Playing for Our Team

04/08/10

Basketball in the park

During the summer months, I love playing basketball in the park. Once a week, a few friends and I head down to shoot some hoops on the outdoor courts. Usually, the courts are overcrowded with young boys and grown men looking to prove that they are all the second coming of Michael Jordan. We are always outnumbered, and have to wait our turn for a chance to play against them.So when my friend Yolanda and I decided to dust off our basketball sneakers from the winter and head down the park on the first warm, sunny day of spring, I wasn’t surprised to see that the courts were already crowded. We chose a spot, called “next” and patiently waited our turn. As soon as we stepped out on the court to play the winning team, one of the players stated his position quite...

Posted at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

04/02/10

Semena Wants To Return To Competitive Running

Considering the latest discussion swirling around Brittney Griner and Baylor’s advancement to the Women’s Final Four, I thought it was rather interesting that Caster Semenya announced this week that she would like to return to competitive racing. I’ve read numerous articles about both women, and some of the comments that people leave are horrible, degrading and absolutely close-minded. One abrasive commenter kept referring to Griner as “it.” Another commenter said that she might have a “transgender condition” and her parents should be aware of it.Um, being transgendered isn’t a “condition.” But I won’t go into that right now.When I wrote about how Griner wasn’t pushing gender boundaries on purpose, and that people...

Posted at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

03/24/10

Why I Love The NCAA Tournament

I’ve been a fan of college basketball for as long as I can remember. Whether it was Christian Laettner hitting a last second shot to propel Duke past Kentucky, or Diana Taurasi leading UConn to yet another NCAA Championship, the NCAA Tournament has always provided plenty of Cinderella stories, drama, nail-biting anticipation, excitement, heartbreak, glory and a gazillion buzzer-beaters. During the month of March, I’m either outside enjoying the freshness of spring or inside watching countless hours of CBS and ESPN, and filling out my brackets based on gut instinct, research, favorite teams, and the inevitable sleeper. Once my brackets are complete, I watch the opening rounds of both the men and women’s NCAA Tournament with reckless abandon. And no matter what, I...

Posted at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

03/19/10

And Yet Another LGBT Athlete Comes Out

I think there is something in the water lately, or perhaps times really are changing. In the past six months, it seems that more gay athletes have come out of the sports closet than the past six years. What has been even more impressive is that most of the athletes are men. It is difficult and challenging for gay male athletes to come out of the closet because of the perception that you have to be a “manly-man” to play sports. There has always been this underlying stereotype that all gay men are effeminate, wimpy, and unable to compete in tough sports (which couldn’t be further from the truth). So, when a gay rugby player or a gay football player comes out of the closet, and he’s a regular “manly man,” it automatically puts holes in said...

Posted at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

03/11/10

Olympic Film Series Addresses Sexism, Racism and Homophobia in Sports

There were many good things that came out of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Shaun White propelled snowboarding to another level. Johnny Weir made men’s figure skating cool again. (Let’s be honest. He made it “cool” for the first time). And both the men’s and women’s hockey teams took home silver medals. There were plenty of other notable moments, which I’m sure everyone heard about in some shape or form. There just isn’t enough space on this blog for me to mention them all.On the other hand, there is enough space for me to mention one moment that didn’t get much attention. Apparently, during the course of the Winter Olympics, there was a two-night film series put on by Pride House and the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. Mark...

Posted at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/28/10

Johnny Weir Is Fantastically Fabulous

For those of you weren’t aware, Johnny Weir is fantastically fabulous. And not just because of his figure skating outfits, either. Johnny Weir is fantastically fabulous all around. He’s a beautiful skater and a creative fashion designer who unfortunately became the butt of a few broadcasters’ jokes during the airing of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.There are a few out gay and lesbian athletes who are competing in the Winter Olympics this year (and more than a few closeted ones as well), and Curve even gave you a few a names to look out for. But no other athlete has received more attention than Johnny Weir. And it’s not because of his mad skating skills. Weir received attention because of his outrageous outfits and his flamboyance instead, which some broadcasters...

Posted at 02:00 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/19/10

Brittney Griner May Push Gender Boundaries, But Not on Purpose

Brittney Griner is sick. And I’m not talking about the, “I’ve got a cold” kind of sick. I’m talking about the, “I’m a woman, I’m 6′8″ and I can throw down” kind of sick.As a freshman at Baylor University, Griner has surpassed every woman who has ever come before her in the dunking sphere. Sure, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker can dunk. But Griner can slam it home, hang on the rim and swing around with authority.The world of women’s basketball has never seen a player like this before. Griner has the athletic skills and build of any budding male college basketball star, which has brought her “gender” into question. She has an 88-inch wingspan, almost unheard of for a woman athlete. Simply type in her name...

