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Sporting Life, Kayla Cormier
Kayla Cormier is part of the reigning, three-time Spirit Champions kickball team through the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ). Her Bagel Bumpers team started with a few friends and, over time, has grown—some who ...
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Roller-derby teams vie for cup Feb. 9
Sports fans are invited to join the Windy City Rollers at Vertiport Chicago, 1339 S. Wood St., on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. At this event, the Double Crossers, Manic Attackers, The Fury, and the ...
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Chicago Polar Plunge March 3
Registration for the 19th annual Chicago Polar Plunge is now open to all. The Chicago Polar Plunge will take place at North Avenue Beach on Sunday, March 3, and helps to support the activities and events ...
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Chicago Dogs release schedule
The Chicago Dogs—the newest team in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball—announced their 2019 season schedule. The team will play 50 home games at Rosemont's Impact Field, including its season opener against the Gary SouthShore ...
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Windy City Rollers tryouts Jan. 27
Windy City Rollers roller-derby tryouts are being held the morning of Sunday, Jan. 27, at a private location. Skaters do not have to own their own equipment for tryouts; the Windy City Rollers rents skates and ...
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Chicago Sky players wed
Chicago Sky teammates Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley got married in Seattle Dec. 27, according to the women's basketball website SwishAppeal.com. Seattle is just north of Vandersloot's hometown of Kent, Washington. This past season, the WNBA's ...
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PASSAGES Al Petras, former Gay Games organizer, dies in Boston
A J Petras, better known as Al, died in Boston Jan. 1, 2019 of a massive heart attack. Petras served two years as co-chair of the original organizing committee that brought Gay Games VII to Chicago ...
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THE SPORTING LIFE Doug King
Sports is certainly a family affair for Doug King—well, except with his partner of 39 years, Bob, who is not sports-minded at all. However, over the past 26 years, they have raised four foster sons: Juan, ...
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The year in LGBT national news
This year is bound to be big, with events like the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots happening. However, 2018 had its major and unique events as well: —Skate expectations: Figure skater Adam ...
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Polar Plunge at Oak Street Beach Jan. 26
The non-profit Chicago Polar Bear Club ( CPBC ) will host the 18th Annual Polar Plunge fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at Oak Street Beach. The CPBC hosts an annual Polar Plunge event to raise funds ...
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WORLD Tanzania turmoil, Greek activist, golf player comes out
Tanzania's government says it's facing a difficult financial time after donors pulled funding over its treatment of the gay community—but it says it won't back down, NBC News reported. Finance Minister Philip Mpango told officials that ...
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Lesbian couple talk relationship, softball, bone-marrow search
During the summer of 1989, Betty Kollar and Julie Iverson met through a mutual friend and began hanging out at the now-defunct lesbian club, Paris Dance, after their 16-inch softball games. Soon after, on May 5, ...
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THE SPORTING LIFE Kenny Johnson
Kenny Johnson has played almost every gay sport over the past four years, after moving to Chicago five years ago from Elkhart, Indiana. Johnson has scored many basketball memories. "My most memorable gay sports highlight was ...
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THE SPORTING LIFE Drew Ladochi
Win or lose, Drew Ladochi always has fun playing gay sports—always. Take, for instance, the registration parties for gay softball tournaments. Ladochi's teams are the ones wearing blue wigs. "I wanted something we could do that ...
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10 Questions by Vic: Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis is the greatest diver in history. In the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Louganis achieved gold medals in both the men's three-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events. At the 1988 Olympic Summer Games ...
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WORLD Chile's pro-trans bill, gay wrestler, Russian courts
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera signed into law a bill that allows transgender people over 14 to legally change their name and gender without surgery, The Washington Blade reported. The bill received final approval in Chile's congress ...
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Pro-LGBTQ sports group looks to increase membership
Just more than four years ago, Chicago's Jake Lenz was searching for other LGBTQ individuals who worked in sports and entertainment as connections. When he did not find who, or what, he was looking for, he ...
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SPORTS Steve Kasperski, knocking it out of the park
Steve Kasperski had a memorable summer on the softball fields, claiming championship medals in two of the most prestigious international events. The 56 year-old Kasperski—who lives in Hyde Park and Melrose Park, and has been playing ...
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WORLD Taiwan marriage, Tanzania's loss, queer rap group, rugby player
In the lead-up to Nov. 24 referendums in Taiwan in which marriage equality and inclusion of LGBTQ issues in school curricula are on the ballot, 27 Taiwanese and multinational companies operating in Taiwan released a statement ...
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NATIONAL Anti-Trump actions, suicide hotline, Jeff Bezos/Amazon
Groups and individuals filed 13 friend-of-the-court briefs supporting the plaintiffs in Doe v. Trump in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, an NCLR/GLAD press release noted. The case was filed by ...
