Cyd and Jim, as members of our distinguished Athletics Advisory Board, thanks for supporting our efforts. See fellow members at www.gayconference.org/Team.htm

Our conference will be held on March 28-30, 2003 on the campuses of MIT, Harvard University, and Boston City Hall, and is a full weekend of speakers and panel discussions, entertainment, and sports exhibitions. We expect 500 athletes, coaches, fans, academics, and supporters from around the world. As of early Dec we already have pre-registrations from 22 US states and 4 foreign countries.

www.gayconference.org



Dates: Mar 28-30, 2003
Place: Boston City Hall, MIT, and Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

* Friday (optional): sport leadership congress working meetings for sports leadership
* Friday: Registration and pickup sporting events (e.g. volleyball, basketball, swimming, etc.), light fare and opening remarks, social “meet and greet”
* Saturday: Keynote speakers, panel discussions, lunch, all day exposition with orthopedic sport and health clinics, dinner, evening sports technology/fashion show and entertainment
* Sunday: Brunch, sports exhibitions and obstacle course

Under consideration: We may have certain parts of a documentary filmed at the conference. Additional types of health/sports clinics too.

Cost: Fees are yet to be set, but early registration fees are looking like $100-$150 and will include all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), drinks, health clinics, training, events, entertainment, likely a workout pass, and discounts for students. Early registration deadline is Jan 25, 2003. www.gayconference.org/Register.php?Link=outsportsboard

Travel: Rooms at the Hilton affiliate, Hotel @ MIT is $109/night for single or double occupancy. Airfare discounts of 7%-17% have been negotiated for the event. Our bulletin board will also offer shared and hosted housing opportunities.

Survey: Whether you plan on coming or not, please consider answering our anonymous survey which we hope will increase the visibility of gay sporting events: www.gayconference.org/Survey.php?Link=outsportsboard

See the Outsports.com press coverage: http://www.outsports.com/local/news/0625co...encerelease.htm
Other press: http://www.gayconference.org/press.htm

Our partners: Outsports.com, National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), Federation of Gay Games (FGG), Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network (GLSEN), Women's Sports Foundation, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS), AIDS Action Committee (AAC), Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), City of Boston Mayor Menino, Great Boston Business Council (GBBC), Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and others.

Our growing list of conference Advisory Board members includes former and current Athletic Directors at NCAA member institutions (Mike Muska, Laurie Priest), Olympians (Robert Dover, Mark Tewksbury), Ironmen (Chris Bergland), Eco-Challengers (Ilana Lobet), collegiate and high school athletes/coaches (Dan Woog, Gumby Anderson), athletes turned authors (Pat Griffin, Patricia Nell Warren), and many others that are well-known within the community can be found at: www.gayconference.org/Team.htm

Best regards,

- Mac Chinsomboon
Executive Director
omac@alum.mit.edu

hello to everyone, i am the director of community outreach for the gay and lesbian sports conference and i am reaching out to each and every one of you athletes and sports fans-we have steering committees in several cities, including new york, san francisco, chicago, salt lake city, houston, philidelphia, denver, san diego-please consider joining one of them or starting a new one in your city. for details contact me at jeffrey001@hotmail.com or visit the website at www.gayconference.org/volunteer.htm.

looking forward to seeing everyone in boston in march.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Edited to correct link format - Outsports moderator]

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: m1 ]

In a duplicate thread, Monica VanBuskirk posted:


Hello All,

My name is Monica, and like some of the other recent posts, I am a member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletic Foundation. I am very excited about my recent move to Boston and about becoming part of the gay sports community here. I look forward to meeting you at the upcoming conference in March (www.gayconference.org), or on a nearby rugby pitch as I hope to be joining a team this spring!

Cheers,
Monica

I think the conference is a GREAT idea! Some of my teammates and I are looking forward to attending the conference in March. It really looks like it will be a good way to network with other athletes and have some fun in Beantown! Did someone mention rugby??

See ya'll there!

Randy Jones
Captain, Houston Roughnecks Rugby
www.roughnecksrugby.org

Made my flight reservations yesterday and am looking forward to the event, at which I'll be volunteering. BTW, is Sporter's still around? What's Boston nightlife like these days???

