Names have always facinated me. What do they really mean? Or subtly suggest? If anything. Consider these 12 names carrying the hopes of hundreds of thousands of people around the world at the 2012 London Olympics: Kelsey Titmarsh, Canada, Gymnastics Karen Cockburn, Canada, Trampoline Hope Solo, USA, Soccer Sarah Hammer, USA, Cycling Destinee Hooker, USA, Volleyball Hulk, Brazil, Soccer Storm Uru, New Zealand, Rowing Liam Tancock, Great Britain, Swimming German Sanchez Sanchez, Mexico, Diving Amit Kumar Amit Kumar, India, Wrestling Dong Dong, People’s Republic of China, Trampoline Jack Buttland, Great Britain, Soccer Did I miss any?
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Not only is it awesome that Vancouver Canucks Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler have expressed their support for the recently launched You Can Play campaign, which seeks to ensure equality, respect, and safety for all athletes, regardless of sexual orientation, but the two hockey stars have also told Xtra! that they would accept a gay player wholeheartedly on their team. For Kesler, “We’re a big family in here, and I am sure every single guy in here would be more than supportive and help him along the way.” This is one of those feel great moments (via Jezebel), not only for the lesbian couple in the video, but also for all who believe in equality in professional sports. Hats off to the folks with the Ottawa Senators organization who helped to make this happen during Saturday night’s game between the Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs! Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has made a video in which he declares his support for marriage equality. The Japanese-American, whose father was interned in a relocation camp during World War II, had in 2009 expressed similar sentiments regarding equality saying: “People could look at this issue without blinders on…the blinders imposed by their church, their parents, their friends or, in our case, their coaches and locker rooms. I wish they would realize that it’s not a religion issue. It’s not a government issue. It’s not even a gay/straight issue or a question of your manhood. It’s a human Canadian hockey defenceman Andrew Ference who plays for the Boston Bruins came out in support of gay athletes last week in an article discussing open displays of religious fervour by professional football players, namely Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. From NESN: “It’s the same thing with anything in sports,” Ference said. “If a guy comes out and he’s gay or something like that, all the power to him. He’s not hurting anybody. So this is the same thing. People that are against people that believe in something, whether it’s the gay community or whether it’s a religious community, if . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Hockey defenceman Andrew Ference in support of gay players GayNZ.com sums up the details of a dark week across New Zealand: The fatal bashing of a Wellington man has shocked the gay community, and comes as it’s been revealed police believe a Christchurch teenager was murdered, and two people are about to be sentenced for attacks on gay men in Auckland. This recent string of tragedies undermines the relatively peaceful and safe atmosphere that New Zealand provides for gay people. Short-track speed skater and Olympian Blake Skjellerup, who came out in May 2010 after the Vancouver Winter Olympics, is one of only a few openly gay Olympic athletes. Voted 2010′s ‘manliest man‘ in Britain in a nationwide competition organised by the leading men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, straight, professional rugby star Sacha Harding has stripped off his clothes for the annual ‘Naked Issue’ of Gay Times magazine. The Bedford Blues flanker, who appears on the cover, as well as within the magazine, hopes his efforts will raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. From CisionWire, Harding says: “AIDS is such a devastating disease for so many people around the world and I was honored to get this opportunity to try and do my . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Professional rugby star Sacha Harding goes naked for HIV/AIDS awareness A lot of good has emerged from David Testo’s coming out last week in Montreal, including the support from some of his former Montreal Impact teammates. Captain Nevio Pizzolitto told the Montreal Gazette:”I’m glad he did, because he’s in a position … . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Professional soccer player, David Testo, applauded by Montreal teammates for coming out In an interview Thursday with Radio-Canada Sports, American soccer player, David Testo, who most recently played with the Montreal Impact in the North American Soccer League (NASL), publicly declared that he is gay. Recipient of the team’s 2009 Giuse… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: American professional soccer player, David Testo, comes out ‘My name is Gus Johnston. I’m a writer, art director, filmmaker, and a hockey goalkeeper. And I’m also a gay man—and that’s something that I never thought I would say in such a public forum like this.”This video, from Gus Johnston, an Australian form… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Video: The Reality of Homophobia in Sport Support for marriage equality in Australia continues to gain momentum since the lower house of