Compete July August Swimsuit Issue 2019

Compete Sports Diversity Council's

Playbook Edition Preview

2019 GSWS Kansas City

Swimsuit

Issue!

INSIDE: MVP

ALEX

ROE SWIMSUIT ISSUE 2019 • JULY - AUGUST 2019 $3.95 • COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM

WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

GAY BOWL XIX OCTOBER 10-13, 2019 HOSTED BY THE NEW YORK GAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

GAYBOWL.ORG @NGFFLGAYBOWL ON FACEBOOK

@NYGFL ON FACEBOOK @NYGAYFOOTBALL ON INSTAGRAM

JULY - AUGUST 2019 COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM SWIMSUIT FEATURE 16 Play Ball!

MVP 24 Alex Roe COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

29 Preview Edition of the CSDC Playbook 32

CSDC Members

34 Harnessing the Power of Sports CommunityTM 36 Ogden: Uniquely “Notoriously Independent” 40 Buffalo Welcomes You 41 Capital Rugby Union Earns Sports Diverity Certification 42 Winston-Salem's Top-Pick Facilities 44 Samuel James Rosenmayer Finds Value in New Life EVENTS 39 Some CSDC Members' Upcoming Tournaments 50 Calendar of Events GYM BAG 48 Hot Items You Shouldn't Do Without

COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of LASC Swimwear. ShopLASC.com

Compete Online Do you love to Compete? Get with the game and shop our online store, subscribe to Compete Magazine, read the hottest news blogs and check out the latest videos online at CompeteSportsDiversity.com.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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MILLENNIAL ON SPORTS

A

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK ATHLETIC TO BE AN ATHLETE

BY DIRK SMITH s you look at our latest swimsuit issue, you’ll

understand where they’re coming from because they’re

notice that the athletes we feature all have one

comparing athletic ability to a certain body image.

thing in common – they are all softball players.

But on the other hand, by participating in an athletic

Specifically, they’re all softball players from Kansas City

competition, they are an athlete: by definition, their

who were kind enough to strip down and model their

participation makes them athletic!

hottest swimsuits for us in anticipation of the 2019 Gay

All this is tied to our ingrained mindset of what

Softball World Series (GSWS).

makes us athletic. Physically and

It’s set to take place this fall in

mentally we, as human beings,

Kansas City, Missouri and make

have an enormous potential

sure the date – September 2-9 –

to achieve whatever we put

is marked on your calendar.

our minds to. At the risk of

This fun photo spread

sounding like an after-school

also sends the message that

special, we are all born with the

athleticism is not defined by

same muscles, joints, bones,

appearance,

everyday

metabolic energy systems and

athletes reflect a wide spectrum

capabilities to achieve whatever

of different shapes and sizes.

we mentally decide is our goal

Unfortunately,

and then physically work to

that

our

culture

makes it easy for us to define ourselves based on how we

attain.

Body positivity is about

look. It’s certainly no secret

celebrating

that toxic body image issues

our bodies – all our shapes,

affect many people, including a

sizes and colors. And there is

large proportion of the LGBTQ+

no better way to do that than

community.

the

diversity

of

through sports. Our athletic capabilities are defined by

Years of real and photoshopped images of athletes

the work we do in training for our chosen sports and

with six pack abs and tiny waists have been plastered

then putting forth our best effort in competition while

all over the place. And when you add the never-ending

having fun throughout the process.

social pressure to conform, many people refuse to play

The softball players featured in this swimsuit issue

sports because their bodies don’t match that unrealistic

embody this positive mindset. They are playing the game

body image of an athlete they have stuck in their minds.

because they love it and training hard for the 2019 Gay

However, athletic ability is not necessarily synonymous

Softball World Series. The moral of the story is this:

with aesthetic appearance; one is not defined by the

if anybody makes fun of you at a sports competition

other!

because of how you look, just slap them with your gold

In my own experiences at several Gay Games and

medals (those suckers are really heavy!).

other major sports events (especially LGBTQ+ ones), I have often experienced people criticizing me for not having a body that looks ripped. Even after winning eight medals at the 2014 Gay Games IX, people have actually reminded me that I “just didn’t look as good as I could have.” I often hear people say that they’re not very athletic and it always bothers me. On one hand, I can

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Dirk Smith, SDL Sports Editor dirk@competesportsdiversity.com @competedirk

CATBIRD SEAT

“It’s Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime”* You’ve probably heard at least the chorus line of “Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime” since it’s been used for years by a number of major companies for their ad campaigns.

It always stirs a sense of impending summer fun and excitement.

Summer’s a time each year to give in to the urge to play, laugh and dream of being that kid once again going swimming, going to the beach, taking a road trip or playing ball with your friends.

Our swimsuit issue is always one of our most popular and we like to change it up every so often, occassionally giving in to a sense of whimsy. So with our summer creative juices swirling, 2019 happens to be one of those whimsical years.

Thanks to the fun, creative pairing of Kansas City’s Terri Goddard and Scott Switzer of the 2019 Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) host committee, photographer

Terry

Newell

and

swimwear

companies LASC and Sylvia’s, we offer you some nostalgic summer fun in the form Polaroids (remember them?) of seven Kansas City models.

But for current excitement, take a look at the Preview Issue of the Compete Sports Diversity Council’s (CSDC) Playbook. The CSDC is a member organization including all segments of the global sports community working together to harness their collective power for Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Acceptance and Leadership. Get on board!

Hopefully you read this issue while kicking back and enjoying the great summer vibe – you deserve it!

PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle eric@competesportsdiversity.com COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY Executive Editor Connie Wardman connie@competesportsdiversity.com Sports Editor Dirk Smith dirk@competesportsdiversity.com Community Editor at Large Ty Nolan ty@competesportsdiversity.com Art Director Heather Brown heather@competesportsdiversity.com Contributors Ryan Adams, Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Ryan Evans, Jared Garduno, Aurelio Giordano, Catherine (CJ) Kelly, Miriam Latto, Kevin Majoros, Ryan O'Connor, Clay Partain, Brian Patrick, Elaine Wessel Staff Photographer Ariel Stevens ariel@competesportsdiversity.com Consultant Barbara Harwell barbara@competesportsdiversity.com Vice President Jared Garduno jared@competesportsdiversity.com Administration Bethany Harvat bethany@competesportsdiversity.com Compete Sports Diversity Council Consultant Raleigh Dombek raleigh@competesportsdiversity.com Copyright © 2019 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Compete Unites the World Though SportsTM All Mail PO Box 2756, Scottsdale, AZ 85252 • (800) 489-1274 Corporate Office 6991 East Camelback Road, Suite D-300, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 West Coast Office 3415 South Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90034 East Coast Office 100 Church Street, 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10007 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC

@CompeteConnie

CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com

** Music, Lyrics from "Summertime Summertime": by The Jamies. Written by Thomas Earl Jameson & Sherman Feller

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Compete Sports Diversity Leadership Council, CSDC, Sports Diversity Leader and SDL are trademarks of Media Out Loud, LLC. Subscribe to Compete Magazine online at CompeteSportsDiversity.com

WELCOME

WELCOME TO KANSAS CITY On behalf of the 2019 Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) committee, I would like to welcome you to Kansas City (KC). Since securing the series in September of 2017, we have been working diligently to make certain that you, your team and your family have a most memorable experience here and are able to add to your list of reasons why you have “Come to Play”!

COME TO STAY Our host hotels are in the heart of the city, surrounded by the best sights, sounds and tastes. Both have been recently remodeled and hold high standards for guest experience. This specific area is named Crown Center and is home to Hallmark Cards. The hotels are attached by Skywalk which creates an accessible aboveground walk from hotels to shops, dining, drinking, tourist activities, sightseeing and other destinations. At Union Station, about a half a block away from Crown Center, you can jump on the KC Streetcar that for free will shuttle you to over one hundred restaurants, bars, coffee shops, galleries, shopping –all the way to the River Market district.

COME TO PLAY Our three field complexes are the best in the Midwest! All are less than 19 miles away from our host hotels with highway access, requiring only one or two turns of the car. Mid America has 10 lit fields with plenty of space to get a good practice in before your game. Frank White has five lit fields and all play 300 feet. The lake views by the fields are truly a sight to see and this complex is maintained to some of the highest standards. The last complex, Fountain Bluff, offers eight fields with plenty of space plus a party tent between every two pods of fields. You will be able to listen to live music, mingle and watch competitive games all at the same time. All three complexes will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and snacks.

COME TO PARTY You have a full week of events that are sure to be epic! Come to town early and start the party off with our city’s annual Irish Fest just outside the front door of both hotel complexes with live music, great beer and incredible foods. On Sunday night we have a tea dance planned that is sure to be entertaining. Monday evening we will kick off the week at our Power and Light District. This unique area is six square blocks of restaurants, bars and clubs that surround a covered outdoor party space.

The Kansas City Royals will be holding their first recognized Pride Night on Wednesday. Our annual Charity Night will last through the night (until the cows come home some might say) – it will be an event the World Series has never seen and will never forget. To bookend our week of play, come to a party that is just outside the doorsteps of your hotels. The Crown Center outdoor space will feature live music, strong drinks and a celebration you will look back on and want to visit KC again.

The 2019 Gay Softball World Series Committee, the city of Kansas City and its people will give you an excellent experience. We can’t wait for you to “Come to Play! September 2-9!

See you soon,

Scott Switzer, SDL Executive Director 2019 Gay Softball World Series Committee

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Softball World Series + ASANA Bowl + 5K Run 2019 ASANA Series | Long Beach, CA | August 24 - 31, 2019

Each year ASANA partners with a Host City to deliver the ASANA Series, one of the largest, annual female sporting events in the world. Over 1,500 athletes, coaches and fans from across North America travel to compete and celebrate equality one game at a time.

In 2019 ASANA will be celebrating its 12th year when the Series takes place in Long Beach, CA August 27 - 31st.

Activities will include our annual ASANA Softball World Series, our re-vamped flag football tournament, the ASANA Bowl, as well as our first 5K run to benefit our partner, Athlete Ally. Join us for a memorable week in beautiful California!

asanaseries.org

COMPETE READER SURVEY & GRANDSTANDING FAVORITE BALLPARK SNACK

LETTERS to COMPETE GRANDSTANDING

40%

HOTDOG

20%

PEANUTS

20%

POPCORN

20%

NACHOS

Thanks for the Memories (July-Aug. 2019) Really enjoyed reading your 50 Years of Gay Sports issue. It was great to see how far we’ve all come. I was amazed to see how many professional athletes have come out, too. It makes me feel l’m not alone.

Ryan Dahl Baltimore, Maryland

Blast from the Past (May-June 2019) Just like a foul ball, time flies. As a silver citizen I remember David Kopay’s coming out. It has been nice to see all the changes in LGBTQ+ sports since then. Outsports and Compete have been my go-to source for all things sports and I am glad to see the likes of Ryan O’Callaghan coming out.

Debbie Dykstra Los Angeles, California Please submit all Letters to Compete via email to letters@competenetwork.com.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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2019 KANSAS CITY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

If you love our 2019 Swimsuit Issue then check out the

2019 KANSAS CITY GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT GUIDE published by Compete Sports Diversity!

WHAT? 5,000+ Combined Print/Digital Official Tournament Guides WHEN? September 1-7 WHERE? Kansas City, Missouri See you there! www.competesportsdiversity.com Photo courtesy of NAGAAA Archives

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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2019 SWIMSUIT ISSUE

PLAY BALL! A fun swimsuit photoshoot courtesy of the gay softball world series Kansas City has always been one of Compete’s favorite cities. We love Kansas City so much we held our Compete Sports Diversity Awards there in 2017. And when Terri Goddard and Scott Switzer of the Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) committee offered to host a swimsuit shoot, we jumped (OK, maybe we dove) at the opportunity! With the help of photographer Terry Newell and swimwear companies LASC and Sylvia’s, Terri and Scott corralled seven eager models into the photo studio.

So enjoy Polaroids from this year’s shoot and catch our models out and about from September 2-9 at this year’s 2019 Kansas City Gay Softball World Series.

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2019 SWIMSUIT ISSUE

The first GSWS was held in

The Kansas City Royals are named after another area institution: The American Royal, a weekslong horse and livestock show dating back to 1899 and featuring barbecue contests, rodeos and a full-fledged festival.

n San co Sa isco cis ranc n a F Fr www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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FEATURE

n Sa isco c an r F

San Francisco hosted the first GSWS. San Francisco has hosted the

San co most GSWS of any city. cis n a Fr

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2019 SWIMSUIT ISSUE

220 parks, 134 miles of trails and bikeways, 29 lakes, 103 playgrounds and 119 monuments.

