing to do the things we know work (exercise, healthy eating habits, good quality and adequate sleep, staying connected with friends and loved ones), and letting go of the things that don't. I encourage people to focus on what opportunities may lie during this time."

Because running is easy to do, requires no specialized equipment and can be done inside or out, it can be one of the most efficient and effective methods of protecting ourselves from stress and anxiety. Here are key facts to know about running and stress relief.

1

RUNNING RELEASES ENDORPHINS. The feel-good neurotransmitters interact with your brain to reduce perceived pain and trigger positive feelings that can mimic the effects of morphine.

2

GROUP RUNNING CAN PROMOTE SOCIAL WELLNESS. Positive interactions with others can help us feel better about ourselves and ward off depression. That's one advantage of supportive group running programs like Moms on the Run, which bring together like-minded women who want to initiate or improve running skills while having fun at the same time.

MOTR members often use their workout time to catch up on each other's lives, vent about their daily challenges and support each other's fitness journeys.

Others prefer to run safely and quietly with their groups while listening to music or inspirational podcasts, concentrating on moving, breathing and sweating as a way of releasing the day's concerns.

3

RUNNING NEED NOT BE TIME-CONSUMING. Most people can obtain significant relief from anxiety by running five times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each time. Frequent runs are more important to your mental health than long runs although both can be beneficial.

4

RUNNING TEACHES OUR BODIES TO HANDLE STRESS. Because strenuous activity mimics the bodily responses produced by anxiety, it shows our bodies how to manage anxiety without getting overwhelmed, according to the APA report.

5

RUNNING CAN IMPROVE OUR SLEEP. Studies suggest running and other regular exercise can help produce healthier, more restful sleep and reduce insomnia, leaving you more able to cope with life demands in the daytime.

6

RUNNING PROVIDES A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. The discipline and routine of running can act as a form of self-care by raising our confidence and giving us a sense of control in an uncertain world. "Prioritizing self-care practices like exercise can result in a cascade effect of other healthy habits, like eating nutritiously, socializing with others and getting a good night's sleep," reports the APA. "All that can improve depression symptoms."

Ask the fitness specialists at Moms on the Run how a structured running program can help reduce your stress and anxiety. The nationally franchised program for women of all ages and abilities – not just moms – offers year-round training formats, including virtual services during COVID-19. www.momsontherun.com

36 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

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WHO WILL BE THE

COMPETE MARK BINGHAM ATHLETE OF THE YEAR?

BY CONNIE WARDMAN (SHE, HER, HERS)

Every year Compete Sports Diversity hosts it’s Annual Petey Awards. The event honors deserving athletes and organizations for their efforts in sports diversity. In 2020 Las Vegas played host to the 10th annual event where Nikol Pinon-Salvador was honored as our Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year. The Award was named in honor of 9/11 hero and rugby pioneer Mark Kendall Bingham.

Who is Nikol Piñon-Salvador?

While the admonition to never give up and to ditch excuses sounds like it could come from any true ASANA competitor, these are the words Nikol Piñon-Salvador, a 42-year-old resident of the Bay Area lives by on a daily basis. She plays for the Switch Hitters of the Alameda Women’s Softball League. Oh, and by the way, she’s an amputee who plays softball with just one arm.

At age 18 Nikol was in a head-on collision and the seatbelt severed her left arm at the shoulder; it also took the lives of her cousin and a friend as well as the driver of the other car. She’s says her recovery wasn’t an easy process but blessed with a “strong rooted family of faith,”

38 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

she quickly learned to adjust by trying and never giving up.

When asked about what would clearly be considered a deficit by most players, Nikol quickly responds that “the only deficit I feel I have is my mental game.” Talking about her team, she says that “they’re so supportive; we have fun, we stay competitive and we vibe well.” Sports are an outlet for her from the hustle and bustle of work and home life and she loves the team camaraderie.

Involved in sports from a young age in swimming, she’s also run track and played basketball. Nikol admits that at one point in her life she was overly competitive and very aggressive – not much of a team player. But in her early twenties she was playing football with the guys and one of them asked her to play softball. True to form, she accepted the challenge and not long after, league became once a week to five times a week to tournaments.

It didn’t take her long, she says, to realize what she had been missing out on not playing team sports.

Happily married to her wife, Arielle who also plays on the Switch Hitters team, Nikol shares that in the Bay Area at least, the LGBTQ+ community and softball have gone hand-in-hand so her experiences as a lesbian player have

WINNERS always been great. She then adds that sports and sexual orientation is something she’s never focused on, saying, “we’re all athletes and that’s the only label on our backs when we’re playing. I wished everybody saw it that way.”