Sporters (where I picked up my first guy, ever, at age 24) closed several years ago, as did Napoleon. Bay Windows publishes a bar guide. If you plan to go out, Mike, I'd peg you for Club Café, the upmarket power lounge. Wear your galoshes... it'll be mud season.

Hi I been helping Mac out and the Boston GLAF committee the last few weeks and its been rewarding , fun, and have meet so many people. I new to Boston and it's really been rewaqrding making new friends. I am headed full swing and forming " Boston Cheers" the Gay and Lesbian Cheerleaders of Boston. I encourage everyone to get out and join one of the teams here Boston or in your City. It will enrich your life health wise, mentally, build new relationships with people that enjoy simuliar interest, and support the gay communittee by becoming a positive roll model for the future.Boston Cheers

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: Bejae ]

Hey folks -

As the Content Director for the National Gay and Lesbian Athletics Conference, I can assure everyone that the conference is coming together beautifully. We just added two new panels to our lineup to try to give some of the incredibly talented athletes on our advisory board more opportunities to share their experiences in the world of professional and Olympic sports. Currently, our list of panels includes:

• The portrayal of the gay athlete in the media, sponsored by Outsports.com and The Gay and Lesbian Aliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• Academic research regarding LGBT's in Sport, sponsored by The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS)
• Collegiate Athletics, sponsored by The NCAA and Sexual Minorities in Athletics (SMIA)
• Legal Protection and Action, sponsored by The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
• Title IX
• The Project to Eliminate Homophobia in Sport, sponsored by the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF)
• HIV/AIDS and Athletics, sponsored by The AIDS Action Committee (AAC)
• High School Athletics, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
• A Professional Athletics Panel
• An Olympians Panel
• And more!

In addition, we've arranged a number of other events, including a Leadership Congress, some incredible keynote speakers, athletics clinics, and a sports expo!

For the latest news and updates, be sure to check our website frequently at http://www.gayconference.org.

And if anyone has any suggestions for content, please don't hesitate to contact me at content@gayconference.org

  - Rob Jagnow
    Content Director
    National Gay & Lesbian Athletics Conference

[ January 14, 2003: Message edited by: Rob J. ]

[ January 14, 2003: Message edited by: Rob J. ]

PRE-REGISTRATION deadline is January 25, 2003. Those that do qualify for the reduced rate of $150 (or $75 for collegiate/high school students), which will likely go up 20% after this date.

We're confirming speakers everyday. Over 20+ speakers overall. Currently, they include Esera Tuaolo, Dave Pallone, Pat Griffin, Mark Tewksbury, and more ... see www.gayconference.org/index.php?Link=outsportsboard

Also, don't forget to answer our survey:
www.gayconference.org/Survey.php?Link=outsportsboard

Best regards,

- Mac

hello fellow athletes, looking forward to the conference coming up and i want to let everyone know that the new bulletin board is up and running on the GLAF website-go to http://www.gayconference.org and then select "bulletin board". it is available for all of your comments and suggestions regarding the conference-it includes such topics as the sport leadership congress, hosted/shared housing/hotel, shared travel and panel content. this conference is created by people like you, and we welcome your input.

We just confirmed Ashly Massey, the eighth-grader that is being represented by the ACLU, her mother, and her lawyers at NCLR ... for the Legal Panel, http://www.gayconference.org/legal.htm

Here's that story: http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/Lesbi...?ID=11488&c=106

Other speakers include:
* Dave Pallone, former Major League Baseball umpire and author of Behind the Mask
* Billy Bean, former Major League Baseball player that played for the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres
* Pat Griffin, author of Strong Women / Deep Closets
* Luke Cyphers, ESPN: The Magazine Editor-at-large
* Dan Woog, author of Jocks and Jocks 2
* Mark Tewksbury, Olympian gold medalist
* Robert Dover, Olympian bronze medalist
* Ryan Miller, professional snowboarder and Olympic hopeful
* Alyssa Wykes, fullback with the Philadelphia Liberty Belles professional women's football team
* Brendan Lemon, OUT Magazine Editor-in-chief
* Rosie Stallmann, NCAA representative
* Jim Buzinski, Co-founder of Outsports.com, Los Angeles Times sports writer
* Nora Beck, SMIA
* Laurie Priest, Mount Holyoke Athletics Director
.... and many, many more ... over 30+ speakers

Okay, I'm sort of thinking of going to this, but I'm not sure. I get the feeling that it won't match the amazing weekend at the Outsports Convention. If anyone wants to talk me into, or out of, going, feel free.

