Pride Bowl 2019

2019 PRIDE BOWL SPECIAL EDITION

WWW.COMPETESPORTSDIVERSITY.COM

PRIDE BOWL 2019 ISSUE COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY PUBLISHER Eric Carlyle, SDLT eric@competesportsdiversity.com VICE PRESIDENT Jared Garduno, SDLT jared@competesportsdiversity.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com This special issue of Compete was created in partnership with CMSA Pride Bowl. If your organization produces or hosts a run, tournament, sports festival, awards ceremony or other type of event, please contact Compete today to find out how we can partner to produce a high-quality issue unique to your organization and its special events. Email us at publications@competesportsdiversity.com Compete Unites the World Though SportsTM

2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition 6 MAYOR'S LETTER Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Mayor

8 WELCOME LETTER Compete Sports Diversity

10 WELCOME LETTER Matt Herek,Tournament Director

11 FIELDS 12 EVENT INFO

Copyright © 2019 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

13 FRIDAY GAME SCHEDULE

Corporate Office 6991 E Camelback Rd., Ste. D-300 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 800-489-1274

16 MAKING TOMORROW'S HISTORY TODAY WITH PRIDE

Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC

20 LOVE, TITO’S INVESTMENT IN GAY SPORTS

14 BRACKETS

competesportsdiversity.com

22 VISABILITY OF PRO PLAYERS COMING OUT

facebook.com/competemag @competesports Compete Magazine instagram.com/competemagazine

www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

| COMPETE | 5

WELCOME

|

|

6 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

JOIN US TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

S D I V ER

SI

T

CO UN C

SPORTSDIVERSITYCOUNCIL.COM

IL

COMPE

SP

T R O

Y

TE

THE POWER OF SPORTS COMMUNITY TM

WELCOME

Celebrating Pride at Pride Bowl XII

What was just a twinkle in someone’s eye 12 years ago has turned into one of the most anticipated events in gay sports each year. In fact, when we recently asked readers what they would be doing this month for Pride we were delighted at the number of responses that included Pride Bowl XII. As the publisher of Compete Magazine I am involved with a number of events each year but I, too, look forward to Pride Bowl. To see the event continue to flourish because of the hard work of Pride Bowl’s tournament director, event team and the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CSMA) is something very special.

Pride Bowl is always at the forefront of diversity and change. From creating a women’s tournament division to joining the Compete Sports Diversity Council the tournament continues to be a leader and an example in today’s ever changing sports diversity world.

Compete’s motto of “Uniting the World Through Sports” is certainly built around the hard work and determination each Pride Bowl XII athlete and team has demonstrated in their efforts to participate in this flag-football tournament.

We know that you will enjoy your time in Chicago—both on and off the field—and hope that you make Pride Bowl XII your best so far!

With You,

@CompeteEric

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

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS Tito's Handmade Vodka

DS Fajita Factory

Modello

Northalsted Business Association

Corona

Athletico

Sidetrack The Video Bar

Pepsico

Hydrate

Urban Athlete

DS Tequila

|

|

8 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

A multi-day competition that brings together the LGBTQ community, united for sports and festivities.

S ALT

LAKE

UNITY FEST D ECEMBER 12-15, 2019

UNITY = VICTORY

SaltLakeUnityFest.com

WELCOME HELLO PRIDE BOWL! The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association thanks you for participating in the 12th edition of the best LGBT Flag Football tournament in the United States.

We welcome the players, officials and fans who have joined us from all over North America this year. We would like to extend a special welcome to the Minnesota Lumberjocks who are participating in their first Pride Bowl as an NGFFL city. When things get amped up on the field, may we all be Minnesota Nice to each other.

Pride Bowl strengthens existing bonds and makes new connections through sport.

This year our new Friday format will allow for matchups between teams that have not traditionally played each other in past Pride Bowls. We have also added consolation brackets on Saturday to provide additional opportunities for teams to compete against similarly skilled teams.

We are grateful to our sponsors who are opening their venues, volunteering their staffs, providing products and aiding us financially to keep the tournament accessible to everyone. Thank you for your commitment to showing all our visitors the vibrancy and welcoming spirit of Chicago.

All of the athletes attending Pride Bowl are ready to give their all on the field. Thank you to the referees who keep these athletes safe and the gameplay equitable. Many times this weekend these referees will have to carry the weight of keeping a cool head and making the correct calls. We truly could not have a successful tournament without your commitment to “Team Zebra.”