Posted at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments: 14

02/09/10

Time For Pro Sports To Catch Up

With the recent developments in the sports world, as far as retired and active players coming out of the closet, many high-profile LGBT individuals have been weighing in.Ian McKellen, the famous actor who is often known for his outspoken and courageous comments concerning LGBT issues, made a recent statement to BBC radio about the presence of homophobia in professional sports.“When it comes to the business of simply being honest about who they are,” he said. “Some of them [sports stars] become little shrinking violets because they're afraid, probably, of being booed from the terraces, and that must be a horrible experience, and shame on people who do it.”McKellen also added that, “It ain't going to stop someone being a fantastic footballer because they're...

Posted at 01:34 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

01/21/10

“Our Group” Supports LGBT Athletes

For a long time now, there has been a need for an organization to help support the concerns of LGBT athletes around the country. “Our Group” was born out of that need. According to the website, Our Group “is an outreach, support and advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) high school and college student-athletes and allies. It serves as a network to connect LGBT student-athletes with other LGBT student-athletes. Our Group is also dedicated to educating athletes, coaches and fans so that the sports community is an accepting one for ALL athletes, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”I don’t know about you, but I personally like the sound of that mission statement. An organization like Our Group can help shift the...

Posted at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

01/11/10

Where is She Now: Martina Navratilova

One of the most influential and talented athletes of our time, Martina Navratilova left an indelible mark on tennis as well as the LGBT community. She retired in 1995, and she’s been keeping herself busy ever since.Now that she’s not swinging a tennis racket and running back and forth across a tennis court, Navratilova decided to obtain her pilot’s license even though she’s afraid of heights and her diver’s license even though she’s afraid of drowning. She has also dabbled in photography and painting, and even authored a few mystery novels.As far as political and social causes go, it’s widely known that Navratilova is a prominent LGBT rights activist. But she also campaigns regularly for the safety of animals and the environment as well. Most...