Nikol’s not shy about her injury; she wears tank tops and despite stares and whispers, she includes herself in all activities. In addition to softball, she likes cooking, working out, anything outdoors and anything dogs!

“You only live once; don’t waste it wondering about what could’ve been; just get out there and do it. Be the best version of yourself.” Her philosophy is to always try something once, even if you’re not good at it, saying that the experience is a blessing in and of itself.

In 2021 we'll be honoring our next Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year. Will it be you? Will it be someone who you know? Nominate yourself or a deserving amateur athlete online at CompeteSportsDiversity.com See you at the 2021 Petey Awards!

WHO WILL BE OUR 2021 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR? SELECTION COMMITTEE

SELECTION CRITERIA > Commitment to personal achievement > Active participation in an individual or team sport

Ryan O'Callaghan Former NFL Athlete

Lendale Johnson Professional Tennis Player

> Commitment to supporting/encouraging others in sports. > Commitment to the LGBTQ+ sporting community and/or the LGBTQ+ community.

Nikol Piñon-Salvador 2020 Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year

Eric Carlyle Compete Sports Diversity CEO

To nominate yourself or a deserving amateur athlete online go to CompeteSportsDiversity.com

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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GYM BAG

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you s m e t i t o H t! u o h t i w o shouldnt d GEOLOGIE

Geologie makes skincare easy, especially for those without a chemistry degree.

Try our 30-second diagnostic and

BY DIRK SMITH

we'll match your unique skin with the right formula of ingredients — you'll quickly start seeing smoother skin and cleaner pores. Our award-winning regimen includes a set of 4 products personalized for you. A Vital Morning Face

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COLEMAN ROADTRIP 285 PORTABLE STAND-UP PROPANE GRILL This Coleman RoadTrip 285 propane grill offers up to 20,000 BTUs of grilling power and 285 sq. in. of cooking area & 3 independently adjustable burners for enhanced temperature control. Assembled Dimensions: 45.6” D x 19.5” W x 35” H | Weight: 52.58 lb with 2 durable side tables for resting utensils & sauces, and an integrated thermometer for accurate temperature monitoring. InstaStart ignition for push-button, matchless lighting; a water pan catches cooking grease & is removable for easy cleaning. $249.95 Amazon.com MACA: YOUR MORNING MOTIVATOR Get motivated for your day the very best way by adding Maca to your morning cup of coffee, fruit juice, smoothie or water 10-15 minutes before you eat breakfast. Maca is a nutritional powerhouse that’s dense in amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It’s also an adaptogen, meaning that it supports overall health and strength. Research has revealed that maca works to boost the body’s overall physical functioning as well as being a mood lifter.

The maca powder from The Maca Team comes from the ground root of the maca plant grown in Peru’s Andes mountains and is always organic, fair trade, non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free. It comes in three different varieties. themacateam.com

40 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

FOCUSED ON WHAT MAT TERS EMBRACING HUMANITY. PROTECTING THE PLANET. At MGM Resorts International, we feel it is important to respect each other’s differences. We choose to embrace these differences to achieve best-in-class experiences and cultivate stronger ties with our guests, employees, neighbors and partners. We are committed to stand up to issues of equality and aim to better unify our world.

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FIT & FAB

7

REASONS YOU’RE NOT PROGRESSING WITH YOUR WORKOUT

BY MATT BOYLES, (HE, HIM, HIS)

1. YOU DON’T HAVE A PLAN Not having a plan is the number one cause of getting to the gym, faffing about a bit, getting on a treadmill and going home after 20 minutes. It doesn’t need to be complicated, it doesn’t need to be ground-breaking, there just needs to be a plan; it just needs to be something you can follow and stick to.

2. YOU HAVE A PLAN BUT YOU’RE NOT STICKING TO IT “To know and not do, is not to know” – Who said that?

Possibly Buddha, possibly Confucius, possibly Michelle Obama; I don’t know. What I do know is that action beats inaction.

3. YOU HAVE A PLAN BUT YOU’RE NOT TRACKING WHAT YOU’RE DOING OK, you’ve got a plan and you’re getting your workouts done but things don’t seem to be happening. Are you keeping track of what you’re doing? When we work out, extra blood and oxygen flood our muscles, leaving other organs like the brain depleted. If you’ve ever felt a bit slow or forgetful during a workout, that’s GymBrain©.