the state of Tasmania became the first in the country to formally support same-sex marriage last month. Add to this the declaration from leading rugby player… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Australian equality movement gains steam with support from Christian rugby star David Pocock The Los Angeles Dodgers became the latest Major League Baseball (MLB) team to lend their support to the It Gets Better video project against teen bullying and suicide. The Dodgers’ instalment features coach Don Mattingly, James Loney, Matt Guerrier, Ja… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Video: LA Dodgers encourage respect in It Gets Better video Niklas Hjalmarsson Source: http://www.sharkspage.com/?p=1344Hockey is for Everyone™ is the mission statement and name of the NHL’s primary youth development and grassroots program that provides support to nonprofit youth hockey organizations tha… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Chicago Blackhawks visit gay community centre Yet another inspiring It Gets Better video, this time from the Philadelphia Phillies, which was released Saturday and features pitchers Roy Halladay and Michael Stutes, outfielders Hunter Pence and John Mayberry Jr., and second baseman Chase Utley. “T… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Watch: Philadelphia Phillies affirm It Gets Better In this It Gets Better instalment from the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Joe Maddon and players Johnny Damon, Sam Fuld, B.J. Upton, and Sean Rodriguez speak with conviction in a sincere message of support for LGBT teens who might be the victims of bullying. … . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Watch: Tampa Bay Rays declare It Gets Better Winnipeg Jets center Rick Rypien was found dead in his Coleman, Alberta, home Monday afternoon, and reports say that it was a suicide. He was 27-years-old and the second NHL player to die this off-season, as New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard pas… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: RIP Rick Rypien Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Joe Maddon and players Johnny Damon, Sam Fuld, B.J. Upton, and Sean Rodriguez will be featured in an upcoming “It Gets Better” video to support teens dealing with anti-gay bullying, reports the St. Petersburg Times. The new vide… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Tampa Bay Rays become 9th MLB team to join It Gets Better Project Major League Baseball just keeps getting better as the Baltimore Orioles became the fourth team (after the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox) to produce a video for the It Gets Better Project to fight homophobic teen bullying. The … . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Watch: Baltimore Orioles "It Gets Better" video Hundreds of gay couples in New York State were married Sunday as the state became the sixth and largest to recognize marriage equality in America. The photo, above, of the illuminated American side of Niagara Falls, taken by Flickr user Mykelle Nicole,… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Marriage equality begins in New York State; Seventh MLB team confirms pro-gay video Ben Cohen, Hudson Taylor, Michael Irvin, Mike Chabala, and Nick YoungquestSource: Out MagazineIn its July 2011 issue, Out Magazine salutes five top sportsmen “who have stood up for fairness and tolerance, shoulder-to-shoulder with their LGBT peers.” Th… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Out Magazine salutes five athlete allies Photo from Checkoutmycards.comThe Oakland A’s nipped team homophobia in the bud Sunday by indefinitely suspending top minor league pitching prospect, Ian Krol, for tweeting what was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser as a “gay slur… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Oakland A’s suspend minor league prospect for gay slur On July 17, 2011, surfers from around the world will gather at Sydney’s Manly and Bondi beaches to take part in the first ever International Gay Surfers Day. Organized by GaySurfers.net, the event is a significant one in the “hetero-masculine dominated… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Sydney’s beaches to host International Gay Surfers Day Via Pharyngula:The University of Iowa is using University funds to hire a Christian chaplain to minister to the needs of the school’s football team. It’s not hard to see how patriotism, athleticism and religion all get stirred into the same pot. It… . . . → Read More: Five of Five: Should University Athletes Get Private Chaplains? Following the lead taken by the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs on Monday became the second professional sports team to join the “It Gets Better” campaign, a project intended to raise awareness of and call for an end to anti-LGBT bullying and h… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: Watch: Chicago Cubs "It Gets Better" video New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch has joined the campaign for marriage equality in New York State in a new video released Monday (below) in which he states: “As an owner of the New York Giants, I am proud to join the chorus of professionals in sport… . . . → Read More: gay persons of color: New York Giants owner Steve Tisch joins marriage equality campaign |
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