This event only happens with the time, energy and dedication of many people. All these people are worthy of a toast (or a free drink): • Matt Simpson, Commissioner of CMSA Flag Football & Pride Bowl Field Director • Shawn Albritton, Director of Officiating • AJ Canzolino, Tournament Operations • Dan Hoppe, Assistant to Mr. Herek • Dusty Carpenter, Sponsorship Coordinator • Scott Neu and Austin Grant, Marketing/Graphic Design • Michael Erwin, CMSA President and the CMSA Board of Directors In light of the 50th anniversary of the events at Stonewall, a flag football tournament seems trivial. Yet part of the ongoing struggle that sparked that night was and is about allowing people of every sexual orientation and gender identity to pursue their passions freely and without fear of repercussion.

As we take to the fields this weekend, we hope that your time in Chicago is a celebration of your passion for sports and of the unique individuals that each of you are.

Best of luck this weekend,

Matt Herek Tournament Director

|

|

10 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

Fields Montrose Fields W Montrose Ave & N Lakeshore Dr.

www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

| COMPETE | 11

Evening Parties (7pm-10pm) Thursday: Opening Night - Sidetrack Friday: Selection Show - Hydrate Saturday: Awards Party - Old Crow

Tournament Teams Open Division Arizona Arsenal Atlanta Kings Atlanta Knights Austin Capitals Austin Raiders Boston Bandits Boston Bulldogs Boston Minutemen Chicago Blaze Chicago Freeze Chicago Thunder DC Admirals DC Commanders

DC Delta Force Denver Summit Blue Denver Summit Gold Houston Hurricanes LA Quakes LA Starz Minnesota Lumberjocks Motor City Hitmen NY Warriors Philadelphia Revolution Phoenix Blast Second City Four Stars Washington Generals

Womens Division DC Senators Mile High Club Chicago Replacements

|

|

Austin Lady Capitals South Florida Cat-5 Chicago Backlot Bash

12 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

Washington Generals vs Chicago Blaze

NY Warriors vs Second City Four Stars

12:30pm

2pm

Chicago Freeze vs Austin Capitals

DC Senators vs South Florida Cat-5

11am

3:30pm

Chicago Freeze vs DC Commanders

9:30am

Field 1

NY Warriors vs LA Quakes

8am

Field 2

Atlanta Knights vs DC Commanders

Philadelphia Revolution vs LA Quakes

Motor City Hitmen vs Boston Bandits

Mile High Club vs Chicago Backlot Bash

Austin Capitals vs Atlanta Knights

Philadelphia Revolution vs Denver Summit Gold

LA Starz vs Arizona Arsenal

Austin Raiders vs Denver Summit Gold

Phoenix Blast vs Houston Hurricanes

Chicago Replacements vs Austin Lady Capitals

LA Starz vs Atlanta Kings

Austin Raiders vs Second City Four Stars

Field 3

Atlanta Kings vs DC Delta Force

Chicago Thunder vs Minnesota Lumberjocks

DC Admirals vs Boston Minutemen

Chicago Thunder vs Boston Bulldogs

Chicago Blaze vs Boston Bandits

Chicago Thunder vs Denver Summit Blue

Field 4

Field 5

Washington Generals vs Boston Bandits

Chicago Replacements vs South Florida Cat-5

Atlanta Kings vs Arizona Arsenal

Denver Summit Blue vs Minnesota Lumberjocks

DC Admirals vs Phoenix Blast

Boston Bulldogs vs Minnesota Lumberjocks

Field 6

Phoenix Blast vs Boston Minutemen

DC Senators vs Chicago Backlot Bash

LA Starz vs DC Delta Force

NY Warriors vs Denver Summit Gold

Houston Hurricanes vs Boston Minutemen

DC Senators vs Austin Lady Capitals

Field 7

Chicago Blaze vs Motor City Hitmen

Mile High Club vs Austin Lady Capitals

Chicago Freeze vs Atlanta Knights

Philadelphia Revolution vs Second City Four Stars

Washington Generals vs Motor City Hitmen

Mile High Club vs South Florida Cat-5

DC Admirals vs Houston Hurricanes

Denver Summit Blue vs Boston Bulldogs

DC Commanders vs Austin Capitals

Austin Raiders vs LA Quakes

Arizona Arsenal vs DC Delta Force

Chicago Replacements vs Chicago Backlot Bash

Field 8

Friday Game Schedule

| COMPETE | 13

Saturday Brackets

|

|

14 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

| COMPETE | 15

MAKING TOMORROW’S HISTORY TODAY ... WITH PRIDE Pride Bowl is always a special event in the NGFFL and Compete's annual calendars.

