Sports
DC teams ahead of the pack on gay support
‘Sexuality never part of our scouting reports,’ says Nats GM
D.C. is a leader when it comes to support of gay fans. About 4,000 turned out for a recent Night Out at the Nationals event. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
With support for LGBT athletes growing, some cities’ teams do a better job than others of walking the walk.
Baltimore Orioles fans, for example, are still waiting for a team-sanctioned LGBT appreciation night. The situation is much better in D.C.
Professional soccer team DC United was the first D.C. team and first Major League Soccer (MLS) team to make a You Can Play video in support of LGBT players. In an interview, midfielder John Thorrington, told the Blade, “MLS has done a very good job in spreading a very inclusive message and has become more and more LGBT friendly. I believe this has been a conscious effort that the league and players are behind.”
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When asked if having a gay player on DC United would change anything with the team, especially in the locker room, he said, “a locker room is a place where you make everyone feel included and build team chemistry.”
Midfielder Chris Pontius added in an interview with the Blade, “it is common knowledge that we would accept a person for who they are. As a player you accept them as they are as a player.” Both said anything other than respect would not be tolerated by the organization.
The Washington Nationals are a fan favorite in the LGBT community and the team supports one of the largest LGBT sports nights in the country.
“We look for players who have the skills and athleticism to win baseball games and the sexuality of a player is never part of our scouting reports,” Mike Rizzo, Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager, told the Blade. “In our eyes, teammates are teammates and everyone has equal standing here at Nationals Park.”
Former Washington Wizards center Jason Collins came out earlier this year. There are dozens of interviews and quotes from his former Wizard teammates supporting him. The Wizards sent the Blade a statement from President Ernie Grunfeld that read, “We are extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly. He has been a leader on and off the court and an outstanding teammate throughout his NBA career. Those qualities will continue to serve him both as a player and as a positive role model for others of all sexual orientation.”
Ted Leonsis, founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Capitals, told the Blade in a statement that his company supports the LGBT community.
“Monumental Sports & Entertainment and its teams are committed to fostering a supportive environment for our players, fans, employees and their families,” Leonsis said in the statement. “Equality and diversity are two important components in sports culture – and in life – and the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Verizon Center each embrace an atmosphere where all are welcome. We encourage players to feel comfortable with their orientation and are proud to stand in support of the LGBT community.”
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is one of the most popular players in the NFL. In a recent interview with GQ magazine, he said this about gay players: “Yeah, man. I think there are [gay players] right now, and if they’re looking for a window to just come out, I mean, now is the window.” The Redskins organization did not return a request for comment on its stance or preparations for gay players.
More than a dozen LGBTQ athletes won medals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics that ended on Sunday.
Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight, and Alex Carpenter are LGBTQ members of the U.S. women’s hockey team that won a gold medal after they defeated Canada in overtime. Knight the day before the Feb. 19 match proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.
French ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron, who is gay, and his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry won gold. American alpine skier Breezy Johnson, who is bisexual, won gold in the women’s downhill. Amber Glenn, who identifies as bisexual and pansexual, was part of the American figure skating team that won gold in the team event.
Swiss freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud, who is in a relationship with Vali Höll, an Austrian mountain biker, won gold in women’s freeski slopestyle.
Bruce Mouat, who is the captain of the British curling team that won a silver medal, is gay. Six members of the Canadian women’s hockey team — Emily Clark, Erin Ambrose, Emerance Maschmeyer, Brianne Jenner, Laura Stacey, and Marie-Philip Poulin — that won silver are LGBTQ.
Swedish freestyle skier Sandra Naeslund, who is a lesbian, won a bronze medal in ski cross.
Belgian speed skater Tineke den Dulk, who is bisexual, was part of her country’s mixed 2000-meter relay that won bronze. Canadian ice dancer Paul Poirier, who is gay, and his partner, Piper Gilles, won bronze.
Laura Zimmermann, who is queer, is a member of the Swiss women’s hockey team that won bronze when they defeated Sweden.
Outsports.com notes all of the LGBTQ Olympians who competed at the games and who medaled.
Sports
US wins Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey
Team captain Hilary Knight proposed to girlfriend on Wednesday
The U.S. women’s hockey team on Thursday won a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. The game took place a day after Team USA captain Hilary Knight proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.
Cayla Barnes and Alex Carpenter — Knight’s teammates — are also LGBTQ. They are among the more than 40 openly LGBTQ athletes who are competing in the games.
The Olympics will end on Sunday.
Sports
Attitude! French ice dancers nail ‘Vogue’ routine
Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry strike a pose in memorable Olympics performance
Madonna’s presence is being felt at the Olympic Games in Italy.
Guillaume Cizeron and his rhythm ice dancing partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry of France performed a flawless skate to Madonna’s “Vogue” and “Rescue Me” on Monday.
The duo scored an impressive 90.18 for their effort, the best score of the night.
“We’ve been working hard the whole season to get over 90, so it was nice to see the score on the screen,” Fournier Beaudry told Olympics.com. “But first of all, just coming out off the ice, we were very happy about what we delivered and the pleasure we had out there. With the energy of the crowd, it was really amazing.”
Watch the routine on YouTube here.
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