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Rugby to return to Chicago Nov. 3
USA Rugby and TLA Worldwide ( TLA ), along with host city partners Chicago Sports Commission ( CSC ) and Soldier Field, announced that world-class international rugby will again return to Soldier Field in Chicago for ...
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Proud to Run taking beneficiary applications
Proud to Run 2019 is now accepting applications from Chicago-area LGBTQ organizations seeking to be a beneficiary of the Proud to Run 10k run and 5k run/walk next June. The deadline for submitting an application is ...
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Former Chicago Force star gets taste of NFL
Darcy Leslie spent eight years playing for the now-defunct Chicago Force, establishing herself as one of the best women to ever put on the pads. She was a national champion, and was decorated with many individual ...
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Father, 12-year-old son take part in Ride for AIDS Chicago
John Schneider lives on the North Side, yet has been working on the South Side of Chicago around HIV prevention since 2001. He is a fierce advocate for ensuring resources are available in neighborhoods most impacted ...
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Pro-LGBTQ group HomeField forms
Looking to fill a gap in networking, knowledge and training for LGBTQ employees and their allies in the sports and entertainment field, a group of industry professionals has launched a new nonprofit organization called HomeField Alliance. ...
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AIDS Run & Walk unveils 'Live True. Be You' at annual event
Amidst perfect weather conditions, approximately 2,500 participants gathered for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's ( AFC ) 17th annual AIDS Run & Walk Sept. 23 at Soldier Field. This year's theme was "Live True. Be You." ...
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NUNN ON ONE Adam Rippon skates into success
Figure skater Adam Rippon won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, making history by becoming the first openly gay U.S. athlete to do so. He followed that by being the first openly gay celebrity ...
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THE SPORTING LIFE Linda Bache
The one-year anniversary of the last game in Chicago Force history on July 8 brought mixed emotions—and certainly a tear or two. After 15 seasons, the highly successful women's football team ended its run with a ...
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WORLD Cuban president, trans athlete, Trinidad and Tobago, Dua Lipa
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has backed same-sex marriage, BBC.com reported. The Cuban leader, who took over from Raul Castro in April, said he was in favor of recognizing "marriage between people without any restrictions." In an ...
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Sykes, Rippon speak at Chicago House event
Being one's "authentic self" was the theme as comedian Wanda Sykes and athlete Adam Rippon headlined Chicago House's 2018 Speaker Series and Luncheon entry on Sept. 14 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan ...
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Chicagoan raises money and pride walking to fight HIV/AIDS
Christopher Pazdernik was filled with fear and shame that day in 2009 when he learned he is HIV-positive. "I was so embarrassed and terrified; I had no idea what was going to happen next," he said. ...
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Amateur, a trans memoir of masculinity, boxing and being a man
Thomas Page McBee is many people: a husband, an uncle, a brother, a son. He's also the first trans man to fight in Madison Square Garden. Amateur: A True Story of What Makes a Man ( ...
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Chicago Smelts, three decades of swimming
Thirty years ago, a group of gay men ( Mark Schoofs, Mike McGuire and Damon Mackert ) formed a swimming club called the Chicago Smelts ( Smelts ). This was at the height of the AIDS ...
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Fujikawa first male golfer to come out
Tadd Fujikawa, 27, is the first professional male golfer to come out as gay. According to Outsports, Fujikawa said he came out because the stories of so many other LGBTQ athletes coming out before him helped ...
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Chicago pro-tennis tourney names winners
While players such as Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams grabbed headlines at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, Chicago held its own pro competition—the Oracle Challenger Series—at the XS Tennis ...
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Former Chicagoan Oostenbrug snags gold at Gay Games
Paul Oostenbrug was honored during the opening ceremony of Gay Games 10 in Paris with the highest honor from the Federation of Gay Games ( FGG ): the Tom Waddell Award. Days later, he won another ...
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Hundreds take part in Ride for AIDS 2018
The 15th Annual Ride for AIDS Chicago—the signature fundraising event of Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ), and which had a new route this year—took place Sept. 8-9, drawing nearly 200 riders, according to the ...
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Chicagoan honored by wrestlers group
Wrestlers WithOut Borders has selected the 2018 winners of its two highest honors: the Dermody Citizenship Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners and five new inductees to the WWB Hall of Merit were celebrated ...
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Memories, medals bring joy to Chicagoans at Gay Games in Paris
As the traditional flag moved from Paris 2018 to Hong Kong 2022, thus ending the 10th version of the Gay Games on Sunday, Aug. 12, there were plenty of tears—of pride and joy, not just sadness ...
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Organist taunts Cubs player with gay-friendly songs
Atlanta Braves organist Matthew Kaminski's playlist for recent Chicago Cubs acquisition Daniel Murphy included "Born This Way," "What the World Needs Now is Love" and "Lola," in what was presumably a reference to the Murphy's past ...
