Emile Griffith, born in the US Virgin Islands, was a six-time world champion at welterweight and middleweight in the Sixties, now installed in boxing’s Hall of Fame. There was always speculation about his sexuality – he talked with a lisp, had an effeminate gait and had worked as a milliner designing women’s hats. We certainly raised [...]

No longer able to count on the support of the BC government, Vancouver’s Outgames organizers are turning to the private sector to ensure the North American portion of the international gay sports and culture festival will continue as planned in 2011. When planning the games in 2007 and 2008, Outgames chair John Boychuk says representatives from “ministries [...]

The organizers of Aspen Gay Ski Week (AGSW) and presenting sponsor Bud Light, have announced dates and a schedule of events for their 2010 “Into the Woods” themed event taking place Sunday, January 17, 2010 through Sunday, January 24, 2010. Established in 1976 by a small group of Aspen residents to host social events and organize educational [...]

Gareth Thomas may be the first high-profile rugby union player to declare he is a homosexual but the former Wales captain is not the first leading sports star to announce that they are gay. The following sporting personalties paved the way for Thomas’s announcement: Justin Fashanu (football): The first black British player to command a one million pounds [...]

As I was driving home from work tonight listening to WCBS-AM in New York City, a report came on starting with “George Micheal … ” and I immediately said “oh no”. Yes, the report went onto say George had passed away at the age of 70 from complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at Sibley Memorial Hospital in [...]

After a delay due to the world economy, Antwerp, Belgium has been named by the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association ( GLISA) as the host city for the 2013 World Outgames. GLISA director for Europe Tatjana Eggeling said: “We are very happy to see that the City of Antwerp, the Province of Antwerp and the Flemish Government have [...]

According to Luisa Yanez at The Miami Herald , A female athlete wins an Olympic gold medal, but later a sexual verification test detects she has the testosterone levels of a man. What action does the International Olympic Committee take? Two faculty members from Florida International University’s new medical school will help set the framework on how to tackle such [...]

Early retirement is treating Mike Piazza well. The former all-star New York Mets catcher and wife Alicia Rickter are now raising two daughters, having welcomed new addition Paulina Sophia Piazza to the family. “We are blessed to have two healthy girls – we are so grateful,” Mike, 41, tells  PEOPLE. Paulina arrived on Monday, August 3rd at Mount Sinai [...]

He spent the last years of his life wandering the streets of San Francisco, especially Castro Street, the heart of the gay community. Yes, the onetime Dodger outfielder made another kind of baseball history in 1982, two years after his premature retirement from the game, when he became the first player to openly declare his homosexuality. [...]

SkyNews is reporting today, Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas has “come out” in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Mail. Thomas who was married, told his wife he was gay and had been cheating on her with men. Their marriage ended in 2006. Thomas, who plays for Cardiff Blues, said he felt like his life was “falling [...]

It has been reported around the LGBT blogosphere and some websites that during an incident at a Denny’s restaurant last week, Dallas Maverick’s reserve forward Tim Thomas called someone a “faggot”, however Dallas radio station KRLD-AM sports reporter Roger Emrich who was at the restaurant at the time said it didn’t happen. “They landed right on [...]

See a related posting at Focus On The Rainbow – Hearst

How many of us have and do enjoy getting into the great outdoors. Hiking, canoeing, swimming and eating smores by the campfire with a glass of wine or bottle of suds. Roughing it in a tent or taking in the comforts of a cabin or an RV. Now imagine being able to do that all [...]

Donal Og Cusack who is a hurler and plays for the Cork All Stars has won the prestigious Williamhill.com Irish Sports Book of the Year Award. Cusack along with journalist Tom Humphries, wrote the book ” Come What May ” in which Cusack outed himself as a bi-sexual and then “coming to terms” with being a gay man, said he has been overwhelmed [...]

The organizers of Vail Gay Ski Week have announced that the Denver-based GLBT Community Center of Colorado (“The Center”) has been selected as the principal nonprofit beneficiary for the 2010 event scheduled for January 27 – 31, 2010. Presented by Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals , Vail Gay Ski Week will be working with The Center in a number [...]

Martina Navratilova’s lesbian lover has slapped the tennis great with a lawsuit, claiming she was unexpectedly dumped and left with nothing. Martina and her lover-of-eight years Toni Layton held an unofficial wedding ceremony in which they allegedly agreed to share all assets earned and obtained while in a relationship. Layton was appointed grantor and trustee of [...]

Before making movies, good-looking Mike Henry played pro football for the Pittsburgh Steelers and later for the Los Angeles Rams, where his firm body was nicely showcased in those tight pants. It was while with the Rams that heterosexual Henry began acting. Sy Weintraub was a Rams fan and had seen a TV documentary about them called “Men [...]

Yes sir boys it will soon be time to put on your chaps and spurs and get along little doggies as the International Gay Rodeo Association gets going into it’s almost 30 years of yippee and kyaying, roping and wrasslin and showing off some of the best buns since Clint Walker played Cheyenne. For those of you [...]

Longtime readers of my blog FOCUS and Focus On The Rainbow/Hearst know that I, for the most part, have respect for our LGBT organizations and “leaders”. However they also know I’m not afraid in commentary to throw them on the mat and stomp on ‘em from time to time. What we need in regards to the pursuit of [...]

I came across an article over the weekend at the OC Register about Greg Louganis and his reflection on his life as he nears 50. After years of turmoil about being a closeted gay, his strive for excellence in the Olympics and an abusive relationship, one can be nothing but happy for him that he has [...]