Compete June 2015

8TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

SPORTS. DIVERSITY.

WORLD OUTGAMES

TAKES MIAMI

BEST GAY SPORTS BARS READY, SET, GO! ATHLETES IGRA PREPS FOR WORLD RODEO JUNE 2015 • VOL. 9 NO. 6 • $5.95 COMPETENETWORK.COM

JUNE 12-14 LAPRIDE.org

#LAPRIDE45

1950s

Mid-Summer Dance Party Benefiting

Saturday

July 25, 2015 8 pm - midnight

Two live DJs, go-go dancers, complimentary cocktails & hors d’oeuvres

Palm Springs Pavilion Grease back your hair, grab your poodle skirt and LET’S DANCE!

401 S. Pavilion Way at Sunrise Park (next to City Pool) Fully air-conditioned auditorium with plenty of free parking

$40 General admission $75 VIP (includes VIP lounge access)

desertAIDSproject.org (760) 992-0440 Co-Chaired by Kenny Jervis, Michael Crisp and Kerry Hendrix

PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com CompeteNetwork.com Editor Ty Nolan • ty@competenetwork.com Style Editor Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Travel Editor Brian Raymond • brian@competenetwork.com Art Director Jay Gelnett • jay@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Joseph Gaxiola, Jeff Hocker, Amy Jones, Jeff Kagan, Miriam Latto, Charles Naurath, Dr. Rob Elliott Owens and Brian Patrick, James Williamson Photo Editor Jacquelyn Phillips • jacquelyn@competenetwork.com Photographers Thomas Fleisher, Leland Gebhardt Sales & Partnerships Tony Apodaca • tony@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2015 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Corporate Office 4703 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 • 480-222-4223 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

COMPETENETWORK.COM FACEBOOK.COM/COMPETEMAG @COMPETESPORTS

COMPETE MAGAZINE

JUNE 2015 Volume 9, Issue 6

HOSTING WORLD 16 MIAMI OUTGAMES IN 2017 19 BEST SPORTS BARS EDUCATION & 22 VISIBILITY, ADVOCACY FOR GO! ATHLETES KICK–OFF

10 COMMUNITY HEROES – ROSE PITKIN 12 LEFT FIELD Speed Read, Grandstanding, Thumbs UP/DOWN

MVP

24 PATRICK CROSSON SPORTS

27 30 32 34

TRENT TAYLOR RUNS BOSTON MARATHON THE ULTIMATE PRIDE INVITE – FRISBEE WORLD GAY RODEO FINALS HITS VEGAS LAUREN NEDIGH

Campus Pride’s Voice & Action Athlete Award

LIFESTYLE

38 FITNESS

Using Your Circadian Rhythm

40 TRAVEL

San Francisco

OVERTIME

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS

LGBT Pride Celebrates 50 Years

46 SPORTS YEARBOOK COMPETE ONLINE

Check out more Compete stories online at competenetwork.com

www.CompeteNetwork.com

COVER IMAGE BY

World OutGames

| COMPETE | 5

FROM THE SKYBOX

BY ERIC CARLYLE, CO-FOUNDER

Our Third Time is the Charm

Y

@CompeteEric

ou could say we got the Compete ball rolling in the summer of 2006.

Although the idea for Compete came earlier that year, August 8, 2006 is the day we officially opened the Compete office. Our original tagline was “The Best Gay Sports Magazine in the World.” Frankly, that was an easy tagline to claim since we were the first (and still the only) LGBT sports magazine.

We officially printed our preview issue (as Sports Out Loud) in February 2007. At 24 pages it was just enough of a teaser to show prospective readers and advertisers what we were all about. We began passing out our preview issue at events in Arizona, California and Nevada. In fact, Compete was the “big thing” at the 2007 Phoenix Pride.

Our booth was mobbed by athletes and sports fans.

Using the preview issue as our guide, we spent the next several months putting together our launch issue. We decided to make our first issue a swimsuit issue and feature athletes from Dallas on both the cover and in the magazine. In June, once the issue hit the streets, a flood of press was directed at us – everyone from Perez Hilton to Sports Illustrated and more wanted to talk to us. It was tremendously exciting since as a kid, I always had dreamed of being in Sports Illustrated. We were groundbreakers!

Actually, Compete drew so much media attention that our website crashed due to the sheer number of hits we received. Compete’s cofounder, David Riach worked to upgrade the website from our hotel room in Dallas where we had gone to launch Compete. Once back in our hometown, we felt like we really had accomplished something special.

We are now lucky enough to celebrate three anniversaries. The first anniversary, the founding of our company is celebrated on August 6th. Our second anniversary date, the release of our preview issue, is celebrated on February 6th. And our third anniversary, the launch of our first full issue of Compete, is in June.

So it is with great pride that we celebrate this issue as our 8th Anniversary Issue.

After nearly nine years in business, it seems like dreams really do come true. And we want to thank you, our readers for joining us in this dream-turned-reality!

Sport On,

Eric Carlyle Chief Executive Officer eric@competenetwork.com

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| COMPETE | June 2015

FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fifty Years of Pride

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o matter when your area holds its Pride celebration, June marks the official celebration of LGBT Pride—this year being its fifti @CompeteConnie eth anniversary. It also marks Compete’s eighth anniversary. In just these eight short years we’ve seen amazing strides made in sports diversity, much of it thanks to the newest generation of gay and straight athletes who think people who love sports should be able to play them … period.

And the organizations they’re creating and openly supporting, a few of them being GO! Athletes, Campus Pride, You Can Play and Athlete Allies, give them a platform for making changes on a larger scale than ever before. When I went to the Nike LGBT Summit in 2013, one of my strongest impressions was the number of young athletes there. Their high levels of enthusiasm to change the face of sports to one of acceptance and inclusion was palpable.

Like every new generation, they focus their energy on the changes they deem truly important. Unlike generations before them, they reject the old prejudices of sexual preference and gender orientation being a determination of eligibility to play sports. And the sports diversity movement is made better as a result of their participation. This issue has stories about some of these athletes and the organizations dedicated to making a positive change in sports.

There is a story on Chris Mosier, an openly trans man who I’m proud to say was Compete’s Mark Bingham Athlete of the Year in 2013. In addition to all the important work he has done on his own to promote sports equality, he has recently taken on the role of executive director for GO! Athletes. There are also stories on Trent Taylor, the Native American endurance athlete who just ran his first Boston Marathon, an ultimate frisbee tournament and the upcoming World OutGames.

So as you celebrate Pride this year, take a moment to reflect on the athletes from years gone by right up to the athletes of today and raise a toast to their courage— there’s a lot to be proud of over the past 50 years!

