Month: May 2013

Even away from home, new LA Galaxy player Robbie Rogers is cheered. Also, a new book by Bill Konigsberg, gay boxer Orlando Cruz at Queens Pride and Kate Fagan's great feature on Brittney Griner

Robbie Rogers and Jallen Messersmith continue a parade of athletes coming out publicly

(This story was published in 2002). Tuesday morning I’ll be headed to Sydney to compete in my first Gay Games. I am beside myself with anticipation. I’ve never been to anything like this before – an event of tens of thousands of people dedicated to gays and lesbians. And, the fact that it’s about sport […]

(This story was published in 2004). By: Amanda Harmon Rudy Galindo’s improbable but decisive win in the 1996 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships taught skating fans never to underestimate his ability to generate a comeback. His return to his best finish yet in the 2000 World Professional Championships left him determined to come back to […]

(This published in 2004). “I love baseball, but the majority of baseball hates a faggot.” Dug Funnell doesn’t mince words. This sentence was one in a long letter Funnell, a baseball fanatic, has sent to more than 5,000 players, managers, owners, front office officials and broadcasters in the past 15 years. It’s been his way […]

(This story was published in 2004). Few people know more about building a gay sports league than Marc Davino. Davino, 34, has been part of the Boston Gay Basketball League since it was started in 1994 by Buck Buchman, who has since left the city. His initial involvement was doing the nitty-gritty vital to all […]

(This story was published in 2001). Mike Bryant’s research into gay male athletes has allowed him to combine the personal with the professional. “I wanted to help to break down the stereotype that gay men can’t possibly be athletes,” said Bryant of his masters research project “Gay Male Athletes and the Role of Organized Team […]

(This article was published in 2001). As part of his research into gay athletes, Mike Bryant conducted followup interviews with some respondents. Here are the views of three of these athletes. Jon Hodge – Orlando, Florida Age: 20 Sports: High School Wrestling, Soccer & Cross-Country Jon grew up in Nashville, where he competed in three […]

(This story was published in 2001). By: Mike Bryant GAY MALE ATHLETES AND THE ROLE OF TEAM AND CONTACT SPORTS Identifying reasons why gay men participate in aggressive sports environments This research project focused on identifying three possible reasons why gay males choose to participate in aggressive team and contact sports environments: To hide the […]

(This story was published in 2003). Ashly Massey, an eighth-grader in California was forced to spend two weeks in the principal’s office while her classmates were in gym class. Her offense? She disclosed she was a lesbian. The student had been sent to the principal’s office because the physical education teacher was uncomfortable with Massey’s […]

(This story was published in 2005). By: Chris Morgan (Chris Morgan won the silver medal in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Finals in Atlanta in November.) LONDON–The problem with success is that it removes repression. Achieving goals removes motivating factors and automatically creates new comfort zones for an athlete. Throughout my career there have been cycles […]

(This story was published in 2003). As I was sitting in Trunks – a bar on Santa Monica Blvd. – Saturday night, one of our conventioneers, Cowboyhuskerfan, in from the East Coast for the weekend, summed up for me the entire convention perfectly: “I was leery of coming 3,000 miles for this convention, and I […]

(This article was published in 2002). By: Brent Mullins “I thought he was just an affable, good ‘ol boy. Then when I heard what he said about the Olympics, it revealed his true nature underneath.” So my brother Kevin told me about Eric Heiden, the great Olympic speed skating champion, when we were talking about […]

(This story was published in 2006). In 1996, Cale Siler (right) was convinced he had contracted HIV. He was a senior at UC-Berkeley, and was training to be a sea-kayaking guide. One night, in a moment of indiscretion, Cale had unsafe sex with another man. Days later, he learned that that man had a reputation […]

Ed Gallagher died in 2005 at age 48 after having a powerful impact on sports and access for Americans with a disability.

(This story was published in 2004). By: Chris Morgan Special To Outsports News Flash: Morgan won the silver medal in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Finals in Atlanta in November. His lift totals were: squat (237.5 kg, a personal best); bench (112.5 kg) and deadlift (242.5 kg) for a total of 592.5 kg. “Not a bad […]

(This article was published in 2004). Buffalo Bills fans know it all too well. Philadelphia Eagles fans have been beaten down by it. If you’re a “Phil Mickelson guy,” it’s become intrinsic to your fanhood. Now, on the brink of seeing my team make history, like those other fans I know this to be true: […]

(This story was published in 2002). By: Spencer Windes Special to Outsports I play on a gay rugby team. That’s not quite right, because there is no such thing as gay rugby. I play on a rugby team composed primarily of gay men. I have quite a time explaining this to people, both gay and […]

(This article was published in 2003). The arrival of warmer weather brings the opportunity to venture outdoors and partake in your favorite sport. While most of the pros are taking the summer off, the weekend warriors – from the softball leagues to the swim teams – are finding their stride with tournaments every week around […]

(This article was published in 2007). Using intellectually corrupt arguments to keep gay people from engaging in a free-market economy: That’s the subject of today’s talking points memo. On July 8, a group of gay people bought about a thousand group tickets to the San Diego Padres’ home game against the Atlanta Braves. On the […]