Kansas City touts

220 teams

are expected to participate in this year's GSWS.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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2019 SWIMSUIT ISSUE

n Sa cisco an r F GSWS 2019 is expected to pump

$10-$12 million

into the KC economy.

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o

The Kansas City boasts more than

area

100 barbecue restaurants.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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FEATURE

142.2 decibels at Arrowhead Stadium set the Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium on the planet.

San co cis n a Fr

San co ncis a r F

Each March, KC hosts more college basketball games than anywhere in the country.

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THANK YOU

SPECIAL THANKS GO TO THE FOLLOWING Swimsuit Photo Shoot Organizer Terri Goddard, SDL Director of Fundraising and Special Events 2019 Kansas City Gay Softball World Series cometoplay.org Photographer Terry Newell terrynewell.com

Swimsuits Provided By: LASC shoplasc.com Sylvia's Swimwear goswim.com Athlete Models Alex Roe Blane Davis Caine Kreimendahl Cameron Wilcott Daniel Bryom Michael Flinn Sheila Sheridan

GSWS Trivia Provided By: Catherine "CJ" Kelly, SDL Operations, NAGAAA nagaasoftball.org Kansas City Trivia Provided by VisitKC.com Sponsor

hamburgermarys.com/kc

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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MVP

ALEX TEAM COMPETE MVP

ROE FIRST AND LAST NAME: Alex Roe. AGE: 26.

HOMETOWN: Weston, Missouri.

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Kansas City, Missouri.

CURRENT SPORTS PLAYED: Volleyball, softball.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Female, Serena Williams; Male, Travis Kelce.

FAVORITE TEAM: Kansas City Chiefs.

INTERESTS/HOBBIES: Working out, playing sports of any kind, hiking, movies, beer tasting, medical knowledge, spending time with family and friends.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: Legs and butt.

WHY YOU LOVE SPORTS: The competition that the game offers along with the chance to make lifelong friendships.

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HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN SPORTS: At a young age my parents noticed that all three of us boys were full of energy so as my mom says, “It was a way to help you get rid of the extra.” I started playing soccer at the age of six in a local league and went on to play many sports throughout high school and college.

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: Volleyball, softball, football, basketball, track and field.

WHAT’S YOUR DAY JOB: Trauma ICU Nurse.

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Becoming a Nurse, being able to help others with the education that I have received.

GREATEST ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS: All State Football for 2 years; Boys Junior Nationals Volleyball Qualifier; School/ State Record for longest field goal; Club Volleyball, The University of MissouriColumbia.

WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL STORY? Growing up in a small farm town had its advantages and disadvantages to say the least. Everyone knows who you are. I remember feeling a little “different” from the boys around me in Weston. It was my sophomore year that I realized what made me feel this way. I played every sport the high school had to offer. I felt like I was supposed to be the quintessential jock with a girlfriend. When I left Weston for college to pursue a nursing education I found myself a little lost because this “small town, wave at everyone, know everyone” changed to the exact opposite. I truly was able to come to grips with the fact that I am a gay male during my freshman year of college. By then, some people had caught on and others were still in shock.

The team that I currently play on in Kansas City is called the KC Hitmen.

Our team has a family feel to it. We share so many laughs, tears, hugs, smiles and beers. They entered my life when I needed a group to belong to the most. I’m not one to often express feelings to those around me but they mean the world to me. They give me confidence to be myself, they joke about the things we cannot change and they love me for me. I can’t thank them enough for being my people.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOU HOPE TO TEACH THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAT MAY BE LOOKING UP TO YOU? I would tell myself to “Be yourself because there is only one you.” I would teach myself to be more patient and not be so hard on myself. I hope to teach the younger generation that it’s OK to be different, to not fit the mold of what others think you should be.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? To attend a Doctoral program in Nursing Anesthesia and hopefully find a man to build a family with.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY’S INCLUSION IN SPORTS DIVERSITY? I think that it’s great to hear more and more cases where the LGBTQ+ community is involved in sports. Especially those at a higher level. When growing up I occasionally thought to myself that “I can’t do that, gay people don’t do that.” I think role models are so valuable to the youth in our community. They help us to realize that being gay isn’t a limitation and that you can do anything you set your mind to.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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WELCOME TO KANSAS CITY! Fun fact: Kansas City has more boulevards than Paris, France.

It’s also the perfect place to learn about the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS), a simple system used by thousands of business owners to: • Get the right people in the right seats • Solve problems permanently • And boost the business’s bottom line When everyone isn’t on the same page, it’s easy to feel like you don’t have a grip on the business.

Schedule a 90-minute meeting and find out how EOS can help you take control of your business.

www.kyledanner.com kyle@kyledanner.com 913.481.5909

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Cellar Rat Wine Columbia Consulting Drip IV Health Hamburger Mary’s Kansas City J. Hilburn Custom Menswear; Julie McCann, Stylist Kyle Danner Consulting Long-Bell Pizza Co. Mike’s Liquor Missouri Pride National Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Scout Coffee Sin City Classic Sports Festival State Farm Insurance; Greg Thurman Travel Unrivaled Woody’s Kansas City

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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JULY - AUGUST 2019 COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITYCOUNCIL.COM

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

THE POWER OF SPORTS COMMUNITY™ Welcome to the Preview Edition of our first-ever Compete Sports Diversity Playbook!

The Compete Sports Diversity Council’s (CSDC) Playbook is designed to introduce our members to each other and to prospective sponsors and/or partners. Compete has been a labor of love since its inception back in 2006. And as an early leader in the sports diversity movement, we continue to be thrilled at the positive change and growth that’s continuing to take place.

One of the things we realized along the way was a need for sports teams, leagues and organizations large and small to get to know one another and help one another out. There also needed to be a way for them to meet current and prospective corporate partners and sponsors as well as travel groups, CVBs, community groups and even individuals.

The ability to work together made sense for everyone. What was needed was a way to harness the immense power of the overall sports community in a way that was in some way a win-win for everyone involved.

