2011 Outgames Theme Song Unveiled

Recording artists Sugarbeach Unveil Theme Song “Come On Out” for the Vancouver 2011 Outgames

May 26, 2011 (Vancouver, B.C.) - International recording artists Sugarbeach and the Vancouver 2011 Outgames unveiled today the official theme song for the GLISA N.A. Vancouver 2011 Outgames on the Outgames website vancouver2011outgames.com, Reverbnation and itunes.
“We wanted to write a song that would capture the energy, spirit and importance of being an active participator in the Vancouver Outgames/Human Rights Conference and in one’s own life” says Marlee Walchuk, one half of the dynamic duo Sugarbeach.

Barb Snelgrove, Communications Director of the Vancouver 2011 Outgames states, “Vancouver 2011 Outgames are ecstatic about the tune that Sugarbeach has created for the Games, it truly represents the spirit of the Outgames and we are honoured that they are part of this very special event”.

In just 4 years, the dance/pop duo Sugarbeach have released 2 chart topping albums, been nominated for 9 Pride in Arts awards and have won 3 (including Favourite Group and Pride Song of the Year) in the U. S. They have received an Outmusic nomination for Outstanding International Song of the Year from the Outmusic Awards in New York and their 2010 gay anthem, “Living Out Proud” won song of the year and was the most requested song of 2010 on the GLBT Outvoice Top 40 Charts. They are the creators and producers of RightOutTV.com, the web’s first LGBTQ music video channel. sugarbeachmusic.com

The Vancouver 2011 North American Outgames involves multi-sport elements supported by GLISA (International Sports Association of North America). A key component of to the Games is also the Human Rights Conference with featured keynote speakers Blake Skjellerup (Olympic short track speed skater), Sara Davis Buechner (Professor of Music UBC and concert pianist) and Steven Glassman (Chairman, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission).

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Quebec Gay and Lesbian Council calls on broadcasters to apologize for homophobic slurs on skater Johnny Weir

Montreal, 18 February 2010 – The Conseil québécois des gais
et lesbiennes (CQGL) expressed its indignation at the outrageous homophobic
statements by Alain Goldberg and Claude Mailhot on the show “Le réveil
olympique,” aired February 17 on Quebec;s RDS sports network. The CQGL is
calling for a public apology from these persons for their offensive and degrading
comments regarding figure skater Johnny Weir and his short program performance
the previous day.

The CQGL regards it as unacceptable for a sports commentator
and host to mock and denigrate an athlete in this way because of his demeanour
and non-conformity with gender stereotypes. Throughout the exchange, Mailhot
and Goldberg, while paying lip service to Weir’s right to be who he is, attacked
Weir for his supposed negative effect on the sport, and even suggested that
Weir should undergo gender testing.

Among the statements, each more insulting than the last,
Alain Goldberg went so far as to say that Weir gives a bad image of figure
skating and is a very poor example because people will think that boys who
practise this sport will become like him. Worse yet, Mailhot and Goldberg
suggested that Weir should undergo testing to determine if he is a man or a
woman, and wondered whether he should not be participating in women’s figure
skating instead.

“These people attacked not only the athlete, but also gays,
bisexuals, and heterosexuals who do not conform to social stereotypes of gender.
Their words perpetuate homophobic stereotypes,” said CQGL chair Steve Foster. “It’s
even more distressing considering that one of them used to be an assistant deputy
minister in the Quebec Ministry of Education, Leisure, and Sport.

“Their comments are a blot on the Olympic spirit and their
professions,” Mr. Foster concluded.