Keep Smiling,

520-440-5802

Connie Wardman, Editor-in-Chief connie@competenetwork.com Health Markets Inusrance Agency is the d/b/a, or assumed name, of Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. which is licensed as an insurance ageny in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not all agents are licensed to sell all products. Service and product availability varies by state. HMIA00589

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| COMPETE | June 2015

I fought my way back from addiction.

Carl, D.A.P. client

D.A.P. treats and supports the whole person Like everyone, I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life. One of the biggest was letting alcohol and crystal meth consume me for a time. It led me into unsuccessful relationships, homelessness, and even ignoring my HIV medication therapy, causing me to lose one of my eyes. With the help of a counselor at Desert AIDS Project, I’m in recovery and am proud of my accomplishments at College of the Desert. I may have lost an eye...but I’ve never seen more clearly than I do today.

This and more...all under one roof

Thanks to your generous support, Desert AIDS Project has been saving lives for more than 30 years.

Please continue to help by donating at desertAIDSproject.org, joining one of our annual giving programs, or by saving the date for one of our upcoming fundraising events.

Mid-Summer Dance Party | Palm Springs Pavilion | July 25, 2015

760.323.2118

desertAIDSproject.org

KICKOFF

COMMUNITY HEROES

Rose Pitkin Former Network Director and College Captain at GO! Atheltes Research Specialist, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

R

ose Pitkin is one of the faces of the newest generation of LGBT athletes making their mark by openly working toward sports diversity and inclusion. A research specialist at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at the University of Pennsylvania, she is a 2014 graduate of Swarthmore College.

As a student-athlete, Pitkin was the network director and college captain for GO! Athletes and was also their first social media intern. She now is serving in an advisory capacity for the new board while she studies for the MCAT, the medical college admission test, and applies to medical school.

An athlete all her life, she started playing T-ball at age three and then graduated to playing softball. During her time at Swarthmore, Pitkin was a two-year captain and a four-year member of the school’s softball team. She also played in the City of Brotherly Love Softball League in Philadelphia this past fall. And during her high school years she played AAU basketball.

As a gay athlete, Pitkin said she struggled to live these two identities simultaneously. But when she found GO! Athletes, she found the support network she had been looking for. And wanting to help other gay athletes find similar support systems, she says “the best thing about working with GO! has been the amazing friends I have made around the country.”

Having twice attended the Nike LGBT Sports Summit, Pitkin’s focus has been on the LGBT sports diversity movement. While in college she worked closely with the athletic department to raise awareness about the issues LGBT athletes encounter. She created an ally worksheet for studentathletes, helped lead a workshop on LGBT issues, started an LGBT athlete group and wrote and produced a You Can Play video.

Photographed for Jeff Sheng’s Fearless Project, Pitkin later hosted him the on Photo by Jeff Sheng – The Fearless Project Swarthmore campus as part of a discussion with coaches and administrators. She has also worked with OPAL—Out Philly Athletic League—a governing body for all LGBT sports leagues in Philly. Currently, she is pursuing some opportunities to do mental health advocacy work within the LGBT community.

When asked about what her favorite sports were, she said she loves every sport she’s tried and/or watched because she thinks “sports are one of the most amazing parts of the human experience.” But when pressed, she lists softball and skiing.

Long distance bike riding, playing board games, learning and spending time with her friends are some of Pitkin’s favorite pastimes. But with a goal of going to medical school, she says that studying for the MCAT has become her only current pastime. Coming originally from Massachusetts, she’s also a big fan of the Red Sox and the Patriots.

For her activities at Swarthmore, Pitkin was awarded the Ernie Prudente Sportsmanship Award that is given annually to one male and one female student-athlete at the school who, through their participation, have demonstrated the characteristics exemplified by Ernie—sportsmanship, love of the sport and respect for their teammates.

The Swarthmore College Intercultural Center also recognized her for her social justice activism.

Pitkin says her parents are her role models in life. And within the LGBT sports diversity movement, she says she’s glad she can also call her role models her friends—Steph Laffin, Kate Fagan, Anna Aagenes and Wade Davis.

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

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| COMPETE | June 2015

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KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ

BY HARRY LATTO

THE WNBA FACING POTENTIAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT? PURCHASE EXTRA ROLLS OF ALUMINUM FOIL to wrap around your heads before you read this, sports fans. It’s the only way you’ll be able to make any sense of perhaps the worst sports decision made in a long time.

Isiah Thomas, NBA Hall of Famer has been appointed as the president and part-owner (pending approval) of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.

The problem? In 2007 Thomas, then a coach for the New York Knicks and president of basketball operations, was found guilty by a federal jury for the sexual harassment of Anucha Browne Sanders, the former vice president of marketing and business operations for the Knicks.

Browne Sanders was awarded $11.6 million by the jury in punitive damages from Madison Square Garden (MSG) and James L. Dolan, chairman of Cablevision, parent company of MSG and the Knicks. $6 million of that amount was for the hostile work environment Thomas created and $5.6 million was for retaliation.

Just when we think we’re making some progress combating sexual harassment in the workplace, a man found guilty for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment has been appointed president and partowner of a professional women’s basketball team. It makes no sense whatsoever – no matter how many rolls of aluminum foil you wrap around your head!

The WNBA has worked very hard to get across the message that gender equality in sports is a serious matter. The good news here is that the WNBA’s board of governors must approve any ownership changes. WNBA president Laurel J. Richie released the following statement: “The Madison Square Garden organization announced that Isiah Thomas has been named president of the New York Liberty and that he will take an ownership interest in the team, pending WNBA approval. New owners are approved by our WNBA Board of Governors, and this process has not yet begun.”

An important difference in the way the public currently perceives racial discrimination and sexual discrimination was offered by Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Esq., Olympic

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| COMPETE | June 2015

gold medal swimmer and CEO of Champion Women, in an email to Forbes.com.

“Donald Sterling merely had a recording leaked where he made racist comments, and he was forced to sell the Clippers. Yet a jury found, after an extensive, well-covered trial, that Isiah Thomas sexually harassed Anucha Browne Sanders, and awarded her $11.6 million in damages against the Knicks enterprise. Sterling made racist remarks to his girlfriend, whereas Thomas sexually harassed Browne Sanders repeatedly. Sterling made racist remarks in the privacy of his own home, while Thomas sexually harassed Browne Sanders publicly. If Thomas had made equally as racist remarks, he would never be considered for a position in professional sports, anywhere.”

There has been a deluge of astonished and angry comments from both women and men. Don McPherson, a gender equity educator and former NFL player has said that “What is even more concerning, in a time when the sports world is coming to terms with the level of misogyny and sexism in our society, you would think there would be a sense [of ] understanding of the optics of this.”