It almost seems like they're trying to sell it too much. There is no way it will compare to Outsports convention, but I'm going mainly because Jim and Cyd will be there.

I don't think the conference in Boston will be anything like the event you guys had in California. By appearance, it seems more seminar oriented and less socially oriented. I could be wrong though.

Much of it is being held at MIT, which is ridiculously convenient for me, and yet I'm still hedging on whether to go or not.

Plus, I won't actually know most of these people. I'm not even close to a freqent poster on this board and that reflects my generally shy nature. Gatherings with strangers make me nervous.

But I am interested in seeing some of the speakers. At least they have a student rate!

Tell me if any of you guys are planning to go. We can grab a coffee or something.

I'm signed up for and looking forward to the NGLAC Conference in Boston - and to seeing my fellow OSers there as well! I'm arriving Thursday night and leaving Monday evening and want to know if anyone is interested in joining me on Friday for a day trip to Hartford, CT to see an interesting exhibition of the works of gay American artist Marsden Hartley at the Wadsworth Atheneum there. Tickets are $15.00 for the exhibit and they must be purchased in advance for the hourly admissions set up to regulate the crowds that have been attending this well-received show. I plan on renting a car and leaving Boston mid-morning, seeing the exhibit, lunching and then returning to Boston in plenty of time for nightlife. Let me know if you're interesting in joining me and sharing the basic expenses of getting there and back (gas, rental, tolls). I'd like to confirm plans for this within the next week, since tickets for the event are selling at a very brisk pace. Read the review of the show at the site, above, or the one that appeared in the WSJ on 2-14-03 at p. W14.

I've registered for the conference, planning on arriving late Friday afternoon, leaving late Monday afternoon. Wouldn't miss the opportunity to be the rooting section for Cyd and Jim at their panel (any softball questions you guys want me to ask you?)

Outsports types should make a plan to meet at the hotel at some point for an informal get together. Friday night? Saturday night? Sunday AM or afternoon? What works best for everyone's schedule?

The Gay & Lesbian Professional Athletes Association is attending and we are looking forward to meeting at the participants...see you all there.

We want to invite you to stop by our news group!

GLPAA

GLPAA – The Gay & Lesbian Professional Athletes Association is a not-for-profit association dedicated to change in professional sport. Our goal is to create an atmosphere where professional athletes can compete without concerns about sexual orientation.

Exactly right, Orsino. The two gatherings are different in content as well as scale, and are by no means in competition with one another.


I do urge you to register, at least for Saturday's program. A one-day pass is just $100; for full-time students, $50. The whole weekend program is going to be exceptional, but Saturday is the core, including keynote addresses, the presentations and panel discussions, the Sports and Wellness Clinics, and that evening's dinner event.

And of course there'll be a bunch of Outsportsters there! We'll arrange a time and place to get together as a group.

Okay, I can probably swing fifty bucks. I have to eat anyway right? I just have to see what my other half will do that day if I go.

BTW, scottie, I got your email week after you sent it (sorry). I wrote back, but I'm not sure if you got it.

Hey there Guys

Chuck who writes From the Wings here.

I'll be at the Conference too

Email me at chuxter@hockey.net and we can all try to hook up while out there, I'll have my outsports jacket on for sure!

SEe ya boys!

I've signed up for Saturday's events at the Conference.

For those arriving early and wanting to hang out on Friday or something, I should be able to skip out on work (the most important perk of being a graduate student). A couple of guys have expressed interest, but no one is really putting something definite out there. So here is my modest proposal in no particular order:

1) Friday afternoon sightseeing of Boston. I can be your tour guide. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can see historic Boston. We can do all the touristy things like walking the freedom trail (which is really called the freedom trail and has not been renamed for recent nationalistic purposes). This includes the USS Constitution, which is a must for first time visitors of Boston. I'm thinking we could set out around 4PM and I can drop off the guys going to City Hall at 6 (I'm not going to the shindig at Boston City Hall on Friday night).
2) Coffee. I'm a big coffee drinker (although I've switched to decaf). We can go to Toscanini's, a local coffeehouse/ice cream joint. There's one a few blocks from the Hotel@MIT.
3) The Bar/Club thing. This is not something I do often, but I'll be happy to try and give pertinent information.