MAKING TOMORROW’S HISTORY TODAY ...

WITH

After all, what could be more fun than gathering to play the sport you love, seeing old friends, making new ones and being part of the larger Pride celebration held each year in Chicago. We know from many of your survey responses that Chicago is one of your favorite places to celebrate Pride.

But this year is extra special. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the

BY CONNIE WARDMAN

Stonewall Uprising. Everyone is marking this special anniversary in a different way but there’s hardly a community in the U.S. that isn’t holding some sort of Gay Pride celebration. What started out as an uncompromising march for civil rights has morphed into a fun, holiday environment replete with rainbow everything.

It’s a celebration of freedom; it’s definitely the time to have fun, to play games and music, to hold a Pride Parade and to be “perhaps” just a bit outrageous. There are pool parties, house parties and street parties that linger long into the night … maybe for days on end. But what enabled us to do these things today in an open environment is thanks to the Stonewall Riots of 1969.

The Stonewall Riots lasted six days but it was more than just a series of riots – it was a true uprising in every sense of the word.

The New York City Police were shoved back time-and-time-again, totally unprepared

|

|

16 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

MAKING TOMORROW’S HISTORY TODAY ... WITH PRIDE for Drag Queens, prostitutes and street kids they were used to harassing, rising up against them. Like all true uprisings, it marked a time when an oppressed class of LGBTQ+ individuals feeling they had nothing to lose, faced the police power structure and discovered their own power. They changed

However, while the Stonewall rioters

history!

certainly weren’t thinking about sports that night, one of the positive results

Interestingly, like the line from the

of their struggle led to the earliest

movie, “Forrest Gump” about life being

beginnings of the sports diversity

like a box of chocolates, the same can

movement. And when lesbian icon

be said about an uprising – you never

Patricia Nell Warren’s book, “The

know just what you’ll get. You never

Front Runner” came out in 1974, it

can accurately predict in advance what

was a wakeup call to deeply closeted

will happen as a result of releasing

athletes that there were other athletes

that initial energy surge of rage and

going through the same struggle

frustration. Not all riots, revolutions

between keeping their sexual identity

or rampages manage to bring about

hidden and their desire to continue

positive and lasting change.

playing sports, even if it meant doing it in a homophobic sports environment.

When lesbian icon Patricia Nell Warren’s book, “The Front Runner” came out in 1974, it was a wakeup call to deeply closeted athletes that there were other athletes going through the same struggle between keeping their sexual identity hidden and their desire to continue playing sports, even if it meant doing it in a homophobic sports environment. www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

| COMPETE | 17

MAKING TOMORROW’S HISTORY TODAY WITH ... PRIDE Initially it was a growing number of

made by a select few. History is created

predominantly gay men who wanted

daily by ordinary people like you and

to continue playing sports of all kinds

me. It’s important to acknowledge and

that created the start of larger gay

honor the fact that each of us is making

sporting organizations. These gay

tomorrow’s history today.

athletes could finally play the sports

Fifty years from now there will be

they loved by coming out of the closet

people going through archives for

just far enough to enjoy the safe

Pride Bowl and being intensely

and welcoming environment those

moved and grateful for all you have

organizations offered.

done, both as a league, a team and as individual players! It’s important to

We’ve come a long way over the past

understand that when you actively

50 years but there is still a global civil

participate in a wonderful event like

rights struggle going on for LGBTQ+

Pride Bowl or when you support other

people in the form of homophobia,

gay athletes’ courageous decisions to

biphobia, transphobia, racism and

come out, you’re also helping to make

misogyny. So in the midst of all the

LGBTQ+ sports history. And thanks

fun, take some time to honor those

to you, the professional sports world

initial LGBTQ+ heroes for their sacrifices this weekend, throughout

and corporate America are finally changing, too. They are opening their checkbooks to actively support your right to play as openly gay athletes.

Pride month and beyond.