With a growing cadre of high caliber professional women athletes, coaches and administrators, the cogent question is this – why didn’t Dolan hire a woman for the coaching and ownership position instead of promoting his buddy? It’s time for the public to recognize that sexual discrimination and harassment is just as important as any other form of prejudice. To create positive leadership in any large professional organization it takes leadership from the top-down to get the message across – that’s certainly not being done here.

Dolan and Thomas are long-time friends. Even though Thomas was a disaster as a coach for the Knicks and his behavior while heading their basketball operations cost the company a boat-load of money, it appears that for Dolan, at least, friendship trumps professional behavior and stewardship for his organization’s bottom line. Worse yet, Thomas continues to vehemently deny his wrongdoing and Dolan backs him up 100 percent. Whether or not Thomas ever intended to do harm to Browne Sanders isn’t really the point. The fact that he still sees nothing wrong with his behavior means that the women he is in charge of, should this appointment go through, will face the same conduct from Thomas.

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (April 2015) I’m a journalist from New York. I am in Palm Springs visiting, and I picked up a copy of your magazine — ”The Swimsuit Issue.” As I was flipping through it I turned to my boyfriend and said, “This is how all magazines should be. These models have realistic bodies and don’t make you feel bad about yourself.” When I went to the editor’s note to get your contact information to send you a note, I read that my thoughts were your mission all along.

I have struggled with body image issues for years. It still weighs on my mind, but I have found balance, which is sometimes hard to do in the LGBT community with images of chiseled bodies everywhere in the media. Thank you for allowing me and your readers to breathe and enjoy your magazine without feeling inferior. I wish more would follow suit.

COMPETE READER SURVEY Favorite Summer Sports Beverage?

Other 12% Juice 18%

Water 48%

Sports Drink 32%

Dustin Fitzharris New York City (via email) TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 13

LOS ANGELES DODGERS STADIUM … for being the first MLB stadium to have a statue of Jackie Robinson who broke the MLB’s color barrier back in 1947. His No. 42 has been retired throughout the league to honor him but no statues until now. No timeline has been announced yet.

BRITTNEY GRINER, PHOENIX MERCURY CENTER … for her willingness to accept her seven-game suspension for domestic violence and go to counseling, saying that she has to accept the consequences of her actions. She also acknowledged the importance of being a good role model. Her ability to own her behavior and its consequences has already made her a better role model than she was before.

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| COMPETE | June 2015

QUIZ

?

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

How old was this year’s oldest Boston Marathon runner to finish the race?

A: Katherine Beiers, age 82, was the oldest finisher at the 2015 Boston Marathon. Weather caused her to stop at several points but she managed to finish her 11th Boston Marathon in 5:53.

Source: runnersworld.com

KICKOFF

SPORTS

THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, THE NFL … and all the individuals included in the Deflategate scandal. Quit the “back channel” conversations. Grow up, admit any wrongdoing and learn to walk your talk!

BRUCE JENNER ... for his courage to come out as a transgender woman on national TV. We honor his requests to keep our hearts and minds open, and to also use male pronouns for now.

WORLD OUTGAMES COMING TO MIAMI IN 2017 Miami will be playing host to the World OutGames in 2017, welcoming an anticipated 15,000 participants and more than 145,000 ticketed spectators from May 26 through June 4, 2017.

World OutGames Miami will welcome people to “Energize Your Body. Expand Your Heart. Ignite Your Mind.” through participation in 450 events across three components—sports, cultural activities and a human rights conference.

N

owhere else will participants find sports competition so fiercely personal alongside universally inspiring cultural and human rights events. And there’s no better place to host the World OutGames than Miami, with its exciting and eclectic mix of cultures, languages, art, architecture and music. And did we mention miles of beautiful beaches?

World OutGames Miami will play host to over 30 sports at various state-of-the-art venues throughout Miami-Dade County.

CYCLING

MARTIAL ARTS

DANCE SPORT

POKER

DARTS

ROWING

DIVING

RUGBY

DOMINOS

SOCCER

FIELD HOCKEY

SOFTBALL

FLAG FOOTBALL

SWIMMING

SPORTS INCLUDE:

GOLF

TABLE TENNIS

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING

TENNIS

RUNNING (5K & 10K)

TRACK & FIELD

BOWLING

HALF MARATHON (13.1 MILES)

TRIATHLON

BRIDGE

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL

WATER POLO

CHESS

MARATHON (26.2 MILES)

WRESTLING

BADMINTON BASKETBALL BEACH VOLLEYBALL BILLIARDS

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BODYBUILDING/ PHYSIQUE

| COMPETE | June 2015

A compelling draw for athletes to participate in World OutGames Miami is not only Miami Beach’s white sand, turquoise waters and fun nightlife—the athletes will also have an opportunity to compete in some of the nation’s best sports facilities!

State-of-the-art NCAA Division I athletic venues at the University of Miami will host swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, tennis, track & field and indoor volleyball. Additionally, NCAA Division I Florida International University will play host to basketball, field hockey, flag football and rugby.

And whether you’re running the marathon through the streets of Miami Beach’s Art Deco District or rowing crew through the intercostal along some of Miami’s most beautiful shores, the city will welcome athletes with experiences to stimulate them not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

Showcasing Miami’s pride and culturally-rich roots will be a priority for World OutGames Miami. A highlight of the Games’ cultural program will be the opening and closing ceremonies that welcome global recording artists and performers to showcase Miami to the world. The Games will also welcome bands and choruses to compete and perform as well as hosting concerts, themed parties, art and film exhibitions as well as a Women’s Village.

An important part of the Games is to open people’s minds with compelling and current insights about the LGBTQI community from global thought leaders. The multi-day human rights conference is positioned to be the most powerful gathering of internationally-respected human rights activists, researchers, legal scholars, healthcare professionals and trade organizations. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQI community, an ally or simply interested in how the journey toward equality is

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 17

progressing, World OutGames Miami’s human rights conference will educate, inform and inspire.

Although 2017 may seem far away right now, the World OutGames Miami opening ceremony will be kicking off, getting ready to welcome athletes in less in two years. So start your training, gather your teammates and make plans to attend the 2017 World OutGames in sunny Miami. Registration will open for individuals and teams this month—just visit OutGames.org for details. Be sure to register early to take advantage of early-bird registration rates.

The Miami Beach-Miami Sports & Cultural League is the non-profit group organizing the 2017 World OutGames Miami. OutGames is licensed by GLISA International (Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association) and is open to all who wish to participate. It takes place every four years in a different global city, with the 2017 Games marking the first time the OutGames will be held in the United States. Recent hosts have been Montreal, Copenhagen and Antwerp. For more information on World OutGames Miami, visit www.outgames.org.

World OutGames Miami is made possible through the support of the Florida Sports Foundation, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Miami Beach, Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, Miami Dade Sports Commission as well as individual donors from around the world. For businesses interested in sponsoring opportunities, please contact: miamisponsorships@outgames.org or call (305) 507-7519 - ext. 700.