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Olympic champion track and field athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee at NEIU Sept. 11
Olympic champion track-and-field athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee will participate in a talk titled "An Evening With Jackie Joyner-Kersee" as Northeastern Illinois University presents the fourth installment of the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series on Tuesday, Sept. ...
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Pro tennis returns to Chicago Sept. 2-9
The Oracle Challenger Series—a combined ATP Challenger Tour and WTA $125K tennis tournament—will be held Sept. 2-9 at Chicago's XS Tennis Village, 5336 S. State St. Among the entrants are 2016 Olympic singles gold medalist Monica ...
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2018 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago Encourages Community to "Live True. Be You."
CHICAGO — On Sunday, Sept. 23, HIV advocates from across Chicago will live true at the 2018 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. Held at Soldier Field, the 17th annual event will raise awareness and funds for ...
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White Sox's 'Pride Night' on Aug. 31
The Chicago White Sox will hold their first ballpark-wide Pride Night in association with the club's "BasebALL: One Game for All" diversity and inclusion initiative at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday, Aug. 31, when the team ...
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Multi-sport athlete Kamden Romano transitions, excited to compete again
Kamden Romano has quite the sporting resume: football, soccer, marathons, triathlons and more, yet Romano's future sporting ventures are, perhaps, most exciting for him. Romano, 32, who lives in suburban Huntley and works as a paraprofessional, ...
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THE SPORTING LIFE Cameron Turner
It was Cameron Turner and his teammates battling a very talented Atlanta team years ago at the annual Gay Softball World Series. "They had power and speed, were rowdy and intimidating," Turner said. "A lot of ...
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SHOWBIZ Lena Waithe, Adam Rippon, Tim Cook, Lady Gaga, 'Bears'
Out Master of None co-writer/actress Lena Waithe is gearing up to expand her entertainment empire by collaborating with comedian Kid Fury on a new ( and inclusive ) HBO series, The Huffington Post noted. The pair ...
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Gay Games 10 right around the corner with 10,000 competing
The final tally for Gay Games 10, which runs Aug. 4-12 in Paris, is impressive: 10,317 participants from 91 countries, with 36 sports, 14 cultural events, and an academic conference. About 170 from Chicago are participating. ...
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More than 170 to represent Chicago in Gay Games 10
More than 170 people from the Chicago area are heading to Paris to compete in Gay Games 10. All Chicago-area participants are invited to join Team Chicago at the opening ceremonies. Team Chicago uniforms are on ...
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Billie Jean King, World TeamTennis in Chicago
World TeamTennis ( WTT ) returned to Chicago July 27, for WTT Chicago presented by Magellan. The Philadelphia Freedoms faced off against the Washington Kastles at the XS Tennis Village, 5336 S. State St. The Freedoms—owned ...
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WORLD British lesbian honored, Gay Games run, Hong Kong case
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
In the United Kingdom, the city of York honored "first modern lesbian" Anne Lister with a special plaque, Gay Star News noted. Unveiled in Goodramgate at the Holy Trinity Church on July 24, the plaque is ...
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Federation of Gay Games 2018 Tom Waddell Awards to honor McMullin, Oostenbrug
SAN FRANCISCO, CA ( 30 JULY 2018 ) The Federation of Gay Games ( FGG ) is pleased to announce Paul Oostenbrug, formerly of Chicago, and Gert McMullin as the recipients of the 2018 Tom Waddell ...
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The Sporting Life, Joe Green
Joe Green had only been out a few years when he started playing in a gay softball league, and yet still wasn't comfortable with being gay and living in the suburbs where he didn't know a ...
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2018 ASANA Softball World Series Coming Live To A Screen Near You
From a news release
NEW ORLEANS, LA, JULY 5, 2018 — The Amateur Sports Alliance of North America ( ASANA ), organizers of the 2018 ASANA Softball World Series in New Orleans, September 18 — 22, has announced a partnership ...
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WORLD Surrogacy law, World Cup, message to Trump & Putin
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
The Israeli Parliament ( The Knesset ) approved an amendment to the Israeli Law on Surrogacy, but kept a portion that stipulates same-sex couples are not be eligible for surrogacy services provided by the Israeli healthcare ...
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O'Maley in 15th Ride For AIDS Chicago with new bike, old memories
Matthew O'Maley started planning for the 2018 Ride For AIDS Chicago one year ago, during a major fundraiser for the 2017 Ride—when he won a bicycle in a silent auction. "Two of my friends who are ...
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Gay Games attendees from Chicago set uniforms
From a press release
More than 170 people from the Chicago area are heading to Paris, France to compete in Gay Games 10. All Chicago-area participants are invited to join Team Chicago at Opening Ceremonies. Team Chicago uniforms are on ...
