Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation
The Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (Out for Sport) was a nationwide body set up to oversee gay and lesbian sports groups in the UK and provide information for people wanting to get involved. It was set up after the New York games in June 1994, and organised a team for the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam.[1]
On 31st July 1999 organised a large tournament called Out For Sport at Crystal Palace. It included mens and ladies volleyball, swimming, football, badminton, squash and running.
In 2005 Out for Sport London hosts 'The Building Bridges Conference' that was intended to heal rifts between the Federation of Gay Games and Gay & Lesbian International Sports Association. The event was hosted by founder Ivan Bussens who helped the two major gay sports governing bodies come together to overcome their differences and discuss the future of gay sports: the Federation of Gay Games and The Gay and Lesbian international Sports Association (GLISA), who organise the OutGames.
In 2007 Ivan Bussens died, and the organisation ceased.
Out for Sport was very much seen by people in the North of England as a 'southern' organisation. Pride Sports in Manchester was the organisation in the north which brought LGBT sports groups together. The National LGBT Sports Network (which includes Pride Sports) is the UK's LGBT sports umbrella organisation, and London 2018, who are bidding for the 2018 Gay Games and OutGames are coordinating LGBT sports clubs in London.
References
- ↑ Gay London (1997).