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SPORTLIGHT ON BARS

2 1

3 4

1 Nellie’s Sports Bar

3 CREW BAR + GRILL

2 Boxers NYC Chelsea

4 SF MIX

nelliessportsbar.com 900 U Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 202-332-NELL boxersnyc.com 37 West 20th Street, New York 10011

Three locations: Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Philadelphia

212-255-5082

worldsgreatestsbar.com 4804 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois 60640 773-784-CREW

sfmixbar.com 4086 18th Street San Francisco, California 94114 415-431-8616

WHERE YOU CAN FIND GAY SPORTS BARS IN YOUR COMMUNITY Roscoe’s on 7th Phoenix 602-285-0833 Pilsner Inn San Francisco 415-621-7058 Madison Pub Seattle 206-325-6537 R Place Seattle 206-726-1824 The North End Chicago 773-477-7999 Downtown Olly’s Indianapolis, Ind. 317-636-5597

Woof’s Madison, Wis. 608-204-6222 Woody’s Dallas 214-520-6629 Score @ OCH Austin, Texas 512-320-8823 George’s Your Country Sports Bar Houston 713-528-8102 Sidelines Wilton Manors FL (954) 563-8001

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 19

Northeast

Southeast

boxersnyc.com

nelliessportsbar.com

Boxers NYC Chelsea Founded 2010 (Chelsea) 37 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011 Three locations: Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen (2013) and Philadelphia (2014) 212-255-5082 Who has New York’s best 2 for 1 happy hour? If you ask Boxers’ Bob Fluet and Rob Hynds they would definitely say Boxers. In fact, they would invite you down to see for yourself.

But drink specials aren’t the only thing that sets Boxers apart from many other gay sports bars. They’ve turned their flagship location into three and even spread outside of New York City with their Philadelphia location.

The Chelsea location is decked out with 10 TVs, exposed brick walls, custom-made seating, pull-up bars for the bartenders behind the bars and lots of sports memorabilia. But hey, you may not spend too much time looking at décor because shirtless bartenders serve up drinks wearing signature boxer shorts.

Boxers is known as “America’s Gay Sports Bars” and they prove that by giving back to the community by partnering with non-profit organizations such as the Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth and by also sponsoring a wide number of local sports teams.

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Nellie’s Sports Bar Founded 2007 900 U Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 202-332-NELL

Douglas Schantz has put together one of the country’s premier gay sports bars. Housed in the former Addison Scurlock photography studio, Nellie’s historic building is part of the African-American Heritage trail. But Nellie’s history doesn’t end there. The bar’s name is a tribute to Douglas’ great and great-great grandmothers in honor of their eccentric and hospitable character.

Inside Nellie’s you’ll find authentic Griffith Stadium sinks, antique showcases and historic photographs, elegant English pub room walls and even lighting from Baltimore’s Penn Station. But like the saying goes, everything old is new again and that is definitely the truth at Nellie’s. The sports bar features 29 TVs, poker tables, slushie machines, a stadium-size screen and much more.

The bar sponsors over 50 leagues and teams, hosts over 100 charity events each year and is known for its trademarked “R U Nellie ENUF?”

Midwest

West

worldsgreatestbar.com

sfmixbar.com

CREW BAR + GRILL Founded 2004 4804 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois 60640 773-784-CREW

Founded in 2004, CREW BAR + GRILL was one of the earliest gay sports bars. Known for its classic midwest location in Chicago, the team at CREW really knows what it takes to be a sports bar. Owners Mark Robertson and Mike Sullivan along with manager Graeme Schellenberger really know how to welcome bar patrons.

First off, the food. Crew is known for “big ass” chicken wings, aged beef burgers and made-from-scratch sauces and dressings along with a wide beer assortment that focuses on locally brewed beers. They even encourage guests to join in singing team fight songs when your team scores.

The bar features 24 TVs along with darts, a jukebox and even an assortment of classic board games. All of this in a bar that even rotates its collection of Chicago sports memorabilia by season.

Crew offers a special Beergarita, composed of its own original recipe to its patrons and members of the 35 teams and organizations they sponsor each year. In addition to supporting a wide variety of non-profits, they also teamed up with the Chicago Gay Hockey Association to sponsor the Stanley Cup in Chicago’s 2010 Gay Pride Parade. Crew is also an official Chicago Blackhawk’s bar, the only gay one in Chicago.

SF MIX

Founded 2003 4086 18th Street San Francisco, California 94114 415-431-8616 SF MIX’s Larry Metzger has done a great job of mixing the local neighborhood bar with the sports bar to create a very intimate, friendly and fun place to cheer on your favorite sports team and enjoy an ice cold beer or other favorite libation.

The SF MIX sports 11 TVs to play your favorite sporting events and provide a quiet place to meet up with friends and talk about basketball or football without needing to scream over loud music.

Besides watching NCAA March Madness at SF MIX, you can enjoy a game of pool, try your skill playing a video game, enjoy music videos and even charge your smart phone on one of the Doblet phone chargers.

Giving back to the San Francisco sports community is important to the team at SF MIX. The bar sponsors five softball teams – SF Cheer, Spikes Soccer and two pool teams, all while supporting local charities such as AIDS Walk, this month’s AIDS LifeCyle and 67 Suenos.

Call your friends and meet them at SF MIX, a place where everybody knows your name.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

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GO! ATHLETES Visibility, Education and Advocacy

BY CHRIS MOSIER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GO! ATHLETES

VISIBILITY IS POWERFUL. In my own coming out process as a transgender man and competitive athlete, I struggled considering how I could transition and still play sports because I didn’t see any trans guys in athletics competing at the level at which I wanted to compete. Like many others questioning their identity, I felt like I was the only one going through this, and it was a challenge to navigate my transition without a role model or mentor along the way.

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W

e all want, in some way, to see ourselves reflected back when we look out into the world. As a trans athlete, I no longer feel I am searching for a mirror—I feel as though I am the reflection, and that I have an obligation to younger athletes to be visible as a trans athlete so they see the possibilities for themselves.

As the executive director of GO! Athletes, I can proudly say that is exactly what we do. GO! Athletes is a support network of current and former lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer college and high school student-athletes. GO! Athletes provides visibility for LGBTQ athletes through story sharing and personal narratives. In panel discussions, presentations and workshops, we spread awareness about the challenges faced by LGBTQ student-athletes, how best to be an ally and support them and ways to make athletic teams and departments more inclusive.

Stepping into the executive director role has been a good opportunity for me to incorporate my knowledge of transgender inclusion in athletics into the conversation about studentathletes. As the founder of TransAthlete.com, a resource for athletes, coaches and administrators on transinclusive policies at various levels of play, and through personal experience, I know there is no standard for trans-inclusion in sports at this point.

