Sports

Athlete Ally Launches Curriculum on LGBTQ Inclusion in Sport

Name: Pride Night: Austin Bold FC vs. Portland Timbers 2
Start: 2019-6-8T19-19-30-00
End: 2019-6-8T21-21-30-00
Location: Bold Stadium at Circuit of The Americas

Published

11 months ago

October 30, 2018

News Release

Athlete Ally announced the launch of Champions of Inclusion, the first free, comprehensive online curriculum for coaches on LGBTQ respect and inclusion within athletics. Designed to educate coaches, athletic directors, Senior Women Administrators, trainers, and captains at the collegiate, club, and K-12 level across the U.S., Champions of Inclusion aims to eliminate geographic and financial barriers to LGBTQ education.

Through a series of interactive quizzes and video modules featuring LGBTQ athletes, coaches, professors, and inclusion experts, curriculum participants learn about sexuality and gender, obstacles faced by LGBTQ athletes, how to proactively foster an inclusive athletic community, and how to ensure their own teams and leagues have sustainable, inclusive policies and practices.

“The people who most need to be reached on LGBTQ issues are often educated the least,” said Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally. “We designed this curriculum to be accessible, interactive, time and cost effective, and to help lay a solid foundation for teams to not only be accepting of LGBTQ athletes, but to proactively foster an environment where all athletes feel safe, welcomed and included.”

Champions of Inclusion Curriculum
80% of people worldwide have experienced homophobia in sport. We're working to change that with accessible, interactive LGBTQ education for coaches and athletic leaders that can be used anytime, anywhere. Learn more at learn.athleteally.org.
Posted by Athlete Ally on Tuesday, October 30, 2018

80% of people worldwide have experienced homophobia in sport, and LGBTQ individuals drop out of sport at nearly double the rate of their cisgender and heterosexual peers.12 Awareness-raising through education is a key step to fostering inclusion. This points to a dire need for coaches and athletic leaders to be educated on LGBTQ issues, without cost, geography or time constraints serving as barriers.

“With the Champions of Inclusion curriculum, Athlete Ally has created a much-need tool that caters to the busy schedule of coaches, athletic leaders and administrators,” said Shaun Richard, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Ohio State University. “LGBTQ equality is incredibly important to Ohio State University Athletics, and Athlete Ally has played a major role in helping us have the tools we need to foster an inclusive campus. This expert-driven resource will be an essential part of our diversity trainings moving forward.”

“Positive Coaches Alliance (PCA) is excited for the launch of the Athlete Ally curriculum,” said Jason Sacks, Vice President of Business Development & Philanthropy at PCA. “Our partners are always looking to learn and grow as parents, coaches and administrators, and we know this will only support them further in creating a positive, safe and inclusive youth sports environment for their children.”

“USA Weightlifting is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community within our sport,” said Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Weightlifting. “Sport is sport, and Athlete Ally’s Champions of Inclusion curriculum provides the necessary education and a platform for developing a more inclusive sport culture.”

“The Champions of Inclusion curriculum presents an exciting opportunity for coaches and athletics professionals to gain important knowledge and understanding about LGBTQ inclusion in athletics,” said Kerrie Turner, Head Gymnastics Coach at Bowling Green State University and President of the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association. “The program is easy to navigate and self-paced to accommodate the complex schedules of coaches, sport leaders, administrators and athletes. Upon completion, I felt confident that I have the necessary tools and resources to create impactful dialogue within my team and colleagues and to create inclusive environments in athletics. There is important work to be done in diversity and inclusion and, as coaches and leaders, education and resources are greatly needed.”

To access the curriculum or learn more, please visit learn.athleteally.org.

Post Views: 1,484

Basketball

The NBA’s Expanding Relationship with the LGBTQ Community

Published

7 days ago

September 16, 2019

Chase Martin

Sports fans have probably noticed that the culture around professional sports has been rapidly changing lately to become one of diversity and inclusion. That’s by no means to suggest that things are perfect, but it’s clear that progress is being made.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has represented a significant part of this progress, leading the way particularly in activism concerning the LGBTQ community. Here we will review a few of the league’s recent efforts to help those struggling to find acceptance and combat discrimination towards members of this community.

