Sports

Message in the miles

Runners use marathons to spread HRC platform

Published

11 years ago

October 8, 2014

Kevin Majoros

Melissa Harris Perry, gay news, Washington Blade

Athletes for Equality, gay news, Washington Blade

MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry runs an HRC marathon in Washington in 2013. (Photo courtesy HRC)

At 1.5 million members, the Human Rights Campaign is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality. In an effort to continue moving forward, its members maintain multiple programs to raise awareness at a grassroots level.

Athletes for Equality engages people in the LGBT and allied sports communities to become involved with HRC efforts by competing in a world-class marathon.

Tommy Lodge, associate director of HRC’s membership outreach, travels to multiple festivals throughout the year as part of HRC’s Pride Outreach and is also an organizer of Athletes for Equality.

“By joining one of our endurance teams, an individual commits to raising money for HRC in exchange for coaching and training support, team camaraderie and fundraising support,” Lodge says. “Plus, during the race they get to wear our gear and are cheered on by groups of enthusiastic HRC volunteers.”

Athletes for Equality is attached to four current marathons: Marine Corps Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Los Angeles Marathon and Publix Georgia Marathon.

Coming Oct. 26 is the Marine Corps Marathon which has already sold out at 30,000 participants. The contributions received by the runners are earmarked for the HRC 501(c)3 workplace programs which qualifies the HRC team to receive additional guaranteed spots for each year they participate.

In this, their fourth year at the Marine Corps Marathon, there are only a few spots remaining in the 50 guaranteed openings and team captain, Angel Boord, is excited to be a part of the team.

“I have always been an athlete and a runner. Now, I am happy to also call myself an activist. I know many experienced runners who may not have run with a charity before, but I wholeheartedly recommend it,” Boord says. “The camaraderie provided via HRC’s Athletes for Equality helps me push myself more than ever before.”

Lodge says the program will be expanding in the future with more sponsored events to be added to the four already in existence.

For now, athletes can also carve their own path if they want to participate in an event under the Athletes for Equality banner. Over the past two years, about a hundred cyclists have completed bike rides and marathons have been run in places as far away as France and Namibia.

“We even had a mountain climber who wanted to climb Mount Everest for us,” Lodge says.

The peer-to-peer fundraising platform is an added benefit for raising awareness at a grassroots level. A family member may be aware of his or her relative’s athletic capabilities, but may not be familiar with the HRC vision.

“Athletics are one of the last bastions of homophobia,” Lodge says. “We meet the team members where they are as athletes and offer them the chance to push themselves physically all while doing it for a cause.”

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Sports

‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay

Games to take place next month in Italy

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2026

Staff reports

(Photo courtesy of Crave HBO Max)

“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.

HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.

The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.

Sports

Capitals to host 10th annual Pride night

Pre-game block party planned at District E

Published

2 weeks ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.

Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.

Egypt

Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’

Game to take place on June 26

Published

2 months ago

December 11, 2025

Michael K. Lavers

(Photo by fifg/Bigstock)

Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.

The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.

Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.

The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”

“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.

The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.

Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’

The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.

“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”

“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”

The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.

Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.