GO! Athletes’ network has had access

to educational sessions about transinclusion in sports, and been able to incorporate the “T” into their LGBTQ talks on campuses and in public forums.

The strength of GO! Athletes is in its network which contains much of the young, vibrant and eager energy of the LGBTQ sports movement. We reach out to younger athletes who share their stories and make sure they feel connected. Within our net-

work athletes can find support, share their stories and learn how to be better leaders on their teams, at their schools and in their communities.

On our network calls, athletes can discuss initiatives or issues at their schools as well as find support for situations they have encountered.

We continue to strengthen and expand our network as more people come out in sports. And more people come out in sports because of the visibility of those before them.

It’s a cycle that is changing the landscape of athletics as we know it. The future of GO! Athletes is focused on the combination of visibility, educa-

tion and advocacy within the LGBTQ sports movement.

Later this year we will launch a first-of-its-kind program to strengthen our network connections and the skills of young leaders in the LGBTQ sports community.

We are extremely excited to enhance the level of support current and former athletes will receive and be able to extend it to others. It’s something I feel strongly about when remembering my own experiences.

More information will be available on our website, goathletes.org later this summer.

I highly encourage current and former athletes of any age or level of play to join us in making it easier and safer for other athletes to be themselves. There are a number of ways people of any competitive level, age or level of “outness” can be involved in our network. For more information, see goathletes.org or email me at chris@goathletes.org.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 23

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: People always mention my chest ... But I work hard on it all.

DISLIKES: Tomatoes and squash.

LIKES: Anything coconut or pumpkin.

INTEREST: I plan events for a living. So that’s my life along with the gym and kickball.

FAVORITE TEAM: I don’t really have one. I only really watch soccer but MLS isn’t as fanatic as the rest of the world.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Looks wise, David Beckham but Landon Donovan was my favorite soccer star.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single.

SPORTS PLAYED: I played soccer as a child and play volleyball on summer weekends at the beach in Chicago.

SPORT: Kickball!

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Chicago

HOMETOWN: Mesa, Arizona although I only lived there for a year. I grew up in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

PATRICK CROSSON

TEAM COMPETE MVP

To be included in our MVP section, e-mail: MVP@competenetwork.com

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Going from twink to twunk. I used to be like 120 lbs until I put on 40 more throughout college and after graduation—10 more to go before I hit my goal.

WHY YOU LOVE SPORTS: It may not be the best “sport” in the world but I’ve had the most amount of fun playing kickball over the past 4 years and have met a lot of great people! That’s what it’s about as an adult, networking, having fun and just loving life.

Photography by Baron L. Clay, Jr. (FStopPhotography) Chicago, IL.

SPORTS

TRENT TAYLOR

Born to Run ... The Boston Marathon

BY BRIAN PATRICK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRENT TAYLOR

TRENT TAYLOR, TEAM COMPETE’S MVP IN APRIL, is a man who loves to run, something he comes by naturally. Half-Navaho and half-Hopi, Taylor is a greatnephew of Louis Tewanima, a member of the Hopi Nation and a two-time Olympic runner and silver medalist in 1912 for the 10,000 meter run. A Hopi running legend, his family holds an annual race dedicated to him, called the Louis Tewanima Footrace.

Taylor, who grew up on the Navaho side, has always loved a variety of sports but his love for running came later in life. It was just five years ago that he ran his first 5K race—fittingly, it was the Louis Tewanima Footrace. Now bitten by the running bug, at age 34 Taylor set goals to participate in an Ironman 140.6 event and to run in the 2015 Boston Marathon.

He met his Ironman goal in Tempe, Arizona in November 2014.

“My goal was 10:30 and a top 200 finish. I ended up finishing in 98th place and a time of 10:06!! I couldn’t believe it!!,” said Taylor. After taking a few weeks for gradual recovery he said “I was ready to focus on the Boston Marathon.”

For Boston, Taylor’s goal was a sub 2:40, a number he says is roughly just seconds shy of a sixminute mile pace; that works out to approximately 10 miles-per-hour.

That, said Taylor is “a tough task for anyone let alone a third-year runner (me). I was increasing my mileage every week and adding additional speed workouts on the track.”

(Continued on page 28) www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 27

(Continued from page 27) Finally it was time to head to Boston with his companion Gary.

They visited some of Taylor’s family living in the area and did a bit of sightseeing before race day.

The day of the race was cold and rainy but the good news for Taylor was that he loves running in those conditions. After being transported to the race starting point by a fleet of school buses that took an hour, everyone wound up standing under a huge tent for another hour before the race started.

When the gun went off, it was too crowded to run fast. But when the crowd began to thin out Taylor picked up his pace to regain time lost at the start. By the halfway point he says he was “looking and feeling pretty good, 1:18:30 a minute and half under goal pace of 2:40.” By mile 20 though, his quadriceps and left foot were starting to feel the beating but the cheering fans and race volunteers help runners keep going.

Hitting the home stretch Taylor was feeling strong, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:38:36 – under his go time of 2:40! After a rose, huge hug and a kiss from Gary, he had a hot shower and then they met up with his family for brunch. Taylor heard later that he was the first non-professional Arizona runner to finish the race; he came in at 219th place out of 30,000+ runners who started.

Trent Taylor has definitely inherited his great uncle Louis Tewanima’s love of running and done him proud.

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SPORTS

THE ULTIMATE PRIDE INVITE

BY CHARLES NAURATH AS LA PRIDE ENTERS ITS 45TH YEAR OF celebration, the Big Gay Frisbee league is ramping up its own celebration by hosting its second annual Ultimate Beach Party on Saturday, June 13th. This festive event is located at Lifeguard Tower #17 on Santa Monica Beach’s north end, and from noon till 4:30 p.m. it’s a great way to meet other athletes. It’s also a good time to play some Ultimate (frisbee) and get an epic tan for the Sunday parade. The cost to participate is only $10 and it not only gets you an epic playing experience but also some food and beverages.

Typically called frisbee, the game of Ultimate is a really fun event. In standard beach settings, the games are held as a four-person team setup with the field lengths at 75 meters long by 25 meters wide. The game is won by the team managing to score 13 points first or until a set time limit runs out.

Like normal Ultimate, there is a stall of 10 seconds before the player must throw the disc, otherwise it‘s considered a turnover and possession is handed to the opposing team. One of the best qualities of Ultimate is that there are no referees. During tournaments all disputes are handled through the notion of “Spirit of the Game,” essentially resolving the issue through an understanding of what rules were broken.