Reggie Bullock’s History of LGBTQ Activism

New York Knicks shooting guard Reggie Bullock has played for several teams around the league, but is perhaps best known for his involvement in the LGBTQ community. This is partially due to a Vice Sports documentary about him that was released when he was still playing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bullock’s activism has been primarily motivated by the murder of his transgender sister back in 2014.

Since that horrible tragedy, he has made it his goal to personally understand the unique struggles faced particularly by trans women of color, as well as to educate others on the importance of this issue. In addition to the Vice documentary, Bullock has shared his experiences on countless other media platforms and has helped to make the sports world more supportive of the trans community (even if in many respects there’s still a very long way to go).

The 76ers’ Pride Community Conversation & Basketball Clinic

Every professional sports team has a particular cause or two at any given time that it advocates for with fundraisers, donations, and events. Accordingly, the Philadelphia 76ers have recently started supporting LGBTQ youth in their home town, through events like the Pride Community Conversation & Basketball Clinic that took place earlier this summer. The clinic was a part of the Sixers’ celebration of Pride Month, for which the team also participated in Philly’s annual pride parade. Following a panel discussion, the Sixers’ clinic was led by former pro Jason Collins and a few members of the coaching staff.

Judging by NBA odds, the 76ers are lined up to be one of the most competitive teams this upcoming season, which should make all of this activism and support matter that much more. While it’s nice to see any pro franchise take a stand and get involved, one full of star players and playing in big games naturally attracts all the more attention. Hopefully we’ll see LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia in particular enjoying an ongoing positive impact.

The NBA Catalyzing Repeal of HB2 in North Carolina

In the winter of 2016, North Carolina‘s fairly conservative legislature passed a bill that required people to use the restroom meant for their gender assigned at birth, among other discriminatory clauses. Infamously known as the “bathroom bill,” the legislation’s passage sparked protests not just within the state but around the entire country. These included businesses pulling activity from the state, with perhaps the most notable example coming from the NBA.

The league had planned to host is 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, but wound up moving the game to New Orleans, with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) moving games outside of the state as well. Considering how central basketball, especially at the college level, is to the State of North Carolina, these boycotts were major news, and sparked even more demand for the bill to be repealed. A year after the NBA moved its All-Star Game, the NCAA (not typically a paragon of virtue itself) told the state legislature that it had two days to repeal the law or else the state wouldn’t be allowed to host any championship games for five years. It was this pressure from these basketball organizations in part that finally led to a partial repeal of the law, and the All Star Game returned to Charlotte in 2019.

All of these initiatives by NBA teams, players, and administrators have us feeling optimistic about the future of the relationship between the league and the LGBTQ community. There’s a long way to go, and the NBA remains imperfect from a social activism standpoint. But it’s trending progressive, which should continue to yield meaningful results.

Post Views: 112

Soccer

Austin Bold Hosts Inaugural Pride Night

Published

4 months ago

June 7, 2019

Chase Martin

The Austin Bold FC will celebrate the start of Pride season in Austin by hosting Pride Night during the club’s inaugural season on Saturday, June 8, 2019 out at the Bold Stadium at Circuit of The Americas as the minor league soccer team takes on Portland Timbers 2.

08jun7:30 PM9:30 PMFeaturedPride Night: Austin Bold FC vs. Portland Timbers 2Benefiting Austin PRIDE7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bold Stadium at Circuit of The AmericasCategories:SoccerAges:All Ages

Pride Night is held in partnership with Austin PRIDE, with 25% of merchandise sales during the night’s game, including a specially designed Austin Bold FC Pride Jersey featuring white/turquoise stripes with rainbow sleeve detail and screenprint graphics, being donated to the Austin Gay & Lesbian Pride Foundation.

