Category: Sports

Memphis church bans gay softballers, says it won’t condone their ‘deviant’ lifestyle

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, June 19, 2010 • Filed under: Religion, Sports, Tennessee • Comments (1)

A softball coach in Memphis says she has been banned from a local church softball league because she is gay.

Jana Jacobson said officials from Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, TN, disqualified her team from competing in their adult women’s softball league because it would send a message to their congregation that they condone her “deviant” lifestyle.

Jacobson said she registered, paid the entry fee and attended an organizational meeting. Later, a church official called her seeking another meeting. At that one, officials began questioning whether she was gay. When she said she was, they told her the team could not play.

Jacobson’s team, which has both gay and straight players, had been playing only one night a week and applied to join Bellevue’s league when they learned they were admitting non-church teams.

Jim Barnwell, Bellevue’s director of communications, has said the church has no plans to comment on Jacobson’s version of events.

Will Batts, Director of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, said he’s disappointed but not surprised at Bellevue’s decision, “I get that a private organization needs to have rules but this one seems to be based on fear and ignorance.”

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Gay wrestler Chris Kanyon found dead of apparent suicide

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, April 3, 2010 • Filed under: In Memoriam, Sports, Television • Comments (1)

Kanyon

Former WWE and WCW wrestler Chris Kanyon was found dead in his New York apartment Friday night, the victim of an apparent suicide.

Kanyon, whose real name was Christopher Klucsaritis, ended his professional wrestling career in 2004, and was the first openly gay wrestler in the WWE.

Kanyon wanted to base his character on that, but the WWE showed interest; he later claimed the WWE released him due to his coming out.

Kanyon reportedly suffered from depression and bi-polar disorder, and had frequently spoken about committing suicide.

According to reports, a pill bottle and “several notes” were found near his body.

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First ever Pride Houses welcome LGBTQ athletes, visitors to Olympic games

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, February 21, 2010 • Filed under: LGBTQ Life, Sports • Comments (0)

It should come as no surprise that cities as gay friendly as Vancouver and Whistler would extend that hospitality to this year’s Olympic Games.

The two communities are the first Olympic hosts to with Pride Houses to welcome gay and lesbian athletes and tourists and educate Olympic visitors about diversity and the LGBTQ community.

Vancouver’s Pride House is an inclusive pavilion for members and allies of the gay community, and the first of its kind in Olympic history. Continue reading…

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Amaechi would advise gay athletes not to come out: ‘We don’t need martyrs’

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, February 21, 2010 • Filed under: LGBTQ Life, Sports • Comments (1)
Amaechi

Amaechi

Former NBA basketball player John Amaechi says that a sporting society tolerant of gay would achieve greater results in the competitive arena, but in an interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, he says he doesn’t advise gay athletes to come out.

Amaechi came out as gay in 2007, the first NBA professional ever so to do. And the response to his own decision has made him aware of what it takes publicly to announce homosexuality.

“I personally have spoken to 10, 12 current professional footballers who are gay, they exist, I promise you,” he says. “As it happens none of them have asked me if they should come out. But if they did, I would tell them not to. I’m not a gay rights activist.” Continue reading…

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Gay man seeking answers from Olympic organizers after enduring anti-gay assault

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, February 18, 2010 • Filed under: Sports, World News • Comments (0)

(Image: NBC)

A gay Vancouver man wants to know what the Olympic organizing committee is going to do about the 20-minute verbal and physical homophobic onslaught he endured at the Feb 8 opening ceremonies rehearsal.

Tyler Sheppard says a woman who incorrectly insisted he and his friends were sitting in her seats repeatedly called him and his friends “fucking faggots.”

Sheppard says the abuse continued even after ushers determined Sheppard and his friends were in the right seats. Continue reading…

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Brendan Burke dead at 21 — coming out story captured national attention in 2009

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, February 5, 2010 • Filed under: In Memoriam, Sports • Comments (0)

Brendan Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who gained national attention just months ago in a moving coming out story profiled by ESPN.com, died today in a tragic automobile accident. He was 21 years old.

“We are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke, succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident … in Indiana,” the Leafs said in a statement Friday night. “The family asks for privacy at this difficult time.”