To answer that need we created the Compete Sports Diversity Council and we’re very excited about the future of the CSDC. Our first official meeting consisted of three members. Today the CSDC has over 100 members. Some of our members are small, some are very large but they all want to open sports to all individuals no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

To see the Council grow is something everyone at Compete—and our members—are very proud of. And if you aren’t already a part of the CSDC, please accept my personal invitation to join us as we continue to lay a positive foundation for sports participation through our Five IDEAL Principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Acceptance and Leadership.

Please visit our website at sportsdiversitycouncil.com. There you can:

• View our updated membership list

• Download our Membership Guide

• Check out our events calendar

• Sign up for a committee

• More to come

The Preview Edition will be updated and expanded when we launch our Fall/Winter Playbook later this year.

With You,

Eric Carlyle, SDLT Publisher/CEO eric@competesportsdiversity.com @CompeteEric

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

MEMBERSHIP ROSTER FOUNDING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS MEMBER SINCE WEBSITE Compete Magazine 2014 competediversity.com Athlete Ally 2015 athleteally.org Federation of Gay Games (FGG) 2015 gaygames.org Greater Los Angeles Softball Association 2015 glasasoftball.org National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) 2015 ngffl.org North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) 2016 nagaaasoftball.org Sin City Classic Sports Festival 2015 sincityclassic.org

CHARTER MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS MEMBER SINCE WEBSITE Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) 2017 asanaseries.org Connect Sports 2017 connectsports.com Desert AIDS Project 2015 desertaidsproject.org Detroit Sports Commission 2017 detroitsports.org Gay Men's Chorus Los Angeles (GMCLA) 2016 gmcla.org International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) 2018 iglfa.org International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) 2015 igra.com International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) 2018 igbo.org Las Vegas Pride 2015 lasvegaspride.org Major League Soccer (MLS) 2017 mlssoccer.com March To Equality 2016 marchtoequality.org Sports Diversity Awards (The Petey Awards) 2014 competediversity.com Richmond Region Tourism 2018 visitrichmond.com WeHo Dodgeball 2017 wehododgeball.com

GOLD MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

MEMBER SINCE WEBSITE

AASB Meetings & Events 2018 Arizona Cardinals 2018 Arizona Coyotes 2018 Arizona Diamondbacks 2018 Arizona Gay Volleyball Association (AGVA) 2018 ASANA World Series 2017 Atlanta Women's Flag Football League 2018 AYF Sports 2018 Big Gay Frisbee 2018 Canadian Rockies Rodeo Association 2019 Canadian Rockies Rodeo North 2019 Cactus Cities Softball League 2018

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aasitebuilder.com azcardinals.com nhl.com/coyotes mlb.com/dbacks azgv.org asanaseries.org

AYFHub.com bgfultimate.com crgra.com crgra.com cactuscities.org

Capital Rugby Union 2018 rugby.org Cascade Flag Football 2019 cascadeflagfootball.org CASSSTRONG 2019 cassiniemann.com Cheer Los Angeles 2018 cheerla.com Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CSMA) 2018 chicagomsa.org Cloud Sports Network 2018 cloudsportsnetwork.com Columbus 2020 Gay Softball World Series 2019 clgsa.com Compete Golf Classic 2015 competediversity.com Compete Steel City Sports Festival 2018 competediversity.com Experience Scottsdale 2018 experiencescottsdale.com Federation Gaymers League 2018 gaymersleague.com Fountain City Roller Derby 2019 fountaincityrollerderby.com Gay & Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation 2019 www.gayrodeohistory.org Gay and Lesbian Tennis Association (GLTA) 2018 glta.net Gay Bowl XIX 2019 gaybowl.org Gay Games Hong Kong 2018 gaygameshk2022.com Gay Kickball 2019 gaykickball.com Gay Polo League (GPL) 2017 gaypolo.com Gay Softball World Series 2019 2017 cometoplay.org Gay Softball World Series 2020 2019 nagaaasoftball.org Globaux Source 2019 globauxsource.com Greater Denver Area Sports Association (GDASA) 2019 greaterdenverasa.org Innovative Menswear 2017 innovative-menswear.myshopify.com Kansas City Center for Inclusion 2019 inclusivekc.org Kansas City Women's Sports Association 2019 KC Jazz 2019 kcjazzwrfc.com KC Storm 2019 kcstormfootball.com Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) 2018 lvcva.com LGBT Kansas City 2019 lgbtkc.com Los Angeles Volleyball Organization (LAVO) 2017 playlavo.org Lynn Lewis Foundation Tournament 2017 lynnlewisfoundation.com Man Up Woman Up 2018 manupflagfootball.com Melbourne 2020 IGLA Championships 2019 melbourne2020.org Missouri Gay Rodeo Association 2019 mgra.us National Football League (NFL) 2019 nfl.com National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) 2018 ngba.org North American Cup 2018 usadodgeball.com

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

Camp Camp 2018 campcamp.com Chicago Southland 2018 visitchicagosouthland.com King's Inn San Diego 2018 kingsinnsandiego.com L'Opossum 2018 lopossum.com Visit Knoxville 2019 visitknoxville.com Visit Overland Park 2019 visitoverlandpark.com DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix/Tempe 2018 doubletree3.com

SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADER TRAVEL DESIGNEES

MEMBER SINCE

INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEMBERS

MEMBER SINCE

Chuck Browning, IGRA Trustee John Deffee, NAGAAA Board Member Dr. William Kapfer, JP Morgan Chase Brett Klein, Founding Member David Kopay, retired NFL Athlete Bryan Lee, Anti-Bullying Expert Sam Lehman, NAGAAA & NGFFL Board Member Chip McKenny, Gay Polo Founder Alexis Levi, Sports Pioneer Scott Norton, former Pro Bowler, PBA Champion R. Tony Smith, former FGG Board Member Garrett Patiani, Qlife Co-Publisher, Gaymers League Founder Micah Porter, Track Coach, Sports Pioneer Dr. Jen Welter, First-Ever Female NFL Coach Nance Wernes, Sports Pioneer Russ White, Qlife Publisher

2018 2019 2014 2015 2016 2018

2016 2015 2019 2016 2017 2019 2019

UN C IL

COMPE

CO

TE

Y

Eric Carlyle, SDLT 2017 Derek Dawson, SDLT 2018 T S D I V ERS IT OR Raleigh Dombek, SDLT 2018 P S Jared Garduno, SDLT 2017 Barbara Harwell, SDLT 2017 Jerrine Lee, SDLT 2019 Jim McMichael, SDLT 2019 Clay Partain, SDLT 2019 Matthew Robinette, SDLT 2018 Crista Tompson, SDLT 2018 Connie Wardman, SDLT 2017

