Press releases

  • Federation of Gay Games announces inspectors for Gay Games X site visits #GayGames2018 ggx-squareSan Francisco 16 April 2013 Federation of Gay Games announces inspectors for Gay Games X site visits Team will visit cities vying to host 2018 event in July-August of this year Today the international Federation of Gay Games announced the names of the three inspectors who will be visiting cities bidding to host Gay Games X in 2018. The veteran of the team is Rob Lavery of Toronto. Lavery was himself part of a former bid team, is a former cochair of the Federation’s Site Selection Committee, and has served as a site inspector on two previous occasions. Joining him will be Cyd Ziegler, Jr. (Los Angeles), founder of Outsports, the leading online media for LGBT sport and sport for LGBT people. Ziegler has undertaken to entrust his partner in Outsports, Jim Buzinski, with all matters dealing with the Gay Games so as to maintain a clear separation between his work as a site inspector and his activities as a journalist and media proprietor. Rounding out the team is Annette Wachter (Cologne), former CEO of Games Cologne, the host organization of Gay Games VIII in 2010. Earlier this year Wachter also served as a site inspector on behalf of GLISA International, visiting Reykjavik and Miami for the selection of the host of the next World Outgames. Two alternates were also selected in case a member of the primary team is unable to travel. These are Anna Aagenes (Philadelphia), executive director of GO! Athletes, the North American organization of LGBT student athletes, and Sébastien Datiche (Tours, France), FGG sports officer, who offers unparalleled familiarity with the Gay Games Red Book for Sport which defines the obligations of hosts in terms of venues and organization of sporting events. Datiche is also in charge of support for the visits, and in particular for devising the inspection checklist. Dennis Sneyers (Chicago), cochair of the Federation’s Site Selection Committee, explained that his was the first time site inspectors were chosen through an open application process. “In our ongoing pursuit of transparency and democracy, we decided to invite all interested parties to apply for these positions. In the past, site inspectors were ...
  • Federation of Gay Games closes first phase of questions to organization bidding to host #GayGames X #GayGames2018 ggx-squareFederation of Gay Games closes first phase of questions to organization bidding to host Gay Games X Over 300 questions submitted by interested parties from around the world The international Federation of Gay Games announced the close of the first phase of questions for organizations bidding to host Gay Games X. Five cities – Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, and Paris – are bidding to host the 2018 event, the world’s largest sport and culture festival open to all. Dennis Sneyers (Chicago), cochair of the FGG site selection committee, explained that the process used was a first for the FGG: “While we have always made the bid books public, for the first time we have chosen to open our question submissions to all interested parties. The process has been totally transparent and very successful. Over 380 questions were submitted via an online form. After editing, consolidation, and removal of duplicate questions, more than 300 questions remained, all of which have been posted on our blog at 2018.gaygames.org, where they can be consulted by bidder and by theme.” Sneyers’ cochair, Dave Killian (Philadelphia) spoke of the next steps: “Bidding organizations have until the end of April to respond to these questions. Their answers will be added to the questions posted online so that FGG voters and the public in general can judge the responsiveness of the organizations involved. But this isn’t the end of our exchanges with bidding organizations, which will continue along the same lines through the FGG Assembly’s vote on a shortlist at the end of May, and then on to October’s in-person site selection meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, the host of Gay Games 9 in August 2014.” Ken Hundrieser (Chicago), an FGG volunteer processing the Q&A, discussed the breakdown in questions asked: “There was not a significant difference in the number of questions asked of the various bidding organizations, despite their very different backgrounds and orientations. Sport is of course an important topic, representing a third of all questions. Among the sports, cycling and triathlon received the most questions, in large part because these are particularly complicated events, with road closing issues, multiple ...
  • FGG, EGLSF, IGLFA, All Out, and Football v Homophobia ask FIFA to explain just what’s going on with the Nigerian Football Federation’s #LesbophobiaInSport nigeria_FFFGG, EGLSF, IGLFA, All Out, and Football v Homophobia, the organizations who first wrote one week ago to FIFA about the reported ban on lesbians from football in Nigeria have just written again, in light of FIFA’s silence and confusing and contradictory claims being made by the various parties. Download the letter here, or read the text below: One week ago we wrote to you in regard to reports of discriminatory behavior by Nigerian Women’s Football League chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma. We have as yet received no direct response from you. We are aware of media reports that FIFA sent the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) a letter, and of other reports that say that the NFF denies receiving any such letter. We are also aware that the NFF is stated in the media that they deny making any discriminatory statements, on the basis of the text of an official speech given by Ms. Onyedinma. In the meantime, the audio recording of the interview which led to the initial reports on this matter has been made public, confirming that lesbians are in fact excluded from clubs, and from the national team. We feel that FIFA’s silence on this matter implies tacit approval. We repeat our demand that you take action, and that this action constitute a firm message that such discrimination is unacceptable to FIFA. We again take this opportunity to repeat our request for information on the status of the investigation into Nigerian coach Eucharia Uche’s discriminatory behavior in 2011.