During last year’s invite, there were four teams that participated; two from Los Angeles and two from our sister-group, the San Francisco BGF. Seth Harrington, founder of BGF has said this is expected to grow, possibly even double as the enjoyment from the first year showed what possibilities there were for such an event. While many of the players may have experience in the game, we are always wanting and looking for outside players to come and join us. It does not matter if you come from football, tennis or have never even played a sport before.

If you’re still not sure then come out and use the opportunity to show off the epic body that you have been working on all spring while playing other sports. For those visiting from out of town, this is a great way to get some inside scoop on any other fun events that may be happening during LA Pride. All you need to bring is $10 to participate and some sunscreen, water and a hat to stay hydrated and avoid getting burned—also bring some socks to keep feet from being burned. Oh, we cannot forget the most important piece—enthusiasm to have a great time.

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| COMPETE | June 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIG GAY FRISBEE

For additional information please contact biggayfrisbee@gmail.com

SPORTS

WORLD GAY RODEO FINALS COMING TO VEGAS

BY RYAN REED

PHOTOS BY COWBOYFRANK.NET

THE WORLD GAY RODEO FINALS (WGRF) competition is the spectacular culmination of a season-long series of rodeo competitions across the U.S. and Canada. During the season, competitors earn points in each of 13 rodeo events toward qualifying for the Finals. WGRF brings the top-20 point-earning cowboys and cowgirls to compete in Las Vegas for the coveted title of “2015 WGRF Champions.”

Gay Rodeo events include calf and team roping, horse barrel racing, flag racing and pole bending; and the rough stock events of bull riding, steer riding, bronc riding and steer wrestling. In addition there are three special “camp” events that are always crowd favorites. The camp events include steer decorating, goat dressing and the amazing and fun wild drag race in which a team of three trys to get a fully costumed “drag” queen mounted on the back of a bucking steer.

If you have never seen the hilarious and unpredictable wild drag race, now is your chance!

The two-day “best of the best” rodeo competition will be held all day Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11 at the fabulous South Point Hotel and Resort. Fans can come and stay all day or come for just a few hours of great entertainment. Grand Entry starts at approximately noon with events happening in the morning and afternoon. In addition to the rodeo action, the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) will hold the 2016 royalty competition where community outreach volunteers from the member associations compete for the titles of Miss, Mr, Ms and MsTer IGRA Royalty titles.

The 2015 World Gay Rodeo Finals marks the 28th WGRF competition. The first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada in 1976. The International Gay Rodeo Association was formed in 1985 with the cooperation of associations in Colorado, Texas, California, Arizona and Oklahoma. Since its founding, IGRA’s mission has included collaboration with member associations in raising money for charities in their communities each year. To date, member associations have raised over $2 million for a diverse array of charitable organizations.

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®

PHOENIX

Sunday, August 23, 2015 • 11:30 am to 4:00 pm

The 2015 Pride Guide® Phoenix LGBT Wedding & Honeymoon Expo An abundance of LGBT friendly vendors • Fabulous fashion show

Tickets are only $5 Online • $10 at the Door All Are Welcome!

5350 Marriott Dr. • Phoenix, AZ 85054

www.GayArizona.com

AMAZING PRIZE GIVEAWAYS THROUGHOUT THE DAY! Are you Gay? Are you Straight? Who Cares...Anyone Can Win!

Interested in being a sponsor or vendor? Need more information?

602.466.2501 • Arizona@ThePrideGuides.com • www.GayArizona.com/Phoenix/Wedding-Expo

INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETE

LAUREN NEIDIGH WINS VOICE & ACTION ATHLETE AWARD

BY BRIAN PATRICK

CONGRATULATIONS go to swimmer Lauren Neidigh of the University of Arizona for receiving the 2015 Campus Pride Voice & Action Athlete Award for her efforts to gain LGBTQ equality within the university’s athletic department. She is a distance freestyler and butterflyer for the Wildcats swim team.

And how appropriate the Voice & Action award is for Nedigh who, not long ago felt she couldn’t use her voice to tell the world who she really was—a gay athlete. And why?

Because the message she’s lived with for so long was that to be gay was somehow wrong. She said “I felt lonely and terrified most of the time for many years of my life. I limited myself in my speech and actions because I was struggling to fit the norm standards set by society.”

Neidigh swam her first two years for the University of Florida where she says that some of the people she trained with were rather vocal in their negative perception of gay people. “I would think to myself, ‘If the people around me really hate gay people that much, could they be better off if I wasn’t here?’ Deep down” she said, “I knew there was a huge part of me that they would probably never be OK with. It was painful to be around people that I cared for so much and to think that none of the good things mattered because if I were ever really being myself with them, I would cause them so much discomfort.”

After transferring to the University of Arizona, she came out to her teammates after her first semester there and found them all to be supportive. Now that she’s come out, she no longer has to pass up invitations to go out with friends, to distance herself from them lest they discover that she is gay and then have them pass judgment on her.

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| COMPETE | June 2015

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPUS PRIDE

Recognizing that staying closeted was harming her health, she decided to share her coming out story on Outsports. Neidigh continues to urge other athletes to come out, saying that being openly out is a “slap in the face to those who are hateful” because it removes their power and control over the gay community.

The swimmer is also the director of social media for GO! Athletes. She has said, “You may not have realized it yet, but we need your help. Each one of us, even those who haven’t come out yet, is a unique piece of the LGBT sports movement. Being in the closet is like benching your best self. We need you first-string, because no one else can play your position.”

Campus Pride’s Voice & Action Athlete Award is presented to undergraduate student athletes from colleges and universities across the country. This award recognizes the contributions of young adult leaders and the indelible impact that their efforts have on the present and future of our fight for greater acceptance in sports. This award is in partnership with GO! Athletes and the StandUp Foundation. Last year, Campus Pride recognized Kye Alums with an honorary award.

Campus Pride’s mission is to build future leaders and safer, more welcoming campus communities. To learn more, go to CampusPride.org.

2015 Saturday, June 20, 2015

Cocktail Reception: 6:00pm Gala Program & Dinner: 7:00pm Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas 6333 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Hosted by Nick Ciletti

Gala VIP Tables: $950.00 (Includes a table for 10, Dinner for each guest, Complimentary Cocktail for each guest at Cocktail Reception, Table Host Recognition and Premium table placement) Gala Individual Seating: $95.00 (Includes Dinner & Complimentary Cocktail at Cocktail Reception)

www.pridegalatickets.org

Benefitting 1981-2015 CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF PRIDE

Sponsors

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Sports Club at

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FITNESS

GET IN SYNC WITH YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

BY KEN HUNT DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN A HEALTHY pattern of going to bed and waking up at the same time each day? I love it when this happens because it means A) I don’t need an alarm clock since my body is waking up naturally and B) that I’m following the same sleep schedule on the weekend, which makes me feel well rested and ready to conquer my weekend errands and activities.