2019 2019 2017

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

TE

CHANGE CHAMPION ORGANIZATIONS MEMBER SINCE WEBSITE

MEMBER SINCE Ryan Adams, SDL 2018Â Chris Balton, SDL 2017 Letwon Canton, SDL 2018 Nina Coles, SDL 2017 Congresswoman Sherice Davids, SDL; Honorary 2019 Gale Fitzgerald, SDL 2018 Terri Goddard, SDL 2019 Kimberly Hadley, SDL 2018 Patrick Higgins, SDL 2017 Shigeo Iwamiya, SDL 2018 Catherine "CJ" Kelly, SDL 2017 Molly Lenore, SDL 2017 Doug Litwin, SDL 2016 Rick Mass, SDL 2018 Larry Ruiz, SDL 2018 Ken Scearce, SDL 2018 Angela Smith, SDL 2017 Dirk Smith, SDL 2017 Scott Switzer, SDL 2018 Thurman Williams, SDL 2017

SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADER DESIGNEE

O SP

COMPE

North American Gay Soccer Association 2016 nagaaasoftball.org Phoenix Frontrunners 2017 phxfr.org Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL) 2018 pgffl.com Pop Sports 2018 wehododgeball.com Pride Bowl 2017 chicagomsa.org Pride Card Services 2018 pridecardservices.com Pride Run Series 2017 priderunseries.com Richmond Sports Jubilee 2018 competediversity.om Samual James Watches 2019 samueljameswatches.com Saguaro Cup 2018 saguarocup.com Salt Lake City Unity Fest 2018 saltlakeunityfest.com Sea Bowl 2019 seabowl.leagueapps.com/tournaments Showtime Sports 2018 showtimesportz.com Snell & Wilmer LLP 2016 swlaw.com Spikeball 2019 spikeball.com SportsPittsburgh 2018 sportspittsburgh.com Steel City Sports Festival 2018 competediversity.com Sunshine Cup 2017 sfffl.org Tempe Tourism Office 2018 tempetourism.com Varsity Gay League (VGL) 2017 varsitygayleague.com USA Dodgeball 2018 usadodgeball.com Visit Buffalo & Niagara Falls 2018 visitbuffaloniagara.com Visit Mesa 2018 visitmesa.com Visit Ogden 2018 visitogden.com VisitPittsburgh 2018 visitpittsburgh.com Visit Salt Lake 2018 visitsaltlake.com Visit Tucson Sports 2019 visittucson.org Visit Winston-Salem 2018 visitwinstonsalem.com WeHo Sports Festival 2017 wehosportsfestival.com World Class Cheerleading 2018 wccheer.com Yin Hospitality 2018 yinhospitality.com

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SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SPORTS COMMUNITY

BY IAN COLGATE

As positive reactions about the Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC) continue to spread, there are many individuals and organizations who have questions about the CSDC. I recently sat down with Jared Garduno, SDLT, the CSDC vice president to get some answers.

Ian Colgate: Exactly what is the Compete Sports Diversity Council, or CSDC as most people call it?

Jared Garduno: The CSDC is an organization comprised of over 100 members; that includes sports leagues, sports organizations, sports tournaments, nonprofit groups, corporate partners, convention & visitors bureaus, community groups and even individuals. “We Harness the Power of Sports Community” by connecting, supporting, mentoring and building our organizations together.

As a membership community, the CSDC educates and unites our members to build a more diverse, powerful and prosperous sports community and to connect recreational and professional sports organizations. It also connects sports leaders not only with their peers but also with corporate and community partners, including corporate sponsors and travel and tourism providers.

The CSDC also educates and unites its members through its Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) Designation Program, Member Certification Program and CSDC Huddles (influencers). Educational opportunities include conferences, one-on-one mentoring, webinars and virtual courses.

IC: Can you give me an example of what some of your members have experienced?

JG: Sure. We have members of all sizes and interests.

One of our first members was the Pride Run Series. They produce a series of races and their largest race attracts over 1,000 participants. The Arizona Diamondbacks and NFL joined last year. The Detroit Sports Commission was our first Certified sports commission and Pride Card Services is a corporate partner that gives up to 20% of its earnings back to non-profits. Congresswoman Sharice Davids was presented with a membership and honorary SDL designation at a recent CSDC event in Overland Park, Kansas.

I think you can see from these examples that while our members are all very different in size and scope, they are still a part of the larger sports community. They realize the

34 COMPETE july-august 2019

benefits of being part of a larger group that both supports and advocates for sports diversity, inclusion acceptance and equality.

IC: What is the CSDC’s mission and how did you come up with it?

JG: The Compete Sports Diversity Council really is a global network of LGBTQ+ athletes, sports fans, leaders and allies sharing resources and connections that empower our community and promote diversity and inclusion. And we built the organization on our Five IDEAL Principles Pledge that stands for – Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Acceptance and Leadership.

IC: You’ve mentioned your SDL Designation and Member Certification Program. Can you please explain the difference between them?

JG: The SDL (Sports Diversity Leader) Designation is awarded to individuals who want to promote sports diversity. The prospective SDL Designee must sign our IDEAL Principles Pledge, complete an application and eight online courses and can then add the SDL designation after his, her or they name.

Member Certification is designed for organizations that want to demonstrate their commitment to sports diversity.

Certified Members must sign our IDEAL Principles Pledge and complete an application as well. The Certified Member organization must also maintain at least one person within the organization, either an employee or volunteer, who is an SDL Designee at all times.

IC: How can interested organizations or individuals join the CSDC? JG: Prospective members can check us out online at sportsdiversitycouncil.com. Current members can also check out open committee positions.

IC: What is the best way for organizations or individuals to contact you?

JG:

Through

our

website

or

jared@competesportsdiversity.com.

by

email

at

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SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

OGDEN – UNIQUELY

BY ANISSA BROWN, SDL

When

the

Transcontinental

Railroad

was

Visitors experience warm hospitality as they

completed 150 years ago, Ogden became the “Junction

explore Ogden’s historic and creative districts, play in its

City” between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific

entertainment district or on its abundant rivers, lakes,

Railroads. It was said, “You can’t go anywhere without

trails and mountains. Public art seems to be everywhere,

coming to Ogden.” As a result, this historic city at the

from colorful murals and sculptures to painted street

base of the stunning Wasatch Mountains has long been

pianos, live music, theater, dance and performance art.

the Beehive State’s most diverse and welcoming city.