The Austin Bold FC specially-designed Pride Jersey. A portion of sales from Pride Night is donated to Austin PRIDE.. Photo courtesy: Austin Bold FC / Facebook

Plus, Austin singer-songwriter and The Voice Season 1 alumni Nakia will open Pride Night with the national anthem.

Post Views: 955

Kickball

Kickball Comes to the gAyTX

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2017

Chase Martin

Austin’s gay sports community got a bit bigger this spring as America’s Finest Kickball League launched in Austin earlier in April with a pickup game in southeast Austin. While Austin’s has plenty of groups that host their own kickball leagues throughout the year, most as part of a larger offering of sports — ATX Sports & Adventures, Austin Sports & Social Club, CLUBWAKA, NAKID Social Sports, just to name a few — none of these groups specifically target the LGBT community.

The players from the first pickup game in Austin hosted by America’s Finest Kickball League. Photo credit: Keith London / America’s Finest Kickball League / Facebook

The league’s first event was a free pick up game at Richard Moya Park near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. “The response has been amazing!” says America’s Finest Kickball League CEO Keith London. “So many people are excited for our summer league. At our first pick up game we had 39 people!”

The pickup game come ahead of the local league’s inaugural season which is planned to start on Saturday, June 24, 2017 with games on Saturdays from 11 AM – 1 PM. Online registration for the Summer 2017 season closes Saturday, June 10, 2017 with a fee of $65 per person (plus $2.50 processing fee). Another free pick up game is planned for Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 3 PM at Richard Moya Park.

The launch of Austin’s kickball league is just the first for AFKL in Texas with plans to kick off in Dallas on Sunday, July 2 and in Houston on Saturday, August 5. Nationwide, a league in Seattle, WA is tentatively schedule for Saturday, August 12 with plans to launch additional leagues in Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando and Tampa in the near future.

For more information about America’s Finest Kickball League, visit www.americasfinestkickballleague.com

Post Views: 1,852

september 2019

City

Details

Field 11 at Krieg Fields!

No Skill is Required and Everyone is Welcome! Come on out and kick some balls around with Austin’s largest LGBT+ kickball organization. The 1st hour will be a kickball skills clinic, and the 2nd hour will be a scrimmage.
Even if you don’t know anyone in the league come on out and I guarantee you’ll leave with 10 new friends!

Varsity Gay League has been around for 12 years. We Just opened registration so hurry for the early bird special!! We still have room for more teams and players! REGISTER HERE:

http://varsitygayleagueaustin.leagueapps.com/leagues

Our next season will begin Tuesday, October 8th.
If you don’t have a team or just want to join for fun, sign up as a FREE AGENT!
If you want to join with FRIENDS, make sure to let us know who you want to play with!
If you want to build your OWN TEAM, sign up as a CAPTAIN and go for BROKE!
50 min games.
7 Inning Max (Or until 50 min is up!)
Weekly After Party will be at Gourmand’s
JOIN THE REVOLUTION AND KICK IT WITH US!
www.varsitygayleague.com

Schedule

7 PM – Kickball Skills Clinic

8 PM – Scrimmage

Time

(Tuesday) 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location

Krieg Softball Complex

515 South Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin TX 78741

Organizer

Varsity Gay League

Facebook Event

iCal Google Calendar

24sep7:30 PM9:30 PMVolleyball Austin Open Play7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Austin Sports CenterCategories:VolleyballAges:All Ages

Details

Come play in our weekly open play hosted by VBA. We will have 3 courts split n three different divisions. Intermediate, competitive and advanced. Please play on the court that is the best fit for you and the people on the court for maximum enjoyment. Feel free to reach out to the board if you need assistance. We will see you there!

= = = = = = = = = =

To Our Amazing Members of the VBA Community,

It has come to our attention that Open Plays need a bit of restructuring primarily due to safety concerns but also to make each court as enjoyable as possible.

Starting September 10, the division you play in the Volleyball Austin League will be the court you are required to play on at open plays, with social and intermediate on the same court for the time-being. We hope to open up a 4th court as we continue to grow as an organization.