Things really are getting better thanks to each one of you who come out to

It’s not

play, to officiate, to cheer openly for

just a few

the sports and people you love. So

daring and

play your hearts out this weekend,

deserving

get together with your friends, drink

people who

some Tito’s Handmade Vodka and

have helped to

then maybe, just maybe thank Love,

make positive

Tito’s for their additional financial

LGBTQ+

contribution to Chicago non-profits

sports history,

and sign it, Love¸ Pride Bowl. Yes,

however.

you’re the history makers of today

History isn’t

but you’re definitely the heroes of

some “moldy-

tomorrow’s LGBTQ+ individuals!

oldie” event

|

|

18 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

SPORTS DIVERSITY

Tito’s Handmade Vodka Gives Back Pride Bowl is excited to announce that Tito's Handmade Vodka is the official vodka of Pride Bowl XII. Tito's has a long history of sponsoring LGBTQ+ events throughout the country and we are thrilled they are partnering with this year's event.

Love, Tito’s is an interesting name for a vodka.

It also has an interesting story behind the name. According to the company website, in the early days of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, as Tito began to donate it to some charities and the events business became larger, the company started to sign letters, “Love, Tito’s.” And the name, as well as the company philanthropy has stuck.

Love, Tito's is now a force for good, a group of individuals giving back to causes, efforts and organizations that move them. The company goal is simply to turn spirits into love and goodness; to make the world a better place and to offer their direct financial support to Pride Bowl and other worthy community efforts.

Tito's is amplifying a message of inclusion and celebration beyond the field of play through its handmade vodka, Love, Tito's. And that is certainly the case for Pride Bowl. Love, Tito's has committed $12,000 to be distributed to 501(c)(3) charities after Pride Bowl XII. One charity will be chosen by the winning team of each Pride Bowl division (Open A, Open B, Open C, and Open D) to receive a share of these funds.

|

|

Looking for Love?

Adopt a House Rabbit from Chicago’s #1 Rabbit Resource

reddoorshelter.org speutered vetted

20 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

litter-trained

socialized

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

VISIBILITY OF PRO PLAYERS COMING OUT There has never been a “Stonewall Uprising” moment that has allowed LGBTQ+ athletes to feel safe and comfortable coming out en masse. But looking at the graph below you can see that 2013, the year Jason Collins came out and received both public and private support for his courageous decision, the list of out athletes began to grow, many of them becoming vocal advocates for change and acceptance.

In honor of Pride Bowl all football players names are in red.

Professional Athletes Come Out EARLY 1970s • Dr. Tom Waddell is out Olympic decathlete who founds Gay Games based on Olympic Games; 1st Games held in San Francisco 1975 •D ave Kopay is 1st NFL player outed by newspaper article quoting unnamed NFL player as its source 1977 • Tennis pro Renée Richards comes out as transgender woman 1981 • Tennis superstar Billie Jean King outed when ex-lover files palimony suit; King pushes for gender equality & equal pay; 1973 defeats Bobby Riggs in famous Battle of the Sexes; 1974 establishes Women’s Sports Foundation • Tennis great Martina Navratilova comes out as bisexual 1988 • Olympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis outed as both gay & HIV-positive when hits his head & bleeds into water at Seoul Olympics; 2016 poses for ESPN’s Body Issue 1992 • NFL player Roy Simmons retires; comes out as gay 1999 • Billy Bean retires from baseball; is 1st pro MLB player to come out; 2014 becomes MLB’s 1st Ambassador for Inclusion; 2016 becomes VP of social responsibility & inclusion; now VP & advisor to MLB Commissioner

|

|

2002 •R etired NFL player Esera Tualolo comes out as gay; active advocate with Vikings & NFL for LGBTQ+ community inclusion; 2014 honored with Compete Sports Diversity’s Legacy Award 2003 •T railblazer pro soccer player Joanna Lohman comes out while active; 1st female sports envoy for U.S. Dept. of State; works with empowering women & girls through soccer worldwide; 2019 retires from pro ranks, will continue local/worldwide advocacy work 2005 •W NBA star Sheryl Swoopes comes out as lesbian while active player; 2011 gets engaged to a man & marries in 2017 but never admits to being bisexual 2007 •J ohn Amaechi, OBE becomes 1st NBA player to come out after retiring from game 2009 •R ep. Brian Sims, D-Pa, captain of Div. 1 football team at Bloomsburg Univ. comes out as gay to teammates, coach & administration; 2012 becomes first openly gay elected legislator in Pa. history •W elshman Gareth Thomas comes out as gay while still playing professional rugby 2010 •T riathlete Chris Mosier comes out as transgender man; 2013 honored as Compete Sports Diversity’s Athlete of the Year; 2015 becomes first openly trans man to earn spot on Team USA in his identified gender; 2016 is 1st openly trans man in ESPN’s Body Issue; 2018 becomes 1st openly trans athlete to appear in Nike’s Unlimited Courage ad premiering during NBC's primetime coverage of Sochi Olympic games •K ye Allums comes out as transgender man; without hormone replacement becomes first trans man to play on women’s team in NCAA Div. 1 basketball history

