The Advocate is showcasing a video of one of their reporters with the Los Angeles Frontrunners. It shows the group in a positive light and focuses on how accessible the group is for people of all ages and running experiences; The people in the L.A. Frontrunners come across great. Still, the reporter relies on some tired stereotypes. Does anyone really expect to see pink Spandex? People holding hands and skipping down the street? Drag queens? No, but that’s what the reporter seems to have been expecting. With sports having such a prominent place in the gay community, why these magazines keep having gay men with no interest or knowledge of sports report on sports is beyond me; They’d never ask someone with no knowledge of the theater to review the latest Fosse revival.
Despite that, the video’s good. The reporter nails the focus of most gay-sports groups: Friendship in a sports atmosphere. It even got me to consider going for a run with the group (once my hamstring is healed, that is).
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 8:24 PM
The runs take place at Griffith Park. Which is about, okay I don’t know how far away. LOL
A few things I did like. I honestly like the sportsmanship that’s shown in the video, the positive energy, partner running which is 2 people running side by side for several reason, young and old alike with differing sexual orientations, the love connections, the ready made snacks available at the end, etc.
Honestly, this is one of the more “professional” groups where everything is in order. I did spot 2 or 3 people who looked like they were my age, so that’s great. I’m not honestly sure if I would personally run with these people. I tend to run alone and do drills on my own so I can clear my mind and listen to music while doing that. Though at times I’d honestly like someone to talk to and I’m not going to talk to myself anytime soon.
The Advocate has been places in a high ranking group in my mind. I liked their article on Mitcham and I liked this article. Possibly one of the forward moving publications who don’t rely on stereotypes like other publications do yet deny their doing so in that.
P.S. The reporter had some great sideburns. I wonder if he did any 1 on 1 reporting that night.
on Mar 14th, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Thanks for sharing this Advocate story, Cyd – I agreee, it’s great!
I do think you’re being overly sensitive regarding the references to “skipping” and “pink spandex,” though – it was clearly in jest. It didn’t seem to me for a second that the reporter seriously expected to find runners who looked like tired stereotypes, he was just injecting some rare humor into stories of this type, primarily by making fun of himself.
And I think he proved that it doesn’t take a reporter who necessarily has a sports background to shoot a fun and engaging piece about a sports-related club/group.