Simply put, no other city in the United States offers

The gambling halls, opium dens, and brothels that

Ogden’s unique mixture of mountain and metro culture.

existed during the rough-and-tumble days of prohibition

And no other city could more proudly proclaim the

have transformed into eclectic eateries, art galleries,

description, “Notoriously Independent.”

and brewpubs. The national- and world-championship events it regularly hosts embrace people of all races, cultures, sexualities and backgrounds.

Ogden is a city of celebration, from annual cultural festivals like Juneteenth, Ogden Pride, and the Ogden Hispanic Festival to the Harvest Moon Festival and Witchstock, the city is best summed up in two words: Inclusive and Independent. It is often called “The Other Utah.”

36 COMPETE july-august 2019

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES & MEMBERS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Member:

Eric Carlyle, SDLT: Compete

Co-chair:

Master's Degree in Global Studies

John Deffee: NAGAAA

Shigeo Iwamiya, SDL: Master's

Jared Garduno, SDL: Compete

Degree in Higher Education from

Shigeo Iwamiya, SDL: NGFFL

Salisbury University; Interim

Sam Lehman: NAGAAA, NGFFL

Diversity & Inclusion Director at

Jake Mason, SDL: USA Dodgeball

Suffolk University; National Gay

Larry Ruiz, SDL: GLASA

Flag Football League (NGFFL) Board

Ken Scearce, SDL: Sin City Classic

Member; Gay Bowl Liaison.

Member:

Member:

Degree in Adult & Community

Angela Smith, SDL: ASANA Connie Wardman, SDLT: Compete

ADVISORS

Jerrine Lee, SDL: Master's Degree in Recreation, Parks and Sports Management from Virginia

Dr. William Kapfer, JP Morgan Chase

Commonwealth University; Sports

Akiva Lewis, Google

Development Manager at Richmond Region Tourism.

38 COMPETE july-august 2019

Micah Porter, SDL (Pending): from University of Denver; Assistant Principal at Alameda International Jr./Sr. High School; International Studies Educator; Track & Field Coach.

Connie Wardman, SDLT: Master's Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Executive Editor & Education Director at Compete Sports Diversity.

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS 2019 EVENTS SPIKEBALL ROUNDNET ASSOCIATION West Bonus Tour Stop Salt Lake City, Utah August 17

BGF SAN FRANCISCO Ultimate Frisbee Folsom Invitational San Francisco, California September 22

2020 EVENTS SIN CITY CLASSIC SPORTS FESTIVAL 24 Different Sports Las Vegas, Nevada January 16-19

GAY KICKBALL Gay Kickball World Series Dallas, Texas October 4-6

AMATEUR SPORTS ALLIANCE OF NORTH AMERICA (ASANA) ASANA Series: Women’s Softball & 5K Run Long Beach, California August 24-31

NATIONAL GAY FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NGFFL) Gay Bowl XIX New York City, New York October 10-13

USA DODGEBALL Elite Dodgeball Nationals Austin, Texas August 30-September 1

AMERICA'S FINEST CITY SOFTBALL LEAGUE Autumn Classic San Diego, California October 11-13

NORTH AMERICAN GAY AMATEUR ATHLETIC ALLIANCE (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri September 1-7

INTERNATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN AQUATICS (IGLA) International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics Championships Melbourne, Australia February 20-25

INTERNATIONAL GAY BOWLING ORGANIZATION (IGBO) IGBO Mid-Year Conference & Tournament XXXIX Detroit, Michigan November 5-10

March 2020 • West Hollywood, CA • Andaz West Hollywood Hotel

SAVE THE DATE

Are you an inclusion-minded sporting event organizer or a global destination committed to diversity?

At Connect Sports Diversity Events Summit, sporting event organizers and global destinations meet in face-to-face appointments and develop connections for future business.

For inquiries, contact Holly Anderson at hsanderson@connectmeetings.com.

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

COMPETE

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SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

BUFFALO Are you looking for an area rich in history, culture, diversity and sports as well as one that welcomes LGBTQ+ athletes and fans? The Buffalo Niagara area fits the bill perfectly. Buffalo has become one of America’s most exciting stories of urban transformation as recently resettled immigrants, millennials, preservationists and creative types have reinvigorated the city like a cool Lake Erie breeze. These passionate Buffalonians have expanded its food scene, restored its architecture and revitalized its waterfront and neighborhoods.

CULTURE

SPORTS

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex just wrapped up 25 years and $52 million in reconstruction and restoration work and is open for tours. Along the city’s waterfront, formerly disused grain silos have been converted into a performance space for poets, musicians and artists as well as a playground for thrill seekers who zip line and rock climb among the structures. In addition to many wonderful art galleries, studios and outdoor exhibits, there are also wonderful ethnic festivals, concerts, beautiful gardens and more – all a graphic and living testament to Buffalo’s welcoming spirit.

If you love sports as much as we do, then Buffalo is definitely the place to visit. Buffalo is home to a number of professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Bills, NHL’s Sabres, NLL’s Bandits, Beauts Woman’s Pro Hockey, Queen City Roller Girls and AAA baseball’s Bisons.

If you’re an LGBTQ+ recreational athlete coming to Buffalo to play your sport of choice, whether it is bowling, dodgeball or kickball for example, the City of Buffalo and its citizens are waiting to welcome you to this beautiful locale. Buffalo offers hotels, tournament and event venues for virtually every sport. We invite you to consider Buffalo Niagara not only for your leisure travel but also to help host your next sporting event.

You can find out more of what Buffalo has to offer by visiting www.visitbuffaloniagara.com.

LGBTQ+ DIVERSITY If you are looking for a city that truly welcomes members of the LGBTQ+ community, the HRC has named Buffalo one of the best gay-friendly cities. If you visit the website of Visit Buffalo Niagara, the area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), you will notice a tab for “LGBTQ.” The CVB tells about the city’s LGBTQ+ history and even offers two itinerary options—a “Gay Itinerary” and a “Lesbian Itinerary.” We recommend you check out both options.