22 COMPETE 2019 Pride Bowl Special Edition

VISIBILITY OF PRO PLAYERS COMING OUT 2011 • Oregon State Univ. women’s softball coach Kirk Walker comes out as gay when he & partner adopt baby girl 2012 • Attorney & pro bowler Scott Norton kisses soon-to-be husband at PBA tournament; shown on ESPN • WBO professional boxer Orlando Cruz comes out as gay • Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist & pro soccer player for MLS comes out in 2012; 2018 she & girlfriend WNBA player Sue Bird become 1st same-sex couple on cover of ESPN’s Body Issue; 2019 becomes first lesbian featured in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue •W ade Davis comes out after retiring from NFL play and becomes strong LGBTQ+ advocate 2013 • Jason Collins, 1st active NBA player comes out in Sports Illustrated to national attention; he & twin brother Jarron (also NBA player & straight) honored with the Compete Sports Diversity Legacy Award; advocate for LGBTQ+ community • Pro soccer player Robbie Rogers retires from British league to come out; then hired by LA Galaxy of MLS & becomes 1st pro team sport athlete hired as openly gay man • Brittney Griner No.1 pick in WNBA draft; as open lesbian plays for Phoenix Mercury & a team in Russia • Stephen Alexander becomes America's first publicly out transgender high school coach • State-champion Colorado high school track coach Micah Porter comes out as gay; continues to teach & coach • Trans woman Fallon Fox, MMA pro fighter comes out in Sports Illustrated to beat leaked story • Lesbian Liz Carmouche becomes 1st openly gay athlete in UFC • Olympic gold medal diver Tom Daley comes out; 2017 marries Dustin Lance Black; 2018 have a son 2014 •M ichael Sam comes out to Univ. of Missouri team; drafted by NFL as 1st openly gay player; retires in 2015 for mental health reasons; becomes LGBTQ+ advocate

•N BA umpire Violet Palmer comes out while still active to marry partner of 20-years •N FL umpire Dale Scott comes out while active; becomes 1st openly gay umpire in pro football •C hip Sarafin, OL for Arizona State Univ. football comes out; 1st gay player in NCAA Div. 1 FBS 2015 •O lympic silver medal skier Gus Kenworthy kisses boyfriend in front of live cameras at Sochi Olympics; seen as major step forward in visibility of gay athletes •F igure skater Adam Rippon, Olympic silver medalist at Pyeongchang becomes first U.S. openly gay athlete to win a medal at any winter Olympic games •C aitlyn Jenner comes out as transgender woman; becomes trans advocate •W NBA coach Curt Miller comes out officially; 1st known openly gay active coach of pro sports team in U.S. 2016 •P ro hockey player Harrison Browne comes out as trans man but delays hormone replacement to help women’s team win title; 2018 makes full transition & becomes 1st openly trans pro hockey player 2017 •R etired NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan comes out; establishes The Ryan O’Callaghan Foundation to support talented LGBTQ+ youth with scholarships •A ctive WNBA star Elena Delle Donne & Amanda Clifton chosen as 1st same-sex couple for popular “The Knot’s “Dream Wedding; a landmark in LGBTQ+ visibility •W NBA superstar Diana Taurasi comes out officially when weds former teammate Penny Taylor; 2018 they have a son 2018 • Collin Martin, pro soccer player for MLS’ Minnesota United comes out publicly at team’s Pride Night; posts selfie wrapped in Pride flag •P ro golfer Tadd Fujikawa comes out on World Suicide Prevention Day to address depression and anxiety

www.CompeteSportsDiversity.com

| COMPETE | 23

SAMUEL JAMES WATCHES IS DONATING $10 FROM EACH SALE TO AN LGBTQ NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. WWW.SAMUELJAMESWATCHES.COM