  • FIFA and the Nigerian Football Federation: Who’s fooling who? nigeria_FFHere is the original interview in Premium Times that set off the concern over the ban on lesbian players in the Nigerian Football Federation: “We won’t tolerate lesbianism in Nigeria women football- league” The Chairman said some female footballers are already involved in the act. The Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, has said that the league will not tolerate lesbianism among women footballers. Ms. Onyedinma said this during the league’s congress that held on Thursday in Abuja. “It (lesbianism) is happening but we have to talk to the clubs, and look inside the clubs and these things have to do with clubs. “There are particular clubs that don’t even want to hear about it and once they heard it the players involved will be sacked,” the football boss told PREMIUM TIMES, citing the condemnation of the act in the bible. She said any player found to be involved in lesbianism will be disqualified from participating in the league. “Any player that we heard is associated with it will be disqualified,” she added. Talking about other punishments that would be meted out to any player found to be involved in lesbianism, Dilichukwu said, “We will call the club chairmen to control their players, such players will not be able to play for the national team.”
  • FIFA and the Nigerian Football Federation: a happy band of liars all? nigeria_FFThe scandal that is Nigerian football authorities’ policies with regard to lesbians, and FIFA’s abject response, continues. From Nigerian news portal Naij, we hear that contrary to FIFA’s claims, no letter has been sent. More imporant, they reference the recording of the Nigerian official saying that lesbian players are kicked off teams, and would be disqualified from playing for the national side. The national federation’s spokesman is careful to say that no anti-lesbian comments were made by the head of the women’s league in her official speech. This of course has nothing to do with the interview where the statements *were* made. Did FIFA write? Did they lie? Is the NFF lying? Will FIFA accept yet more of this crap? The Nigerian Football federation says lesbians have not been banned from playing in the West Africa country. It had been reported that football’s world governing body Fifa had written to the NFF, seeking clarification over the situation. NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport: “Unfortunately, a section of the media has blown petty speculation out of proportion. “The NFF never received any letter or query from Fifa.” The issue came to light when it was reported that Dilichukwu Onyedinma, the chair of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), said lesbian players would no longer be eligible for the Nigeria women’s national team and would “be sacked” from their club sides. However, Olajire is adamant that is not the case. “We have already circulated Onyedinma’s speech at the NWFL’s annual general assembly, clearly she never said anything of the nature that has been alleged,” he said. “The NWFL chairperson never made such sensitive comments and the NFF are not under any Fifa probe or query.” While contravening Fifa’s anti-discrimination policies, the situation is made more complicated because homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. Currently, a Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill that specifically outlaws same-sex unions is awaiting a signature from president Goodluck Jonathan to become law. If that occurs, gatherings of homosexuals or any other support for gay clubs, organisations, unions – whether in secret or in public – will be banned, with same-sex couples facing up to 14 years in prison. However, Olajire insists the ...
  • UPDATE: IGLFA joins FGG, EGLSF, Football v Homophobia, and AllOut in appeal for action from FIFA on exclusion of lesbians from Nigerian football #LesbophobiaInSport #HomophobiaInSport #FIFA nigeria_FFUPDATE: Yesterday the Federation of Gay Games (www.gaygames.org), joined by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (www.eglsf.info), Football v Homophobia (www.footballvhomophobia.org), and AllOut (www.allout.org) released the letter they have written to Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, the world football (soccer) federation. The letter has been updated with the signature of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (www.iglfa.org). We took advantage of this update to ask FIFA to respond with regard to the rumors that they have already written to the Nigerian officials in cause. The organizations expressed their concern about reports that the Nigerian Football Association has banned lesbian from football in the country. This follows reports that the coach of the Nigerian team participating in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany explained that she had excluded players presumed to be lesbians from the team (see http://gaymes.info/fifa20130305 for past action on this). Given the inaction of FIFA following that situation, and the flippant response from FIFA to concerns over their decision to host future World Cups in homophobic countries, the organizations sending this letter believe that FIFA must now take firm action or confirm its reputation as a homophobic organization, in contradiction to its bylaws and the Olympic Charter. The text of the updated letter (PDF), addressed to FIFA president Sepp Blatter and FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, follows: ———- Dear Sirs, On behalf of the undersigned, we are writing to express our distress about reports of discriminatory behavior by Nigerian Women’s Football League chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma. According to press out of the country yesterday (March 4, 2013), following the recent annual General Assembly, Onyedinma has officially announced that lesbianism is now “officially banned from Nigerian football.” As you know, this is in direct contravention of FIFA’s anti-discrimination policies. Indeed, Mr. Blatter, in an interview on FIFA’s official site, dated August 12, 2011, you state very clearly that “he sexual orientation of a player or coach is a private matter. People have to,be able to live their lives free from all forms of discrimination.” We have broached this subject with you before. In June 2011, just two months prior to Mr. Blatter’s interview, we ...