FOOD Buffalo is known the world over for great food thanks to Buffalo wings, created at the city’s Anchor Bar in 1964. A combination of historic regional specialties and immigrants infusing the city with flavors from around the world have made Buffalo one of America’s top food cities. Try Ethiopian, Laotian and Burmese options at the West Side Bazaar, a food incubator for recently resettled immigrants. A thriving craft beer, coffee and cocktail scene round out Buffalo’s burgeoning culinary landscape.

40 COMPETE july-august 2019

WHERE TO STAY? We recommend Embassy Suites by Hilton Buffalo 200 Delaware Avenue New York, NY 14202 716.842.100 Embassy Suites Buffalo is a new contemporary hotel located in downtown Buffalo in the Avant. The Hotel is easily accessible to business and government offices, the Theater and Entertainment Districts and many restaurants. Each of the 182 two-room suites have dramatic glass wall views, designer furniture, finishes and wall coverings, two 32″ LCD televisions, and a wet bar with microwave, mini refrigerator and coffeemaker.

Included in the daily room rate are a complimentary fully cooked-to-order breakfast and a complimentary twohour Evening Reception.

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

CAPITAL RUGBY UNION STEPS UP TO EARN SPORTS

DIVERSITY CERTIFICATION

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

C

apital Rugby Union has been selected by the Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC) to be the first rugby organization to become CSDC Certified. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the certification demonstrates Capital Rugby’s commitment to sports diversity and speaks to rugby as one of the most inclusive sports played today. It also harkens back to the roots of the CSDC and Compete Magazine; both were founded by Eric Carlyle, a former rugby player with the Phoenix Storm Rugby Football Club, according to director of the CSDC, Jared Garduno.

To earn the certification Capital Rugby Union will be required to complete an application process and sign the IDEAL Principles Pledge supporting diversity in sports.

The Pledge stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Acceptance and Leadership. Capital Rugby Union also has nominated two board members to earn the Sports Diversity Leader (SDL) Designation. Those SDL Designees must complete an application, interview process and complete eight online education modules as well as demonstrate leadership and community service accomplishments.

Matthew Robinette, president of Capital Rugby Union had this to say when asked about applying for CSDC Certification: “The Capital Rugby Union is excited to lead the United States Rugby community in terms of diversity training for leadership. The sport of rugby is growing in popularity in all demographics, including the LGBTQ+ ranks. The Union wants to ensure our member clubs and their leadership can recruit athletes, understand different populations and grow their club and the sport.”

While some are surprised that Richmond is so open to diversity and inclusion, the forward thinking of Robinette and the Capital Rugby members goes back to 2013 when the Virginia Rugby Union and the Potomac Rugby Union consolidated ranks to become Capital Rugby Union. The organization now represents rugby players across the wide geographical areas of northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The reason for naming their new group Capital? They say the answer is easy since the new region includes the colonial capital of Williamsburg and the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. (A note on their website reminds readers a capital is a seat of government while a capitol is a building.)

“The fact is that I can only experience the world through my eyes. While I try to be open minded and understanding

toward different populations,” said Robinette, “I don't always know what to say or do without offending. The partnership with the Compete Sports Diversity Council will demonstrate our commitment to becoming a progressive thought leader in the community, to provide value to our member clubs and to authenticate our Union's acceptance of all athletes. On behalf of the entire Board of the Capital Rugby Union – thank you for this opportunity and partnership!” Robinette has also applied for the SDL Designation.”

Garduno expressed excitement in being able to work on certifying Capital Rugby Union as a leader in sports diversity. The group will join the CSDC membership organization now comprised of over 100 organizational and individual members representing over 100,000 member-participants. Members include local, regional and national sports organizations, businesses and individual members. In addition to membership, the CSDC certifies organizations as leaders in sports diversity and offers the SDL Designation program to individuals.

Photos by Colleen McCloskey

www.Competesportsdiversity.com

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SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

WINSTON-SALEM SHOWCASES TOP-PICK FACILITIES When it comes to sports, Winston-Salem’s got serious game. Whatever the sport, whatever the skill level, athletes of all ages know they can count on top-level

stadium field with seating for 1,400 and field house complete the complex.

Countless

teams

have

gotten

“schooled”

in

venues ideally suited for youth, amateur or professional

Winston-Salem, thanks in part to an impressive and

events and competitions, inside and out. Pristine college

diverse base of collegiate venues and facilities at Wake

facilities, state-of-the-art indoor track, spacious arena,

Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and

downtown convention center, well-maintained multipurpose fields – they’re all a part of the game plan in Winston-Salem.

Set to open in 2019, RISE Indoor Sports will offer a 120,000 square foot indoor sport complex, featuring eight full-sized, hardwood basketball courts; five batting cages; turf training fields; and 16 volleyball courts with a seating capacity of up to 2,500 and 30-foot ceiling clearance.

four other notable colleges and universities.

JDL Fast Track has quickly become one of the premier indoor track and field facilities in the southeast and houses a 200-meter oval track with a Mondotrack FTX surface, the same surface used at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

Conveniently located in the heart of North Carolina, between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the

Just minutes from downtown Winston-Salem,

Atlantic coast, Winston-Salem enjoys four distinct, yet

RISE Indoor Sports is situated on 22 acres adjacent to

subtle seasons. In addition to its world-class athletic

BB&T Sports Park, which offers 13, full-sized soccer

facilities, Winston-Salem has more than 5,000 hotel

fields – 11 with lights. In January, the complex added

rooms, giving event organizers, and athletes a variety of

four artificial turf fields. Elevated viewing areas, a

lodging facilities from which to choose.

It is a tribute to Winston-Salem that the NCAA Championships were so successful. Your team provided outstanding leadership and did a great job.

— John Kuzio Championships and Alliances, National Collegiate Athletic Association

North Carolina Contact: Bonny Bernat, CSEE Senior Sports and Events Sales Manager Bonny@VisitWinstonSalem.com 866-728-4200 main • 336-728-4215 direct

VisitWinstonSalem.com 42 COMPETE july-august 2019

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

FINDING VALUE IN HIS NEW LIFE

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

I recently had the opportunity to interview Samuel James Rosenmayer, founder and owner of Samuel James Watches, Ltd. Sam, as he prefers to be called, is a millennial transgender man who is open about his life experiences.