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The legacy continues, Gay Games running Aug. 4-12 in Paris
Gay Games 10 will be one of the largest in the history of the quadrennial event that dates back to its 1982 launch in San Francisco, which attracted 1,350 worldwide participants. The 2018 edition will take ...
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Martin only current U.S. out male pro athlete
The world of professional soccer made news last week as Minnesota United player Collin Martin came out as gay. The midfielder made the announcement on social media, saying he had been out as gay for "many ...
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ESPN's Body Issue features first same-sex couple
For the first time since ESPN Magazine released its first Body Issue in 2009, the magazine will feature a same-sex couple on the cover, The Seattle Times noted. Sports power couple Sue Bird, of the the ...
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HRC reports LGBTQ student-athletes still closeted
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) Foundation and the University of Connecticut released a groundbreaking report, "Play to Win: Improving the Lives of LGBTQ Youth in Sports," detailing the experiences of LGBTQ student-athletes. Despite the ...
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PRIDE COVERAGE 2018 Teams compete at Pride Bowl XI
The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association's Pride Bowl XI took place June 22-23 on Chicago's Montrose Lakeside Fields. The results were as follows: —"A" Division Winner: Los Angeles Express Black Runner-Up: New York United —"B" Division ...
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Proud to Run marks 37 years with theme 'Run Foward'
Proud To Run celebrated 37 years with its annual 5K run/walk and 10K run June 23 at The Grove just north of Montrose Harbor. This year marked the first time the event has a theme, "Run ...
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White Sox to hold first ballpark-wide Pride Night Aug. 31
From a news release
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox will hold their first ballpark-wide Pride Night in association with the club's "BasebALL: One Game for All" diversity and inclusion initiative at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday, Aug. 31 vs. ...
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CMSA's Pride Bowl XI on June 22-23
The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) announced that the football event Pride Bowl XI will take place on June 22-23 on Chicago's Montrose Lakeside Fields. All teams must be sponsored by a dues-paying NGFFL ...
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Rugby to return to Chicago Nov. 3
USA Rugby and TLA Worldwide ( TLA ), along with host city partners Chicago Sports Commission ( CSC ) and Soldier Field, announced that world-class international rugby will again return to Soldier Field in Chicago for ...
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World TeamTennis returning to Chicago
World TeamTennis ( WTT ) will make its return to Chicago on Friday, July 27, for WTT Chicago presented by Magellan when the Philadelphia Freedoms and the Washington Kastles face off in a regular season match ...
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Run Forward at the 37th Annual Proud To Run
From a press release
Chicago, Ill., June 12, 2018 — The 37th Annual Proud To Run, a 10K/5K run and 5K fun walk, will be held on the morning of Saturday, June 23, at Montrose Harbor. Since 1982, Proud To ...
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World TeamTennis here July 17
From a news release
CHICAGO ( June 4, 2018 ) - World TeamTennis ( WTT ) will make its return to Chicago on Friday, July 27, for WTT Chicago presented by Magellan when the Philadelphia Freedoms and the Washington Kastles ...
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WORLD Nike controversy, gay Polish mayor, largest Pride in world
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
Nike has caused controversy by using a pink triangle—most infamously used to mark gay men during the Holocaust—on its recent Pride collection, PinkNews reported. In May, the athletics brand launched its annual Pride collection. According to ...
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SHOWBIZ Adam Rippon, Celine Dion, Jussie Smollett, George Takei
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
Adam Rippon's romance with his Finnish boyfriend is getting serious, Page Six noted, citing People. "We'll live together," Rippon, 28, shared with People confirming news that Finnish boyfriend Jussi-Pekka Kajaala is moving to the United States. ...
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WORLD World Cup, model murdered, Princess Diana
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
Queer football fans have been "strongly" warned to not "publicly display sexuality" at the Russian World Cup, PinkNews reported. LGBT+ fans should not hold hands or be affectionate towards their partner in public to ensure their ...
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Bingham Cup in Amsterdam in June
The Bingham Cup program—the world championship of LGBT-inclusive men's and women's rugby—will take place in Amersterdam June 2-11. The tournament, taking place June 8-10, will be the centerpiece of the program. The Chicago Dragons is the ...
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LGBTQ sports movie premiering June 28
The documentary Alone in the Game will premiere Thursday, June 28, on the AT&T AUDIENCE Network, according to a press release. The AT&T original feature-length documentary follows a group of athletes and sports figures from the ...
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In "Alone In The Game" LGBTQ Athletes Explore Ongoing Challenges, June 28
Coming off an official selection at AFI Docs Film Festival in Washington D.C., AT&T* AUDIENCE® Network unveiled its new, exclusive documentary, "Alone In The Game." It will make its premiere on Thursday, June 28 at 8 ...
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