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Trans Can Sport wins award from The Federation of Gay Games
Literary Salon returns on February 18
RORY FINN
MARQUITA SMITH
The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) held its annual Volunteers of the Year Awards last month, which were co-hosted by Out to Sport, which acts as an umbrella for all LGBTQ+ sports groups across London and the South East
) Marquita Smith and Rory Finn, organisers of Trans Can Sport, a not-for-profit based in Brighton & Hove that aims to get trans people into exercise and healthy living, received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Trans Sport Participation. Trans Can Sport group has been providing free and low-cost activities to trans and non-binary people in Brighton & Hove since 2016.
The FGG awards, which this year took place online, recognise those who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ communities and helps FGG further its mission of promoting equality and inclusion through sport and culture. “We love to recognise those who help our communities. It’s important to let them know their work is valued by so many others than the ones they are working directly with,’ says Shiv Paul, officer of communications for FGG. The FGG also awarded: Volunteer of the Year Shamey Cramer; Volunteer of the Year - Sarah Townsend; LGBTQ+ Sports Media 2020 Award - Jon Holmes.
The Ivan Bussens Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement went to Stephen Adshead from Out to Swim, which has branches in London and Brighton. The judges were blown away by Stephen’s tireless work fighting for men to be able to compete in synchronised swimming – a sport that until recently excluded men from competition completely. Goal Diggers FC was acknowledged for its excellence as Club of the Year. The club impressed judges with its efforts over the past year to provide opportunities for women and non-binary people to play football. Charlton Invicta FC received the award for the Most Innovative Lockdown Initiative. Their involvement in the Football v Transphobia campaign brought the team together virtually to raise awareness about transphobia in sport. The Club Spirit Award was given to Steph Ramsey from Out to Swim, and Ella Slade from London Royals Hockey Club. This year two awards were given to celebrate spirit across different genders and to be recognised as role models for their positive attitude towards participation in sport. The FGG organises the Gay Games, which are an international sporting and cultural event held every four years. The next instalment takes place in Hong Kong in November 2022. D For more info on the Gay Games, visit: www.gaygames.org D For more info on Out for Sport, visit: www.outforsport.com/ D For more info on Trans Can Sport, visit: www.transcansport.co.uk D For more info on Out to Swim, visit: www.outtoswim.org
) Russell T Davies, creator of It’s A Sin, and Ruth Coker Burks, author of All The Young Men, are the guests at the first Literary Salon of 2021. Join Damian Barr’s Literary Salon online on Thursdfay, February 18 for an evening of stories of fear and hope, loss and survival, becoming and belonging. Russell and Ruth will look back on when HIV/AIDS devastated the LGBTQ+ community, uncover untold stories and reflect on their relevance now. Ruth is the author of All The Young Men, her memoir of how, as a young single mother in Arkansas, she found herself at the forefront of the AIDS crisis, risking everything to restore humanity to those the virus and prejudice sought to destroy. Russell revolutionised TV with Queer As Folk, revived Doctor Who, and is now back with It’s A Sin (Channel 4). It’s another landmark series, which shows HIV/AIDS impacting a whole generation of gay and bisexual men and how they respond and resist. This event ties in with LGBTQ+ History Month, all welcome. Tickets £5 with 10% of ticket revenue donated to support the work of HIV/sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust - www.tht.org.uk. D www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/salon-live-onlinerussell-t-davies-ruth-coker-burks-with-damianbarr-tickets-136162871815
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