Recognizing the importance of visibility to remove the stigma of being transgender, he’s thoroughly open about his experiences, letting people know that his transition process opened the door to an authentic life where his body finally matched his gender identity. What’s particularly interesting is that in the process of transitioning, his artistic flair not only launched his watch business, it also awakened his philanthropic instincts.

Growing up in Chicago as the youngest child in a conservative “yours, mine and ours” household, Sam revealed that by age five he felt something was wrong, that somehow “God messed up.” By ages six and seven he KNEW something was wrong. And by ages eight and nine he really was feeling a deep internal desire to be a boy. He knew his desire to change gender wouldn’t go over well with his devout Catholic mother so he continued trying (unsuccessfully) to suppress those feelings.

By the time Sam came out at age 22, he did so as a lesbian and not only lost all his friends, he also didn’t know anyone in the LGBTQ+ community due to his conservative upbringing. He really emphasizes the importance of researching your local area for resources such as therapists, availability of hormones and places to stay, some of which may be free.

With the help of family, new friends and some therapy, at 25 he finally decided to transition from female to male.

While many think it is immediate joy and relief when you begin the transition process, Sam says it was a real challenge, again emphasizing the importance of therapy and finding a support network. He describes his first six months of transition as terrible. But that’s when his artistic talent and his love of watches kicked in and gave him a new focus.

An enthusiastic watch collector, he’s always valued the unique looks and fine craftsmanship of older watches, seeing them as important jewelry. To pass the time Sam began to draw unique watches that were bold but also unisex in design. Receiving lots of positive feedback on his designs, he began researching how watches were made. The result?

By age 26 he launched Samuel James Watches, Ltd. with watches that are distinctive, high-quality, dependable and yet affordable.

Sam now donates $10 from every watch sale to non-profit organizations that are fighting to end human trafficking, protect our environment, suicide prevention and animal abuse prevention. The organizations change on a monthly basis but some of them include: Human Rights Campaign (HRC), The Trevor Project, GLSEN, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Humane Society of the U.S. Once Sam became the man he always knew he was without hiding, he was able to value himself as a worthy member of society. Sharing his transition experiences and his watches with others now feed both his body and soul.

To view his collections of watches, go to www.SamuelJamesWatches.com.

44 COMPETE july-august 2019

SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK

THE COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY PLAYBOOK IS PUBLISHED BY THE COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY COUNCIL© 2019 6991 E CAMELBACK RD., STE D-300 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85251 WWW.SPORTSDIVERISTYCOUNCIL.COM

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COMPETE

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nagaaasoftball.org (636) 3NAGAAA Photo courtesy of the NAGAAA Archives

Save the Date

September 1-7, 2019 GSWS ‘19 - Kansas City gaysoftballworldseries.org

EVENTS: FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT WWW. COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM AUTO RACING New Hampshire 301 Loudon, N.H., July 21

Show Me St. Louis Classic St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 30 CYCLING

Gander Outdoors 400 Long Pond, Pa., July 28

Tour de France Belgium-France, July 6-28

AQUATICS

DANCESPORT

Maryland Swim for Life Chestertown, Md., July 13

DC OUT Washington, D.C., Aug. 29-Sept. 1

BASEBALL 2019 MLB All-Star Game Cleveland, July 7-10

EXTREME SPORTS

BOWLING

Summer X Games Minneapolis, Aug. 1-4

Houston Invitational Houston, July 5

GOLF

Liberty Belle Invitational Philadelphia, July 5

British Open County Antrim, Northern Ireland, July 18-21

San Diego Invitational San Diego, Aug. 2 Go Bowling at the Glen Watkins Glen, N.Y., Aug. 4 Orbit Raleigh Bowling Invitational Tournament Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Las Vegas Showgirl Invitational Tournament Las Vegas, Aug. 30

50 COMPETE july-august 2019

MULTI-SPORT TOURNAMENTS American Games Lima, Peru, July 26-Aug.11 POWERLIFTING Blackpool 2019 LGBT International Powerlifting Championships Blackpool, Great Britain, July 19-21

RODEO Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo Denver, July 5-7 Canadian Rockies Rodeo North Calgary, Alberta, Aug. 2-4 RUGBY Road to Rugby World Cup (U.S. vs Canada) Glendale, Colo., July 27 RUNNING San Diego Pride 5K Run & Walk San Diego, July 13 National Capital Pride Run (5K Run; 2.5K Walk) Ottawa, Ontario, Aug. 24 SOFTBALL Badgerland Classic Madison, Wis., July 5-7 Emerald City Classic Seattle, July 5-7 Northern Classic Toronto, Ontario, July 5-7 Liberty Classic Long Beach, Calif., July 5-7

Scissortail Shootout Oklahoma City, July 5-7 MNSA Softball Classic Nashville, July 5-7 MAGIC Tournament Washington, D.C., July 5-7 Minuteman Softball Tournament Boston, July 19-21 Indy’s Hit & Run Softball Tournament Indianapolis, July 26-28 Portland Cup Portland, Ore., July 26-28 K-Town Klassic Knoxville, Aug. 2-4 Pacific Cup International Softball Tournament Vancouver, British Columbia, Aug. 9-11 TENNIS San Diego Open 34 San Diego, July 5-7 2019 Liberty Open New York, July 5-7 Philadelphia Open 2019 Philadelphia, July 20-22

Vancouver International Vancouver, British Columbia, Aug. 3-5 2019 Second City Tennis Chicago, Aug. 9-11 New Hope Open 2019 Washington Crossing, Pa., Aug. 24-26 US Open.

New York, Aug. 26-Sept.9 2019 Peach International Atlanta, Aug. 31-Sept. 2 Rose City Open 2019 Beaverton, Ore., Aug. 31-Sept. 2 VOLLEYBALL Austin Summerfest Austin, July 27 Hotlanta Classic XXVI Atlanta, Aug. 3 Summer Smash Madison, Wis., Aug. 3 WSF Volleyball Los Angeles, Aug. 31 Labor of Love Classic 27 Columbus, Aug. 31

“ KANSAS CITY was a strange and wonderful place."

Ernest Hemingway once wrote

We couldn’t agree more.

Enjoy the sites, the tastes, the sounds, the smells. We are so pleased that you are here with us.

Take in all that KC has to offer.

Welcome to the "Paris of the Plains!"

Follow our Social Media channels for up to date and breaking info

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