Even with the best will in the world you’re not going to be able to remember every rep, weight or exercise you did.

So scribble it down or save it in your phone. That way you’ll be able to start increasing what you do each week and the desired progress will start to happen.

4. YOU HAVE A PLAN BUT IT’S NOT RIGHT FOR YOU OK, you’ve got a plan and you’re keeping track of your numbers but … Hold on, what is 70% of my 1RM and what the hell is an offset RDL?! Stick to the classic moves, especially if you’re starting out. You’ll find the plan easier to stick to and you’ll develop size and

strength. These moves are also reassuring as you will have seen/done them before so you’ll know what to do.

That equals one less thing to worry about.

5. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLAN BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING FOR IT ENOUGH So you’ve ticked the above and are keeping track of an appropriate plan – great. But still it seems like things aren’t happening like they should. You might not be going for it enough, and this is where a PT or a gym buddy comes in handy. By ourselves we don’t have a sounding board to sense-check what we’re doing. But another person working out alongside can help to push you (safely), more than you might be able to yourself.

6. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLAN, YOU’RE GOING FOR IT WHEN YOU’RE WORKING OUT BUT YOU HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY This comes down to the carrot versus the stick. Yes, you have the carrot of building a stronger body and mind.

But if no one else cares or has sight of what you’re doing, there’s no stick to be pushing you forward. Accountability means you have to explain why you didn’t turn up for your 7 a.m. gym session with your friend. Accountability is why PTs’ programmes work so well.

7. ALSO, YOU DON’T HAVE A GOAL OR ‘KNOW YOUR WHY’ A good PT will help you find goal and your why, even if you don’t know them yourself at first. This isn’t the most crucial of the reasons, but if you’re in a funk or stagnating then taking a step back and looking at what why you’re exercising in the first place (i.e., do you want to be able to play with your nieces and nephews without getting out of breath) can really help you to focus.

MATT BOYLES is a regular columnist for Compete and an online Personal Trainer who specializes in working with Gay, Bi and Trans males. In addition to the more regular fitness and nutrition components he has layered in elements to support mental health, boost confidence and provide bucketloads of empathy. Find out more about Matt's sensible and holistic approach to health and fitness: www.fitterconfidentyou.net/onlinetraining.

42 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

BEDROOM SPORTS

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME …

BY RYAN O'CONNOR (HE, HIM, HIS), GUEST COLUMNIST

This time last year I was celebrating everything gay sports – the Gay Softball World Series, the ASANA World Series, NGFFL’s Gay Bowl, the World Gay Rodeo Finals and so many more wonderful games and tournaments. This year? Well, let’s just say I am spending a lot of time writing from home and eating lots of Häagen-Dazs.

To say that I’m really starting to miss in-person sports should be pretty obvious by now. The reason I play softball is just as much about socializing with my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters as it is about staying healthy. In fact, I’m absolutely sure that the social aspect is a big part of my ongoing positive mental health routine.

Greeting my teammates before each practice, hitting my favorite bar after a big victory (or dismal loss) or volunteering at the team’s car wash fundraiser – I look forward to all of this. Damn, these people are like family to me.

Our time together is important “stuff.”

My team does a good job of trying to keep us all together during this uncertain time. We stay in touch on social media by creating and posting fun videos of our daily lives; we even get together by teleconference. And while I am so glad we’re able to connect this way thanks to technology, these Zoom calls just remind me of the opening to the old "The Brady Bunch" TV show where everyone was stacked up on the screen at the same time.

But this isn’t just about sports. I miss the gym. For the last five years I’ve spent three-to-four days a week going to the same gym, participating in the same fitness classes and seeing the same people. While I might not know the names of everyone there, I kn0w their faces and I've always found some comfort in that.

With no sports and no gym, now there comes no dating life. Even if I met someone absolutely fabulous, I’m not sure were we could go: no movies, no miniature golf, no theater, no bars. I guess we could get to know each from six feet apart. Wow – now that’s something to get worked up about; NOT! Time to stop complaining. It’s time to start looking forward to next year when all of this is behind us. I will get to go to softball practice, I’ll dance at the bars, wash cars with my teammates and I’ll get to Zumba class at the gym.

And maybe what I’m looking forward to the most is the day I can trade my chocolate Häagen-Dazs for a hot dog and a cold beer!

RYAN O’CONNOR 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@competesportsdiversity.com

44 COMPETE sePtember - october 2020

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