Because soccer isn't gay, but once in awhile it kinda is.
Guys & Gals We Like
Joanna Lohman Helps Relaunch GO! Athletes in Philadelphia
10/12/12
DC United midfielder Joanna Lohman took to the stage at the University of Pennsylvania to help relaunch GO! Athletes, a national network of LGBT student-athletes and their allies.
Short for Generation Out, GO! Athletes will provide services such as peer support for LGBT athletes, assistance in creating GO! Athletes chapters at schools, and leading workshops and speakers forums.
Joanna Lohman was the keynote speaker for last night’s relaunch, where she talked about her philanthropic work and life as an out athlete: “This is the time for the next generation of out athletes and allies. Coaches, athletes, fans and allies alike are ready.”
Lohman met her partner Lianne Sanderson when both played for the Philadelphia Independence of WPS.
You can get more information about GO! Athletes at their website.
(Photo: Samarth Shrivastava, Daily Pennsylvanian)
Happy National Coming Out Day
10/11/12
Today is National Coming Out Day. If there is someone in your life dealing with the struggle that is coming out to friends, family, and coworkers as an LGBT person, give them some love and support today.
Here are some coming out resources that may be a help to them or you:
- HRC, the Human Rights Campaign
- GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
- PFLAG, Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays – a great resource if you’re a straight ally looking for ways to be supportive.
Share with them the stories of those in the American soccer community who have come out since last year’s National Coming Out Day:
November 2011: David Testo, former Columbus Crew and Montreal Impact midfielder
Jay DeMerit and Jazz Hands!
10/08/12
The Vancouver Whitecaps are launching a new video series called “Off the Pitch,” and captain Jay DeMerit is the star of the inaugural episode.
The idea is for Whitecaps fans to Tweet their hobbies and jobs to the team, and they will film your favorite player learning a bit about your interest.
Jay DeMerit is the team guinea pig for the project as a member of the front office staff takes him along for a lesson in tap dancing.
Check out Jay and his newly found freestyle tap skills:
What other talents to you want to see from the Whitecaps players?
Lance Parker: 2012 Cosmo Bachelor of the Year Nominee
10/03/12
Soccer ally, fashion model, and FC Edmonton goalkeeper Lance Parker is up for Cosmopolitan Magazine’s 2012 Bachelor of the Year, representing his home state of Oklahoma.
Lance’s ideal first date would be cooking a chicken or steak dinner for someone, loves head massages, and waits five dates before jumping in the sack. (What’s a fifth date?)
This is the second time in three years a member of our Soccer Ally list has been a Bachelor of the Year nominee, with DC United midfielder Chris Pontius representing the District of Columbia in 2010. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Hunter Gilstrap represented Pennsylvania last year, making it three years in a row on the list for American soccer pros.
You can vote for Lance Parker (and by extension, all of American soccer) here until October 18.
We hope to be talking to Lance soon about his nomination so if you have any questions for him, tweet them to @gay4soccer.
David Testo Throws Out First Pitch at Blue Jays Game
10/01/12
David Testo threw out the first pitch at Thursday night’s Toronto Blue Jays game, the first home appearance of Yunel Escobar after a suspension for homophobic messages on his eye black.
Escobar displayed the message “Tu ere maricon” and was suspended for three games, and was given a $82,000 fine that was donated to GLAAD and the You Can Play Project. Prior to his return to his home field, he met with out distance runner Jose Estevez, along with You Can Play Founder Patrick Burke.
Testo threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game to shortstop Escobar.
David Testo is also the subject of a long form profile featured on SBNation Friday.
David Testo Goes In Depth with SBNation
09/28/12
Out soccer player David Testo sat down with Leander Schaerlaeckens for an immensely comprehensive profile for SBNation.com. It’s part of a new emphasis on long-form sports writing as part of the site’s new look.
Scaerlaeckens spent three days in Montreal with Testo to get rare insight into the life of the first former Major League Soccer player to come out of the closet.
It’s an amazing read that you can check out at SBNation, but here are the points that stood out for me:
- David Testo struggled growing up gay in an area where he was taught being gay is an abomination, at times going to extreme lengths to hide who he was.
- He details his relationship with MTV reality star Shane Landrum, and getting caught by fellow college athletes with him.
- Perhaps the most candid parts are about his life as a pro player, falling for teammates, masking his sexuality, and self-medicating with alcohol.
It really is an immensely in-depth long form piece that I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of here. It’s more than well worth a read at SBNation.
KICKTV to Show Us All Jimmy Conrad’s ASS
09/07/12
I’ve been listening to Jimmy Conrad’s ASS for awhile now, and now I finally get to see it on KICKTV:
If you were unaware, Jimmy Conrad’s ASS is American Soccer Spectacular, and if this preview is any indication it will be a great show.
Lori Lindsey Comes Out Publicly in Interview
09/05/12
The interview is here on Autostraddle.com.
Some highlights:
- She jokes that she threatened to pull a “Tonya Harding” on Megan Rapinoe for coming out first, even though she pushed Megan to come out.
- Lori is recently single, and picky.
- Her parents divorced early in her life, and she only remembers her mom ever being with a woman as her wife.
Thank you Lori. We’re all happy to have you as fans and proud to have you as part of the family.
Zach Woosley also did an excellent piece on the SB Nation blog Stars and Stripes FC on Lori’s public coming out.
Wins and losses are great, trophies are even better, but to have our women’s national team playing a leading role in putting more faces on the LGBT movement is something I’m extremely proud of. It may not seem like much, but when openly gay athletes are received in a positive way by soccer fans, it shows all those who are still struggling with a very personal decision that when they are ready, the support will be there for them.
Kyle and Eva Martino featured in Martha Stewart Weddings
09/05/12
When I first read about the nuptials of Kyle Martino and Eva Amurri last fall, I had already come to the conclusion that they had what may be the coolest wedding of all time.
The wedding was officiated by Sister Helen Prejean (the anti-death penalty nun played by Eva’s mom Susan Sarandon) and wedding guests got to enjoy a scavenger hunt as part of the weekend of festivities. A gospel choir led the procession, and stepdad of the bride Tim Robbins performed an original song he wrote for the oyster roast rehearsal dinner.
Now their destination wedding in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized for its awesomeness as it is featured in the Fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. Check it out.
Kyle and Eva will celebrate their first anniversary on October 29.
Pia Sundhage Stepping Down to Return to Sweden
09/01/12
2 Olympic gold medals
World Cup Final
3 Algarve Cups
88-6-10 record
5 great years.
