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

9 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: 1,101

Soccer

Austin Bold Hosts Inaugural Pride Night

Published

1 month 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: 487

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: 1,319

Flag Football

Austin Capitals Win at Gay Bowl XVI

Published

3 years ago

October 9, 2016

Chase Martin

Austin’s newest gay sports team may have just started up this summer but it’s already making waves, winning its first national championship in the Open B Division at Gay Bowl XVI. The National Gay Flag Football League’s annual national LGBT flag football tournament hosted by the DC Gay Flag Football League features 48 teams from 22 cities.

The Capitals kicked off pool play late morning Friday with their first game, going up against the South Florida Blue Ocean, winning 38-18. They went on to win their second game Friday afternoon against the Chicago Thunder, 22-19. Their third game of pool play was Saturday morning against fellow Texans, the Houston Hurricanes, where they would eventually win, in double overtime, 33-32. The Capitals ended pool play on Saturday and went in to bracket play later that afternoon the overall third seed.

Austin took on Denver’s Summit (Red) for the first game of bracket play, easily winning 40-13. Sunday morning the Capitals faced off against the Avalanche from Salt Lake City, winning 15-13. In the semifinal games, the Austin faced off again against the Houston Hurricanes, winning 24-12.

The Austin Capitals finished the tournament undefeated in the Open B Division taking home first place with the Denver Summit (Gold) walking away with second place.

In the in the Open A Division, the San Diego Bolts beat out the New York Warriors Black, 26-13, to win that division’s championship, with the New York Shade beating out the Washington Generals, 25-22 to go home with third place. In the Women’s Division, the Mile High Club Blue won against the San Diego Breakers, 33-13, with the Washington Senators taking third in the division after beating the South Florida Cat 5 Black 20-7.

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july 2019

City

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.