If you are a new player or a non-league member, a board member can help you determine which court best fits your skill level. If you have played in a higher division in recent years (ex: you play intermediate this season, but have played competitive in the past), you will be allowed to play on the desired court.

Players may be asked to move courts at the discretion of the board.

Open plays will continue to be events that are welcoming and fun for everyone. We understand this impacts everyone differently, but please understand the safety of our players, inclusivity, and enjoyment of the game are the top priorities for this organization.

Price

$5 to play (cash/credit)

Time

(Tuesday) 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Location

Austin Sports Center

425 Woodward, Austin TX 78704

Organizer

Volleyball Austininfo@volleyballaustin.com

Facebook Event

iCal Google Calendar

24sep8:00 PM10:00 PMDragula Season 3 Viewing Party8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Elysium AustinCategories:DragAges:18+

24sep8:00 PM11:00 PMTexas Hold'em TournamentHosted by Wild West Casino Games8:00 PM - 11:00 PM The Iron BearCategories:NightlifeAges:21+

24sep8:00 PM9:15 PMAustin Naked YogaTaught by Daryn8:00 PM - 9:15 PM ToddPilates & Barre North AustinCategories:FitnessAges:18+

Details

ALL MEN are welcome and invited to attend classes. Reservations are NEVER needed. Doors are locked promptly at class start time so PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY!

WHY DO YOGA NAKED?

Because everything is more fun when you do it naked!

We love doing yoga naked because it offers both freedom of movement and freedom within. Clothes bind, especially during yoga. They become uncomfortable, sweaty, and downright unpleasant. We at Austin Naked Yoga take the clothes out of the equation! After removing our clothes, we are left with something pure, something that is natural. We champion acceptance of oneself and others. We become balanced.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

Shed Your Clothes, Open Your Heart, and Free Your Mind

Many utilize the safe environment we provide at Austin Naked Yoga to move past issues with nudity and body image. For some, making the decision to come to their first class is a huge step. We want to help you make this first step into a better more accepting world. Our group is hugely diverse, very close knit at times, and extremely accepting. Many in our group count their friends in A.N.Y. as their best friends. We offer a community where you can be free to be your natural self.

WHAT ARE CLASSES LIKE?

Our classes are full of friendly, welcoming guys

You first check in at the front counter and make your way into our studio. If you didn’t bring your own mat, not to worry, we have plenty that you can use free of charge. Once in the studio, the staff will let you know when it is OK for you to take off your clothes and place them in a cube (fancy way of saying shelf). After that, you can find a spot for your yoga mat and sit down, stretch, or be social until the class begins. Our classes are geared for all levels of yogis (including beginners). We have bathrooms and cold water for you as well!

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?

Classes are one hour and fifteen minutes long

Most of our yogis bring a yoga mat and a towel to dry off. We provide you with water for hydration. Don’t worry if you forget your mat or towel, we have plenty of extras. Make sure to tell your instructor if you have any special physical needs such as a knee injury, etc. They will make sure to tailor parts of the practice to your needs. At the end of class we all do the final yoga pose, shavasana, which is intended to relax your body. After this time, herbal tea is passed around to all the yogis and you are free to relax, talk, stretch, etc.

HOW MANY GUYS ATTEND?

We usually have 20+ guys!

WHAT TYPES OF GUYS ATTEND?

All types of men attend our classes. We are very diverse in age, body types, and ethnicity. Ages of our students range from 20s to 70s. We also take great pride in having men of all body types (six packs and no packs). No matter what your body type, sexuality, ethnicity, hair color, etc., you will fit in just fine.

DO I HAVE TO BE NAKED?

Our classes are certified 100% clothing free! This does not mean that you have to be perfectly comfortable in a nudist environment to attend. Many of our yogis initially started coming to class to address fears of being naked around others. Austin Naked Yoga offers a safe environment that is perfect for this widening of horizons. Many of our members have gained confidence in themselves that they did not possess before attending. This is part of A.N.Y.’s mission, to provide a safe environment for people who wish to explore a freedom and connection with their body that few others possess.