  • FGG, EGLSF, Football v Homophobia, and AllOut write to FIFA to demand a response to exclusion of lesbians from Nigerian football #LesbophobiaInSport #HomophobiaInSport #FIFA nigeria_FFToday the Federation of Gay Games (www.gaygames.org), joined by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (www.eglsf.info), Football v Homophobia (www.footballvhomophobia.org), and AllOut (www.allout.org) release the letter they have written to Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, the world football (soccer) federation. The organizations expressed their concern about reports that the Nigerian Football Association has banned lesbian from football in the country. This follows reports that the coach of the Nigerian team participating in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany explained that she had excluded players presumed to be lesbians from the team (see http://gaymes.info/fifa20130305 for past action on this). Given the inaction of FIFA following that situation, and the flippant response from FIFA to concerns over their decision to host future World Cups in homophobic countries, the organizations sending this letter believe that FIFA must now take firm action or confirm its reputation as a homophobic organization, in contradiction to its bylaws and the Olympic Charter. The text of the letter (PDF), addressed to FIFA president Sepp Blatter and FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, follows: ———- Dear Sirs, On behalf of the undersigned, we are writing to express our distress about reports of discriminatory behavior by Nigerian Women’s Football League chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma. According to press out of the country yesterday (March 4, 2013), following the recent annual General Assembly, Onyedinma has officially announced that lesbianism is now “officially banned from Nigerian football.” As you know, this is in direct contravention of FIFA’s anti-discrimination policies. Indeed, Mr. Blatter, in an interview on FIFA’s official site, dated August 12, 2011, you state very clearly that “he sexual orientation of a player or coach is a private matter. People have to,be able to live their lives free from all forms of discrimination.” We have broached this subject with you before. In June 2011, just two months prior to Mr. Blatter’s interview, we wrote to FIFA about reports of discriminatory behavior by Eucharia Uche, the coach of the Nigerian women’s football team competing in that summer’s World Cup in Germany. Three months later, Mr. Valcke responded with a request for proof, which we supplied on September 20, ...
  • Federation of Gay Games receives bid books for Gay Games X: Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, and Paris continue in race to host 2018 event #ggx #gaygames #gaygames2018 ggx-squareSan Francisco 1 March 2013 Federation of Gay Games receives bid books for Gay Games X Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, and Paris continue in race to host 2018 event Today the Federation of Gay Games announced that it had received bid books from groups in Amsterdam, Limerick, London, Orlando, and Paris vying to be chosen to host Gay Games X in 2018. The documents can be found online at 2018.gaygames.org. Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) expressed the Federation’s pleasure at these submissions: “Bidding is an intensive and costly process, mobilizing dozens of volunteers in each bidding city. We began this process with over twenty expressions of interest. Groups from seven cities submitted letters of intent to bid. Five responded to our Request for Proposals. Now all five groups have completed this most recent major step on the road to Cleveland where our site selection meeting will take place in October 2013.” Cochair of the Site Selection Committee David Killian (Philadelphia) noted the months of communication between bidding organizations and the FGG: “We began by providing these organizations with our RFP which lays out the requirements for hosting the Gay Games and for presenting their bid. The Gay Games are a major endeavor, the largest sport and culture festival open to all in the world. For an event with over 10,000 participants and 40 sport and culture events, just producing a bid book is extraordinarily demanding. We have provided as much pertinent information about past hosts as we could, and have remained in constant contact with these organizations, holding weekly teleconferences to respond to their questions and requests for information.” FGG co-president Emy Ritt (Paris) spoke of the excitement among FGG board members, delegates, and volunteers: “After the Gay Games themselves and the site selection meeting, the submission of bid books is one of the most important moments in the life of the Federation. It’s a bit like unwrapping a present when we discover the very different visions these organizations have of producing the Gay Games, which have changed thousands of lives since 1982, and which will be celebrating their 36th anniversary in 2018.” Ritt’s male ...