Gay sports fans and athletes in london

Gay Sports

Gay sports have received a huge boost this year, with triumphant sports men and woman doing them-selves proud! The Beijing Olympics are rumoured to have doubled up as a grand coming out party for many gay athletes. Many gay sports stars from all over the globe competed in a variety of events ranging from volleyball to archery, and Robert Dover of the US provided no exception, partaking in the major equestrian events

However, hero of the hour was in fact Matthew Mitcham, a 20 year old gay man from Australia who succeeded to win the 10 meter platform, swiping the Gold Medal from China, with the most highly rated dive in Olympic History.

Gay Athletes

A number of gay athletes have made the head lines in recent years, most often due to the abuse they face at the hands of sports fans. Football has certainly been no exception to the rule, with the famous case of tragic star Justin Fashinu, who committed suicide months after coming out as gay, prior to facing barbaric abuse at the hands of fans. In relation, Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell has been in and out of the headlines for the same reason for a number of years, facing homo-phobic abuse form rival fans on a weekly basis.

In a bid to counter the abuse of gay athletes like Sol Campbell, the Footballing Association (FA) have agreed to fund a £20,000 film to educate sports fans of just how seriously the authorities have begun to take homo-phobic abuse on the football field. They have teamed up with gay rights campaigner Peter Thatchell.

The towering defender is set to star along side the likes of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney in a bid to rid football grounds of anti social behavior toward gay athletes.
The educational video is set for viewing next year in cinemas and on television, and even on the big screens on match day. Schools are also heavily involved in the initiative.

Danny Lynch, a campaigner for 'Kick it Out' an organization responsible for the success in the fight against racism on the pitch had felt that due to a decline in racism on the terraces, Homophobia had increased in direct replacement, with many Gay sports men facing a barrage of abuse on a weekly basis.

Gay sports clubs in London

There are a host of gay sports club in and around the capital, all of which cater for a wide variety of people, and are extremely accommodating. They include :

• Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu Club- martial arts
• Kings Cross Steelers RFC - rugby union
• Frontrunners - running
• Stonewall Football Club - soccer
• Out To Swim - swimming
• Gay Outdoor Club, London - hiking, climbing and outdoor activities
• Goslings - Badminton, Swimming
• Cycle Out - cycling
• GLUG - underwater, diving

London Gay sports

There are a host of sports teams representing the gay community in London and doing themselves proud, and Stonewall FC are no exception. Gold Medal winners in the European Games this year, and recipients of the gold in the 2002 Sydney Olympics, this ever prosperous football team is surely a beacon of light amidst a mist of controversy and homo-phobic abuse of host of top flight players.