What I like most about the 30-second video done for the You Can Play project by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik is that it’s just him speaking into the camera. The result is a simple but powerful message about inclusion in the sport. Says Orpik in the video: What matters to me and my teammates? [...]
Posts under ‘Athletes Being Cool’
Brian Elliott, Jordan Eberle latest NHL players to make You Can Play video
Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues and Jordan Eberle of the Edmonton Oilers are the latest in a series of National Hockey League players to endorse the You Can Play project to fight homophobia in sports. “I support LGBT athletes everywhere,” says Elliott in the video. The project, started by Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick [...]
Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin supports same-sex marriage
President Obama’s support for same-sex marriage was big news today, and it did not go unnoticed by Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin. The NFL player issued a cool series of tweets in support of the decision, saying, “Those of us with gay relatives and friends understand how meaningful and positive this is!” We last wrote [...]
Pittsburgh Pirates release It Gets Better video, to work with gay youth to fight bullying
The Pittsburgh Pirates released an It Gets Better video last Friday before a home game at PNC Park that was designated youth night for the Pittsburgh Gay and Lesbian Community Center. The video was not just a one-off — the team is committed to fight bullying. From local activist Sue Kerr, who started the petition [...]
Oakland A’s release It Gets Better video
The Oakland A’s have joined the list of Major League Baseball teams who have produced videos for the It Gets Better campaign. Though the A’s video, aimed at teens who are being bullied, does not mention sexual orientation, one of the players featured is Brandon McCarthy, an outspoken supporter of gay rights. “I’m glad the [...]
Indian boxer Vijender Singh enjoys being a gay icon
Here is a nice, refreshing story from India, where 2008 Olympic bronze medal boxer Vijender Singh says he enjoys being a gay icon. “It’s nice to be desired,” said the 26-year-old, who will compete in the London Olympics. But how does the angel react to rumors of his link-ups with both men and women and [...]
Lesbian Stephany Lee makes U.S. Olympic wrestling team, then marries her partner
Stephany Lee had an amazing weekend in Iowa. First, she won a berth to the U.S. Olympic women’s wrestling team. She then got married to her partner Brigg McDonald in Cedar Rapids, with Iowa being a state that allows gay marriage. “It was an opportune time,” Lee said in a New York Times article written [...]
Tar Heel athletes come together to make North Carolina It Gets Better video
Athletes from the University of North Carolina, including those from football and baseball, have join forces to make a video for the It Gets Better Project. The video was started by our good friend Dave Lohse, Associate Athletic Communications Director, himself openly gay. It was not a hard sell, Lohse told Outsports. The genesis of [...]
Athletes and coaches from NYU combine to create terrific It Gets Better video
Jay Hayes, captain of the men’s volleyball team at New York University, is openly gay and he wanted to share his story. He thought about doing a personal video for the It Gets Better Project. He then had a better idea — involve all of NYU athletics to make a video, showing support from athletes, [...]
Pro hockey player Mike McKenna: ‘Homophobia no different than racism’
Add goalie Mike McKenna of the Binghamton (N.Y.) Senators to the growing list of straight allies in hockey, spurred on by the “You Can Play” campaign. McKenna tweeted this is reaction to a story about two other teammates supporting “You Can Play”: Share on Facebook
Video: 3 Toronto Maple Leaf players talk about homophobia in sports
John-Michael-Liles Xtra, the Canadian gay and lesbian wesbite, has a video with three members of the Toronto Maple Leafs discussing how they would deal with having a gay teammate. Luke Schenn, Mike Komisarek and John-Michael Liles don’t have anything groundbreaking to say, but that they’re discussing it at all is cool. We have heard [...]
English rugby players strip for charity event
It seems like it doesn’t take much for rugby players to strip down to nothing, and charity is always a good reason. Eleven English players got naked — save for socks, shoes and a well-placed rugby ball — as part of a campaign to raise money for Sport Relief, a charity event. Said Sam Tomkins: [...]
The “You Can Play Project” has a simple, yet powerful message
It’s been more than a week since the “You Can Play Project” was launched by Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke to honor the legacy of his late brother Brendan. The project features more than 30 NHL players who voice the simple message about having a gay teammate — If you can play, you can play. [...]
NFL free agent LaRon Landry likes showing off his Incredible Hulk body
LaRon Landry plays safety in the NFL, most recently for the Washington Redskins, and is now a free agent shopping for a new team. He weighs 218 pounds with “no fat,” according to his Twitter page. You can see the evidence for yourself, since Landry enjoys posting photos of his hyper-muscular body — replete with [...]
Four members of Australian pro soccer team ride on float in gay Mardi Gras parade
Four soccer players from the Sydney Olympic pro team in Australia rode on a float in this weekend’s gay Mardi Gras parade in Sydney to help promote solidarity and fight homophobia in sports. Brett Studman, Emmanuel Giannaros, Phillip Makrys and Will Angel rode on the float as guests of the Sydney Rangers, a gay soccer [...]
Openly gay powerlifter Chris Morgan wins British deadlift title
Chris “Chunky” Morgan, an openly gay powerlifter and Gay Games ambassador, won his seventh British championship this month at the British Deadlift Championships. Competing at a body weight of 180 pounds, Morgan successfully lifted 478 and 539 pounds before narrowly missing out at 600 pounds. “I’m very pleased to have defended my British title and [...]
Openly gay Temple gymnast Dash Sears also Mr. Gay Philadelphia
Junior Temple University gymnast Dash Sears is the reigning Mr. Gay Philadelphia, winning the title last spring. He is one of two openly gay gymnasts on the team, along with Evan Burke, who is out this season with a broken foot (last year’s team had a third gay gymnast, John Gaffney). Thanks to our friend [...]
Matthew Mitcham discusses, shows off his pierced tongue
We’re less than six months away from the start of the London Summer Olympics, and Australian diver Matthew Mitcham will be hoping to win another gold medal. Mitcham has an active Twitter feed and he often answers questions sent in by fans. This might fall into the TMI category, but Mitcham discloses that he has [...]
San Diego Padres pitcher Huston Street looks great in a swimsuit and also cross-dresses
A little bit of levity with baseball spring training starting, courtesy of reader Dan — photos of San Diego Padres relief pitcher Huston Street looking terrific in a swimsuit. Plus, a shot of him cross-dressing (probably rookie hazing) and one of him with the ladies. From the San Diego sports website Lobshots: I have zero [...]
NFL love: Mark Sanchez asked Santonio Holmes to be his Valentine
How cute — in the aftermath of a dysfunctional 2011 season that saw the New York Jets fight more with each other than on the field, quarterback Mark Sanchez wants to kiss and make up. Here is what Sanchez tweeted on Valentine’s Day to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, with whom he reportedly clashed last season. [...]