WHAT IF I GET EXCITED?

Be proud of it! Embrace your boner-ness! In all seriousness, this is a great question and one we get asked all the time. In actuality, once you are n the act of practicing yoga poses (asanas), it’s very difficult to keep an erection. For this reason, it’s quite rare to see them during our class. But if you should happen to get an erection, think of it as a good thing. This is not something to be embarrassed about. It is rather something to be celebrated.

IS THERE SEXUAL ENERGY?

There can be sexual energy present during some of our classes but it is not a goal or something we focus on. The primary goal of A.N.Y. is to provide yoga in a natural state.

IS THIS A HOOKUP GROUP?

We are very much a social group but we are not a hookup group. Just like any social gathering, sometimes sexual relationships are formed just as sometimes long-term relationships are formed. However, the majority of men that attend the group do so for yoga and the social aspect, not because they are seeking sexual release. That being said, Austin Naked Yoga is very sex positive in that we realize the benefits of embracing sexual energy.

IS THIS CLASS RIGHT FOR ME?

All of our classes are beginner friendly. Remember that everyone was a beginner once. You are not alone. Every week we see new yogis emerge. Embrace your newbie-ness and come join us!

WHAT IF I HAVE AN INJURY?

Please get clearance from a medical professional before participating in this or any fitness class.

ARE WOMEN ALLOWED?

We have tried holding both women’s classes and co-ed classes and neither had enough attendance to maintain their respective groups.

Price

$79 – 5 classes

$139 – 10 classes

$196 – 15 classes

$239 – 20 classes

$438 – 40 classes

$104/month – month-to-month

Time

(Tuesday) 8:00 PM - 9:15 PM

Location

ToddPilates & Barre North Austin

9029 Research Blvd #200, Austin TX 78758

Organizer

Austin Naked Yogayoga.naked@gmail.com

Facebook Event

iCal Google Calendar

24sep8:30 PM10:30 PMAustin Pride Bowling League8:30 PM - 10:30 PM Dart BowlCategories:BowlingAges:All Ages

24sep(sep 24)9:00 PM25(sep 25)12:00 AMDrag Class: Semester 8Hosted by Sabel Scities9:00 PM - 12:00 AM (25) Rain on 4thCategories:DragAges:18+

Details

Students! -if you are a new king or qween interested in learning hair, makeup, creative construction, impersonation, entertainment, and MUCH more show up in your favorite black outfit day 1 of school Sept 3 ….also bring a second outfit that defines your personal style and a performance song on USB, 3 minute limit. Must arrive ready before 8:30pm to qualify – no exceptions. Some mentors will be ready, you are welcome to find one before hand.

Mentors! -Recruit whomever you’d like and take your students under your wing and advise them how to act, show up on time, where to shop and pass in knowledge you were taught along your career! You do not have to be in drag every week but you are invited to entertain if you do!!

Sponsors! -We are proudly sponsored by Rain on 4th and Three Olives Vodka! If you would like to promote your business by adding to our prize packages over our 10 week course -the more the merrier! Over the years we have given away full spa treatments, jewelry, make up brushes, photo shoots, booking and $$$$$$!

The winning team will receive $1000, a paid booking at Rain, a photo shoot, and more

If you have any questions, message me!

—————-

Updated questions:
how does drag class work?
–Each week you’ll receive a homework project and that’ll be your first look. Then in house lesson. And each week you will have a show n tell (wear anything you want) contest is 10 weeks long

What about eliminations?
–No your scores add up each week and the highest score at then end of 10 weeks is the winner. Extra credit for attendance (how many friends you bring) and chemistry (how many of your team’s Three Olive Cocktails you sell). Points off for tardiness, 5 points of your score that week if you are late

Can minors compete?
–No tea and no fingers pointed but sadly I have to let all minors know We do have a zero tolerance policy… thanks to a girl in Semester 2, if anyone under 21 is caught drunk or drinking in our bar any day at any time it’s a full ban until management says otherwise. But YES!! 18+ may compete and attend!