The reason we feel so great when we’re on a regular sleep cycle is because we’re setting our circadian rhythm—the tiny master-clock structure in our brain.

Filled with nerve cells that are affected by light, it regulates the pattern of our sleep and wake cycles as well as the energy ups and downs we all experience throughout the day.

What’s interesting to note is that people who live in complete darkness (winter in Iceland, Finland and Alaska) are still able to adjust to a 25-hour clock with regular sleeping and waking patterns. Here’s what the natural daily circadian rhythm looks like.

FIT’S TIP According to circadian rhythm, it is best to do all your heady work in the morning and save all those menial tasks for the afternoon. Try winding down an hour before the time you would like to get to bed by taking a bath with some lavender salts, by drinking an herbal tea like chamomile or valerian root and by reading something that doesn’t over stimulate the brain (this does not include TV or laptop time!).

KEEP READING Learn some tips and tricks for getting your circadian rhythms back on track.

RISE AND SHINE WITH THE SUN With hectic schedules and juggling the responsibilities of life, it can be difficult to not only get to bed at a decent hour but to actually wake up when the alarm clock goes off and the sun rises.

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| COMPETE | June 2015

6:30 A.M. TO 7:00 A.M.— SLEEP INERTIA During the first 30 minutes you’re awake your thinking and reaction times are substantially impaired.

7:00 A.M. TO NOON—MORNING HUSTLE Between breakfast and lunch your sense of alertness peaks. This is the time to get things done.

NOON TO 5:00 P.M.—NAP TIME At some point in the afternoon we experience an energy drag that usually lasts about two hours. The Spanish siesta might have some science behind it.

5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.—SUNSET SPIKE A rise in energy occurs, making this a very difficult time to nap.

8:00 P.M. TO 6:30 A.M.—BACK TO BED The chemical melatonin (which helps you sleep) floods your body as you snooze.

EXERCISE Physical activity can certainly promote deeper sleep but just make sure it’s at least five hours before bedtime. It might also be a good idea to take this questionnaire (link below) that will help you be more aware of your own natural circadian rhythm. It will let you know whether you should work out in the mornings or in the evenings. www.usa.philips.com/c/circadian/178345/cat/ SET THE MOOD Make sure your sleeping sanctuary is cool, dimly lit and as sleep-friendly as possible. If your room isn’t very dark and you don’t have blackout shades, try wearing a sleep mask.

TRAVEL

COMPETE ALL-STAR

MAGICAL SAN FRANCISCO

BY BRIAN RAYMOND, OUT DESTINATIONS MOST EVERYONE KNOWS something about San Francisco with its iconic images—Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, cable cars and more. Beautiful geography and breathtaking panoramas make it one of the most photographed cities so be sure to take your camera. A true cosmopolitan city full of Asians, Latinos, African-Americans, Europeans, mixed races, gays and straights where there are no majorities, only a mix of minorities, each celebrating its heritage. This is what makes San Francisco so uniquely mosaic and interesting.

San Francisco has a very good mass transit system that makes it easy to get around, eliminating the need to rent a car. Just take the BART from the airport into the city. Once there, tourists can purchase multi-day passes for the Muni which gives access to its subways, buses and cable cars.

While mass transit can whiz you around town, this is one of those cities best explored by walking.

Start your visit by getting up to watch the sunrise light the Greco-Roman-styled Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District. Then walk just a bit farther north to capture postcard-perfect pictures of the morning light beaming on the majestic Golden Gate Bridge.

Next, head east along the waterfront to Ghiradelli Square, the former home of this chocolatier’s factory that has now been transformed into an upscale hotel and three levels of cafes and shops.

Just a few blocks east is the start of the “wharf” area. Originally a bustling hub for fishing, canneries and shipping, the area has been transformed into a major tourist destination spanning all the way to the old Ferry Terminal on Market Street.

Be sure to try some of San Francisco’s famed Dungeness crab which is great in a sandwich or in a bisque or a chowder served in another San Francisco classic, the sour-

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| COMPETE | June 2015

PHOTOS BY KENT CHRISTIANSON

dough bread bowl. While the entire wharf area is great for people watching, Pier 39 is where you go for sea lion watching. Dozens of sea lions sun, sleep and play to the total amusement of the crowd. Another must see is Alamo Square Park which is surrounded by brightly colored Victorian and Edwardian homes, including the most photographed of all, the “Painted Ladies.”

Set in the middle of the entrance to the picturesque San Francisco Bay, and accessible by ferry from the wharf area, is Alcatraz Island. This former maximum security prison held some of the most notorious criminals from the 1900s. Now part of the National Park Service, visitors can tour the island and experience what it was like to be locked up there.

For an over-the-top evening of laughs in a uniquely appropriate San Francisco way, see Beach Blanket Babylon, the longest running musical revue in the world. Centered on the travails of Snow White’s search for her “Prince Charming,” along the way she runs into an ever-changing cast of today’s pop icons. Trust me—go see it.

Having had a large gay population for decades, the city has seen both the integration of the gay community throughout the entire city, as well as more straights and families moving into the gay neighborhoods of the Castro and South of Market. These areas are still gay centers for the city, but now you’re as likely to see Pottery Barn or Costco as a gay bar as these areas become more gentrified and housing prices continue their upward spiral.

Golden Gate Park offers an escape from this bustling city with several world-class museums, galleries, gardens and quiet, secluded paths. It is one of the top international tourist destinations in the world. If you haven’t visited it yet, this should be your next vacation destination.

To plan your own or group travel, contact Brian Raymond at brian@OutDestinations.com or 866-217-2341

Alaska is calling

We’ll help you find your dream vacation!

(Brian Raymond • Owner)

Some people prefer mainstream cruises and vacations, others prefer all gay. We listen to your dreams to ensure you have the perfect vacation.

Services: Group (sports & organizations) Custom individual travel Tours (cultural & culinary) Fundraising Adventure

Contact us: 855-949-1500 www.OutDestinations.com

GYM BAG

HOT ITEMS YOU SHOULDN’T DO WITHOUT

For all you runners and cyclists, here’s a great lightweight, water-resistant shirt and garment carrier designed specifically for sporty professionals and business travelers.

Sleek, modern and cleverly designed to fit into any backpack, briefcase or suitcase, the IAMRUNBOX© keeps your business attire neat, clean and wrinkle-free so you can commute to work the healthy way and still look just as smart when you arrive.

Exercise is a lifestyle choice and with IAMRUNBOX© you can include sport into your daily routine or trip overseas. Large enough to hold any trouser/shirt or skirt/shirt combination, the IAMRUNBOX© only weighs only 425g so it won’t weight you down when you run or bicycle to work, your next business meeting or for pleasure.