4) Any other suggestions. Hey, it's your vacation, what do you want to do?

I would vote for #1 or #2. My train arrives at South Station at 2:45 PM Friday, so unless there is a delay, I should be ready by 4 PM. Thanks for doing this Orsino4.

For those who are still trying to figure out whether or not to go, I just wanted to give my perspective on what to expect.

Personally, I'm involved in putting the panels together, and I'm thrilled with the incredible athletes, authors, and notables that we've managed to pull together. Some of the panels will likely have a very professional flavor - like the Out & Equal panel on corporate sponsorship or the CLAGS panel on academic research. At some of the other panels, I expect a much more personal flavor - I think that the pro sports and Olympians panels will offer an inciteful peek into the lives of very accomplished athletes. With 14 panels total, I'm certain there will be something for everyone.

But this conference isn't just about the content. It's about the people. And I really want to encourage people to use this conference as an opportunity to meet other athletes. Before I came out of the closet, I thought that I was totally alone. The overwhelmingly positive response we have had to this conference has convinced me that there are other LGBT athletes out there who are dying to connect with others like them.

If you're the leader type, or are just concerned with the status of the gay athlete in the status quo, then I encourage you to attend the Sports Leadership Congress on Friday. It will be an excellent opportunity to interact with other like-minded athletes, exchange stories, and plot a course for the future of the LGBT athlete community.

If you're looking for a social outlet, I encourage you to connect with other during the receptions, expo, and sporting events. Also, it looks like we'll be having a (perhaps unofficial) sports night at Vapor on Saturday.

Please encourage your friends to attend. I think that in many cases, those who are most hesitant to attend are the ones who will receive the greatest benefit from attending.

If you think it's over-hyped, just remember that many of us on the advisory board have been working on this for more than two years now, and I can honestly say that this conference has grown into something much greater than I ever imagined.

Looking forward to meeting many of you in person!

- Rob

Having Jim and Cyd there is enough for me! wink

We'll have to figure out a little get together for Outsporters. I hope everone will come to the panel we're hosting Saturday morning!

Outsports/GLAAD Panel on Gay Sports In The Media

I wish Boston were closer so I could make a day trip of it. Do you think we could move Boston to New York City for the day? wink

Well, the conference is THIS WEEKEND in Cambridge and Boston. One thing for out-of-towners to be aware of, this is also the weekend that the new Central Artery (the "Big Dig") and the Zakim trans-Charles bridge open to northbound traffic.

Traffic to and from the airport will be detoured to one of several circuitous routes into town. You can keep an eye on highway status for the airport, the river roads and traffic through town. If you're driving or taking a cab, PM me and I'll give you the best way from the airport to the conference venue.

You might also think about taking the subway from the airport -- directions to the hotel are here, directions straight to MIT, here.

But regardless of how you get here, I'm looking forward to seeing you folks and enjoying a great sports conference with you. wink

redsoxbreath is such a good host.

I'm looking forward to meeting you guys on Saturday.

Those of you attending this weekend, enjoy! Take roll, by the way. We want a full accounting of which Outsporters show up.

The rest of us will have to settle for \"Chat With Cyd!\"

Cyd and I just got back and had a great time. Saw regular posters Scottie, Dee, Mike (gmginsfo) and Orsino. We'll have a report with photos on Tuesday.

[ March 31, 2003, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: Cyd at Outsports ]

GLAAD, Outsports' co-sponsor of the panel Portrayal of the Gay Athlete in the Media, has put up a page of resource documents from the conference, including

• first-person reports and interviews
• the transcript of an online chat with Cyd Ziegler from Outsports, Olympic gold medalist Holly Metcalf, and former pro baseball umpires Dave Pallone and Tyler Hoffman
• a photo gallery of conference participants and organizers, including two of Cyd, again.

This in addition, of course, to Outsports' own report and photo gallery pages.

[ April 08, 2003, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]