Burke, who was an assistant on the University of Miami (Ohio) hockey team, was reportedly driving east on a snow-covered U.S. 35 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee when his vehicle slid sideways into an oncoming 1997 Ford Truck,. Burke’s passenger, 18-year-old Mark Reedy, also died in the accident.

The younger Burke rose to national prominence last year when he told his story of the love and acceptance received from his dad after coming out as gay.

In a profile by ESPN sports columnist John Buccigross, Brendan Burke’s story was told in a poignant second-person narration, inviting the reader to put himself into Brendan’s shoes, while describing the young man’s journey into self discovery.

In an excerpt from the essay:

On this night in 2007, you are petrified of your dad. Because you, Brendan Burke, at 19 years old, are about to tell your dad, Mr. Testosterone, that you are gay.”

In a statement in the article from the elder Burke at the time, “I had a million good reasons to love and admire Brendan. This news didn’t alter any of them.”

Brendan told reporters he hoped his story will give others the confidence to come forward.

“I think it’s important my story is told to people because there are a lot of gay athletes out there and gay people working in pro sports that deserve to know there are safe environments where people are supportive regardless of your sexual orientation,” he said.

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Veteran LA Times transsexual sportswriter found dead

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, November 28, 2009 • Filed under: California, Sports • Comments (0)

Obit PennerMike Penner, the veteran Los Angeles Times sportswriter who made international headlines in 2007 when he announced he was transsexual and began working under the byline “Christine Daniels,” has died.

Colleagues said Saturday that Penner was found dead at his Los Angeles home and that suicide was the suspected cause of death. He was 52.

“He was one of the most talented writers I’ve ever worked with,” said Times Sports Editor Mike James, adding that Penner covered numerous beats including the National Football League and sports media during his more than two-decade-long career at the paper.

In 2007, Penner made headlines by announcing in a column that he planned to live life as a woman named Christine Daniels. Continue reading…

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KC Chiefs drop Larry Johnson following gay slur

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, November 9, 2009 • Filed under: Sports • Comments (1)

Larry JohnsonThe Kansas City Chiefs released controversy-plagued running back Larry Johnson on Monday, the day he was scheduled to come back from his two-week suspension.

On his Twitter account two weeks ago, Johnson questioned Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s competence, insulted followers and used a gay slur.

He repeated the gay slur the next day to reporters and subsequently suspended for two weeks.

”We decided it was in the best interests of the Kansas City Chiefs’ organization to move forward at this time,” Haley said.

This latest incident was not the first trouble for Johnson.

The Kansas City Star reported Johnson was accused of aggravated assault in 2003 and misdemeanor domestic battery for waving a gun at his ex-girlfriend, but the charges were dropped because the running back entered a domestic-violence program.

In 2005, Johnson was accused of pushing a woman to the ground at another KC nightspot, but the charges were later dropped.

Full story at the Kansas City Star.

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Chiefs, Johnson reach settlement over ‘tweets,’ gay slurs

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, October 31, 2009 • Filed under: Sports • Comments (0)

Larry JohnsonLarry Johnson’s agent said he and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed Saturday night to cut the running back’s two-week suspension in half, saving him more than $300,000.

The Chiefs previously suspended Johnson for two weeks until Nov. 9 for what they called conduct “detrimental” to the team. Continue reading…

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Chief’s Johnson suspended over disparaging remarks, gay slurs

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, October 29, 2009 • Filed under: Sports • Comments (0)

Larry JohnsonKansas City Chiefs starting running back Larry Johnson was issued a two-week suspension Wednesday night for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Johnson posted disparaging remarks Sunday night on his Twitter page, starting with a remark about Coach Todd Haley’s lack of football playing experience. He later posted a gay slur in response to one of his Twitter followers, and Johnson directed another gay slur Monday morning in the Chiefs’ locker room.

He will not be permitted at team headquarters or allowed to participate in team activities before Nov. 9, the day after the Chiefs play at Jacksonville.

Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, said that an appeal would be filed, and would ask for an expedited hearing.

Johnson had already been barred from the team Tuesday for remarks he made earlier in the week, although that was not a suspension. Johnson will not be paid while suspended, saving the Chiefs about $660,000 in total compensation the next two weeks.

The Chiefs issued a statement Wednesday night announcing Johnson’s suspension, and a spokesman said the team wouldn’t comment further.

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