It features two sturdy zips, a neat handle on top for easy carrying and a sophisticated black and orange design.

iamrunbox.com

Kettle Pop isn’t the old time sugar corn you’re used to getting at the local fair and farmer’s markets. Both the Sea Salt and Kettle Corn flavors are made from only four all-natural ingredients and contain no trans-fat. Popped in small batches by hand, it’s the very first and ORIGINAL kettle corn made with just three ingredients—organic corn, organic sea salt and organic soy bean oil—that contain just 55 calories per cup and zero grams of sugar.

In addition to the sea salt flavor, Kettle Pop online exclusive flavors (which are infused, not sprayed) include caramel corn, caramel chocolate drizzles, cheese, Chicago style, Kettle Corn chocolate drizzles and a party pack. Packages are custom zip top bags to lock in freshness. And their recipes are all natural, containing no added preservatives or chemicals. It can be ordered online or in select stores.

kettlepop.com

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NEW HANDLEBAR REMOTE CONTROLS SENA BLUETOOTH DEVICES

KETTLEPOP USDA ORGANIC & NON-GMO FLAVORED POPCORN

For motorcycle and powersport riders, you now can have a new way to manage all your Bluetooth devices at your fingertips by clamping Sena’s remote right onto the handlebars. With sleek and smooth design, Sena’s latest unit brings convenience and ease to any motorcycle ride, keeping the rider safely connected throughout the duration of his or her trip.

Sena’s New Handlebar Remote features an easy to use, glove-friendly joystick and buttons, making connectivity on the ride as care-free as possible. The unit is compatible with the latest Sena Bluetooth Smart Ready communication systems. The Handlebar Remote provides up to three months of power with a charging time of only two hours. Like all Sena products, the Handlebar Remote is firmware upgradable and includes Sena’s industry-leading two-year warranty. The Handlebar Remote is now available on the Sena website and through retailers across North America for $99.

sena.com

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| COMPETE | June 2015

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OVERTIME

EVENTS

GAY SPORTS EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY

LGBT 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Get Your Pride On!

WHILE JUNE IS RECOGNIZED AS OFFICIAL PRIDE month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, this coming Fourth of July marks the 50th anniversary of the LGBT civil rights movement. It’s time to get your Pride on! While parades have been the centerpiece of Pride celebrations over the years, many sporting events—races, softball and volleyball tournaments, for example—are now a regular part of Pride and Fourth of July celebrations. But we need to remember the reason for these annual celebrations, vowing to continue our support of the LGBT community and the sports diversity movement.

One of the outcomes of those riots was the creation of Gay Pride, an event that proclaims to the world at large that …

1. People should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity

Cleveland Gay/Lesbian Invitational Fellowship Tournament Cleveland, June 12 HUGS Lakewood, Calif., June 13

2. Diversity is a gift, and

Denver Int’l Gay & Lesbian Invitational Denver, June 26

3. Sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and can’t be altered intentionally.

DODGEBALL

With a National Park Service permit for the 50th Anniversary celebration at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Equality Forum is organizing the national celebration of the LGBT civil rights movement in collaboration with regional, state and national organizations.

A printed and online publication to commemorate the events from July 2-5, 2015 in Philadelphia will be issued and distributed free of charge to participants at the 50th Anniversary Celebration event and its programs, all of which are free and open to the public. Copies of the publication will also be sent to bookstores and retailers; state and national civil rights organizations; diversity offices of federal and state agencies; Fortune 500 human resources and diversity and inclusion offices; and visitor and convention bureaus across the country.

The collectible publication, titled “Brave and Determined—50 Years of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement,” will highlight the historic events that took place 50 years ago, when heroic LGBT activists from Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia held the first organized demonstrations for equality. Principal among them were Frank Kameny (from Washington, D.C.) and Barbara Gittings (from Philadelphia), considered to be the father and mother of the LGBT civil rights movement.

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BOWLING

| COMPETE | June 2015

Dodgeball Fundraising Tournament for Special Olympics West Hollywood, May 30

FOOTBALL Pride Bowl VIII Chicago, June 26-27

FRISBEE 2nd Annual Ultimate Beach Party Los Angeles, June 13

SOFTBALL Sooner State Softball Classic Oklahoma City, June 20

TENNIS Rocky Mountain Open Denver, June 12-14 Second City Tennis Classic Chicago, June 12-14 Boston Tennis Classic Boston, June 19-21

OVERTIME

SPORTS YEARBOOK THIS MONTH IN SPORTS HISTORY: JUNE

1 Vijay Singh wins Golf Memorial at Muirfield Village CC, 14 under par - 1997

2

3

Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizes 1st swimming pool built inside White House - 1933

4

Thomas Hearns captures WBA lightheavyweight title - 1991

Donald Sterling drops lawsuit fighting forced sale of Clippers - 2014

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56th French Women’s Tennis: Chris Evert beats Martina Navratilova (2663-63) - 1986

Former NY Jet Mark Gastineau wins 1st pro boxing fight in 12 seconds - 1991

Barry Switzer resigns as head coach of Oklahoma’s football program - 1989

Detroit Pistons beat Trailblazers for 1st time since 1974 in Portland - 1990

Tracy Austin, 29, is youngest inductee of International Tennis Hall of Fame - 1992

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NHL owners present contract to players; leads to Apr 1, 1992 strike - 1991

Nolan Ryan becomes 2nd pitcher to defeat all 26 teams - 1989

Spurs beat Heat, depriving Heat of 3-time consecutive NBA title win 104 87 - 2014

Jim Thorpe’s pro baseball pitching debut causes loss of Olympic medals - 1909

ABA (Nets, Pacers, Nuggets & Spurs) merges into NBA - 1976

Gay Games open in New York City - 1994

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6 Giants use plastic batting helmets for 1st time - 1941

Sheila Scott completes 1st round-the-world solo flight by a woman - 1966

25 Elena Vesnina beats 5-X Wimbledon champ Venus Williams in 1st round at Wimbledon - 2012

Islanders Denis Potvan and Michael Bossy inducted into NHL Hall of Fame - 1991

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Heavyweight Muhammad Ali confirms that his 3rd retirement is final - 1979

Honduras/El Salvador break diplomatic relations due to soccer match - 1969

Permanent radio play-by-play of Cleveland Indians games begins - 1946

Sparky Anderson is 1st to win 600 games as manager in both leagues - 1986

U.S. Ice Skating Federation bars Tonya Harding for life - 1994

| COMPETE | June 2015

12 2011 NBA Finals - Dallas Mavericks win 1st NBA title 4 - 2 over Miami Heat - 2011

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Chicago Blackhawks win 2013 Stanley Cup Finals beating Boston Bruins in six games - 2013

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Source: www.brainyhistory.com

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Ken Griffey, Jr. breaks Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs by end of June (31) - 1994

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