Posted at 06:00 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

	04/08/10 Basketball in the park During the summer months, I love playing basketball in the park. Once a week, a few friends and I head down to shoot some hoops on the outdoor courts. Usually, the courts are overcrowded with young boys and grown men looking to prove that they are all the second coming of Michael Jordan. We are always outnumbered, and have to wait our turn for a chance to play against them.So when my friend Yolanda and I decided to dust off our basketball sneakers from the winter and head down the park on the first warm, sunny day of spring, I wasn’t surprised to see that the courts were already crowded. We chose a spot, called “next” and patiently waited our turn. As soon as we stepped out on the court to play the winning team, one of the players stated his position quite... Posted at 12:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	04/02/10 Semena Wants To Return To Competitive Running Considering the latest discussion swirling around Brittney Griner and Baylor’s advancement to the Women’s Final Four, I thought it was rather interesting that Caster Semenya announced this week that she would like to return to competitive racing. I’ve read numerous articles about both women, and some of the comments that people leave are horrible, degrading and absolutely close-minded. One abrasive commenter kept referring to Griner as “it.” Another commenter said that she might have a “transgender condition” and her parents should be aware of it.Um, being transgendered isn’t a “condition.” But I won’t go into that right now.When I wrote about how Griner wasn’t pushing gender boundaries on purpose, and that people... Posted at 05:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	03/24/10 Why I Love The NCAA Tournament I’ve been a fan of college basketball for as long as I can remember. Whether it was Christian Laettner hitting a last second shot to propel Duke past Kentucky, or Diana Taurasi leading UConn to yet another NCAA Championship, the NCAA Tournament has always provided plenty of Cinderella stories, drama, nail-biting anticipation, excitement, heartbreak, glory and a gazillion buzzer-beaters. During the month of March, I’m either outside enjoying the freshness of spring or inside watching countless hours of CBS and ESPN, and filling out my brackets based on gut instinct, research, favorite teams, and the inevitable sleeper. Once my brackets are complete, I watch the opening rounds of both the men and women’s NCAA Tournament with reckless abandon. And no matter what, I... Posted at 06:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	03/19/10 And Yet Another LGBT Athlete Comes Out I think there is something in the water lately, or perhaps times really are changing. In the past six months, it seems that more gay athletes have come out of the sports closet than the past six years. What has been even more impressive is that most of the athletes are men. It is difficult and challenging for gay male athletes to come out of the closet because of the perception that you have to be a “manly-man” to play sports. There has always been this underlying stereotype that all gay men are effeminate, wimpy, and unable to compete in tough sports (which couldn’t be further from the truth). So, when a gay rugby player or a gay football player comes out of the closet, and he’s a regular “manly man,” it automatically puts holes in said... Posted at 05:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	03/11/10 Olympic Film Series Addresses Sexism, Racism and Homophobia in Sports There were many good things that came out of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Shaun White propelled snowboarding to another level. Johnny Weir made men’s figure skating cool again. (Let’s be honest. He made it “cool” for the first time). And both the men’s and women’s hockey teams took home silver medals. There were plenty of other notable moments, which I’m sure everyone heard about in some shape or form. There just isn’t enough space on this blog for me to mention them all.On the other hand, there is enough space for me to mention one moment that didn’t get much attention. Apparently, during the course of the Winter Olympics, there was a two-night film series put on by Pride House and the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. Mark... Posted at 04:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	02/28/10 Johnny Weir Is Fantastically Fabulous For those of you weren’t aware, Johnny Weir is fantastically fabulous. And not just because of his figure skating outfits, either. Johnny Weir is fantastically fabulous all around. He’s a beautiful skater and a creative fashion designer who unfortunately became the butt of a few broadcasters’ jokes during the airing of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.There are a few out gay and lesbian athletes who are competing in the Winter Olympics this year (and more than a few closeted ones as well), and Curve even gave you a few a names to look out for. But no other athlete has received more attention than Johnny Weir. And it’s not because of his mad skating skills. Weir received attention because of his outrageous outfits and his flamboyance instead, which some broadcasters... Posted at 02:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	02/19/10 Brittney Griner May Push Gender Boundaries, But Not on Purpose Brittney Griner is sick. And I’m not talking about the, “I’ve got a cold” kind of sick. I’m talking about the, “I’m a woman, I’m 6′8″ and I can throw down” kind of sick.As a freshman at Baylor University, Griner has surpassed every woman who has ever come before her in the dunking sphere. Sure, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker can dunk. But Griner can slam it home, hang on the rim and swing around with authority.The world of women’s basketball has never seen a player like this before. Griner has the athletic skills and build of any budding male college basketball star, which has brought her “gender” into question. She has an 88-inch wingspan, almost unheard of for a woman athlete. Simply type in her name... Posted at 05:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 14
	02/09/10 Time For Pro Sports To Catch Up With the recent developments in the sports world, as far as retired and active players coming out of the closet, many high-profile LGBT individuals have been weighing in.Ian McKellen, the famous actor who is often known for his outspoken and courageous comments concerning LGBT issues, made a recent statement to BBC radio about the presence of homophobia in professional sports.“When it comes to the business of simply being honest about who they are,” he said. “Some of them [sports stars] become little shrinking violets because they're afraid, probably, of being booed from the terraces, and that must be a horrible experience, and shame on people who do it.”McKellen also added that, “It ain't going to stop someone being a fantastic footballer because they're... Posted at 01:34 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	01/21/10 “Our Group” Supports LGBT Athletes For a long time now, there has been a need for an organization to help support the concerns of LGBT athletes around the country. “Our Group” was born out of that need. According to the website, Our Group “is an outreach, support and advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) high school and college student-athletes and allies. It serves as a network to connect LGBT student-athletes with other LGBT student-athletes. Our Group is also dedicated to educating athletes, coaches and fans so that the sports community is an accepting one for ALL athletes, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”I don’t know about you, but I personally like the sound of that mission statement. An organization like Our Group can help shift the... Posted at 12:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	01/11/10 Where is She Now: Martina Navratilova One of the most influential and talented athletes of our time, Martina Navratilova left an indelible mark on tennis as well as the LGBT community. She retired in 1995, and she’s been keeping herself busy ever since.Now that she’s not swinging a tennis racket and running back and forth across a tennis court, Navratilova decided to obtain her pilot’s license even though she’s afraid of heights and her diver’s license even though she’s afraid of drowning. She has also dabbled in photography and painting, and even authored a few mystery novels.As far as political and social causes go, it’s widely known that Navratilova is a prominent LGBT rights activist. But she also campaigns regularly for the safety of animals and the environment as well. Most... Posted at 06:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0

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