Jeff Sheng's Fearless Montreal Photo Shoot - Athletes Wanted

Dear LGBT’er and ally

We are looking for LGBT identified athletes who compete on high school or college sports teams or athletes training and competing full-time that are 'out' to their predominantly "straight" teams about their LGBT identity to their teammates and peers/coaches. This is for the photography series, "Fearless," by artist and activist Jeff Sheng, who has been working on this project since 2003 in his native United States, but is now expanding the series to include Canadian athletes, and will be exhibited at the first ever Pride House during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Whistler and Vancouver. Fearless will also be presented in Montréal for the International Day Against Homophobia in May 2010. To see photographs from the series so far (there are over 100 athletes already in the project) and for more information, please go to www.FearlessCampusTour.org

If the athlete has recently graduated from high school or college within the last few years, but was 'out' while they were competing and in school, then that is fine as well.

Jeff is planning to be in the Montreal/Quebec/Ottawa area the weekend of Dec. 4-6 to photograph athletes from the Eastern part of Canada (he just finished 11 shoots last weekend in the Vancouver area). If you are interested in participating, please e-mail Denis at denis.cormier@fondationemergence.org as soon as possible so that we can arrange the logistics for your shoot. Please indicate in the e-mail what sport(s) team you are on, and where you are located.

Thanks very much. We hope to hear from you.


Jennifer BIRCH-JONES
Co-Lead, Canadian Fearless Project
CAAWS Program Lead
Addressing Homophobia in Sport Initiative
jb-j@caaws.ca

Dean NELSON
Co-Lead, Canadian Fearless Project
Executive Producer, PRIDE House 2010
dean@gaywhistler.com

Denis CORMIER
Directeur des programmes
Chargé du programme, Journée internationale contre l’homophobie
Fondation Émergence Inc.
denis.cormier@fondationemergence.org




Chers membres de la communauté LGBT et allié-e-s

Nous sommes à la recherche d’athlètes identifiés LGBT qui compétitionnent au niveau secondaire ou CÉGEP dans des équipes sportives, et aussi des athlètes qui s’entrainent à plein temps pour la compétition et qui ont fait leur coming out à propos de leur identité LGBT à leurs équipiers, leurs pairs ou leur entraineurs dans leur équipe à prédominance hétérosexuelle. C’est pour participer à une série de photographies, « Fearless » (Courageux), par l’artiste et activiste américain Jeff Sheng, qui travaille sur ce projet depuis 2003 aux États-Unis, son pays natal. Il étend présentement la série aux athlètes canadiens et exposera à la toute première PrideHouse (Maison de la fierté) durant les Jeux olympiques d’hiver 2010 et Jeux paralympiques de Vancouver. Fearless sera aussi présenté à Montréal dans le cadre de la Journée internationale contre l’homophobie en mai 2010. Pour l’instant, vous pouvez voir des photographies de la série (il y a maintenant plus de 100 athlètes) sur le site de Jeff : www.FearlessCampusTour.org

Si vous êtes un-e athlète qui avez gradué-e récemment du secondaire ou du collégial dans les dernières années, mais que vous étiez sorti-e du placard au cours de vos études, vous pouvez aussi participer.

Jeff sera à Montréal/Québec/Ottawa la fin de semaine du 4 au 6 décembre pour photographier des athlètes de l’est du Canada (il vient juste de terminer, la fin de semaine dernière, 11 prises de vue dans la région de Vancouver). Si vous êtes intéressé-e à participer au projet, merci d’envoyer un courriel à Denis denis.cormier@fondationemergence.org aussitôt que possible pour qu’il puisse arranger la logistique des prises de vues. Merci d’indiquer de quelle(s) équipe(s) sportive(s) vous provenez et où vous êtes situé-e.


Merci beaucoup. Nous espérons avoir de vos nouvelles très bientôt.



Jennifer BIRCH-JONES
Co-Lead, Canadian Fearless Project
CAAWS Program Lead
Addressing Homophobia in Sport Initiative
jb-j@caaws.ca

Dean NELSON
Co-Lead, Canadian Fearless Project
Executive Producer, PRIDE House 2010
dean@gaywhistler.com

Denis CORMIER
Directeur des programmes
Chargé du programme, Journée internationale contre l’homophobie
Fondation Émergence Inc.
denis.cormier@fondationemergence.org