Chris Morgan’s Sports & Equality Blog

The GPC European Championships are due to take place in Trutnov, Czech Republic from the 14th to 18th May 2025.

Chris Morgan is absolutely delighted to have been invited to compete and referee for Great Britain – Combined Nations in these Championships.

Here’s a preview of the event branding and medals from “Team Trutnov”. More information about GPC events in 2025 will appear here soon,

Chris Morgan is delighted to be refereeing the forthcoming events for GPC & GPC GB.

Four Nations Championships – “The battle for the strongest nation. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales” – Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st July, in Wrexham, Wales

Young Guns Pro Invitational – “GPCGB’s youth development showcase” – Saturday 24th August, in Swansea, Wales

British Showdown Championships – “The Brits 2024, super flight for the very first time” – Saturday 16th & 17th November, in Swansea, Wales

He will also be lifting and refereeing at the GPC World Championships 2024 – “Slovakia for the fourth time” – Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th October, in Trnana, Slovakia.

Chris looks forward to seeing you all at GPC or GPCGB event soon.

#gpc#gpcgb#globalpowerliftingcommitee#greatbritainpowerlifting#gbrpowerlifting#britishshowdown
#powerlifting#squat#bench press #deadlift#powerlifter#worldchampion#britishchampion#europeanchampion#internationalreferee#muscle#strength#gpcfournations#gpcworldchampionships

Chris Morgan has been invited to referee the GPC Four Nations Powerlifting Championships 2024.

The first ever GPC contest to decide who will be the strongest nation? England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales.

The Championships are happening on the 20th -21st of July we will find out in Wrexham, Wales.

#gpc#gpcgb#globalpowerliftingcommitee#greatbritainpowerlifting#gbrpowerlifting#britishshowdown
#powerlifting#squat#bench press #deadlift#powerlifter#worldchampion#britishchampion#europeanchampion#internationalreferee#muscle#strength#gpcfournations#gpcworldchampionships

Chris Morgan can’t wait to be back in Slovakia for the GPC World Championships in 2024 in Trnava after being invited to represent Team GB.

He will be lifting and refereeing between 10th to 13th October at the Mestská športová hala in Trnava

This will be his fourth time in Slovakia for Powerlifting having visited Trencin, Nove Zamky and Trnava previously.

#gpc#gpcgb#globalpowerliftingcommitee#greatbritainpowerlifting#gbrpowerlifting#britishshowdown
#powerlifting#squat#bench press #deadlift#powerlifter#worldchampion#britishchampion#europeanchampion#internationalreferee#muscle#strength#gpcfournations#gpcworldchampionships

“Restructure of Organisation”

Further to Chris Morgan’s personal announcement, as with all organisations there becomes a time to evolve and develop and to bring new people into leadership roles.

As Chris, moves upstairs into his Founding President role, I’m sure his knowledge and wise guidance will still be welcome from time to time to support the new structure, and it is with pleasure that we as a group, thank him for his undoubtable commitment to the LGBTPU and achieving the original objective of the organisation for the sport of Powerlifting to reappear back in the Gay Games which will happen in November, in Guadalajara this year.

*** RESPONSIBILITY ***

In order to proceed with the structural changes, Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett will move from General Secretary, to Co-President alongside Charlotte Wareing with Ahmad and Keyz Yee becoming Joint Co-Secretaries and focussing on working towards organising Pride Powerlifting in June 2024.

In the meantime, we encourage LGBTPU associated Powerlifters to register for Guadalajara, Mexico and further detailed information will follow regarding arrangements in due course.

Best wishes

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett & Charlotte Wareing On behalf of LGBTPU Committee

For more information regarding LGBT Powerlifting events please contact lbtpu@googlegroups.com

Visit the LGBTPU Facebook Page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/203653086703441

“Founding President”

Dear All,

I realise that it’s been a while since our last communication with you, but there has been a lot of things that have needed to fall into place before bringing you this latest news update.

Recently whilst in Toronto the LGBT Powerlifting Union (LGBTPU) received final confirmation from the Federation of Gay Games and their host city that Powerlifting is included and will go ahead in the Gay Games this November in Guadalajara, Mexico.

When I founded the LGBTPU as an advocacy group in 2017, with the specific aim of returning the Sport of Powerlifting to the Gay Games, I committed to serve as Co-President to achieve this aim over a five year timeline through until the original date of the games in November 2022.

As circumstances around the pandemic intervened over this last few years and the date of the games was moved to November 2023, it became necessary to extend this agreement through to the point where a seamless handover could be made to the host city and a management group to oversee the project through to its completion.

Now that this confirmation has been received full responsibility for the delivery has now been passed to the host city, who will be supported by the remaining members of the LGBTPU team. They will now finalise the plans for Gay Games XI Powerlifting and continue forward planning of a UK based event, which is scheduled for June 2024.

Over this last six years we have recruited, trained and established a broad based diverse management group, who are now experienced enough to take the LGBT Powerlifting Union through the next stage of its development. They will now handle all of the day to day responsibilities of the LGBTPU.

With the group’s original aim secured and such a strong leadership team in place, it is now time for me to move to the position of Founding President, so the group can continue its work through to the coming Gay Games in Guadalajara and onto the following Gay Games in Valencia in 2026. The group will also be hosting a new exciting event in the UK in 2024 called Pride Powerlifting Championships, which is now deep in forward planning and pre-registration will be open very soon.

I’d like to this opportunity to say it’s been a huge honour to lead such a talented team and to host athletes, coaches and supporters from all over the world at four international events over this last six years. I would also like to say a big thank you to all of the staff, officials and venues that have made our events possible over the last six years. I feel honoured  to have served as Co-President of the LGBTPU during this period and look forward to seeing you all at Powerlifting events in the future.

I would like to wish you all every success with your future lifts and competitions.

Chris Morgan

Founding President, LGBT Powerlifting Union

For more information regarding LGBT Powerlifting events please contact lbtpu@googlegroups.com

Visit the LGBTPU here https://www.facebook.com/groups/203653086703441

The LGBT International Powerlifting Championships (LGBT IPC) are delighted to announce they will next be held in Manchester in July 2022. Once again they will be providing a safe space for Lesbian, Gay, Bi Sexual and Transgender (Trans)

athletes to participate and compete in strength sports. The Championships will adopt the theme of “All Equal”, which is a response to the negativity directed towards members of the LGBT+ Community within strength sports in the build up to the Tokyo Olympics.

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“We have been disappointed by the many unpleasant comments and protests towards LGBT+ Olympic athlete Laurel Hubbard from New Zealand over this last few weeks and we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming LGBT International Powerlifting Championship for all regardless of Sexuality, Gender, Race, Religion, Ability or Health status. The phrase “ All Equal” has been used recently by Olympic President Thomas Bach, to illustrate that everyone should respect the same rules, irrespective of social background, gender, race, sexual orientation of political belief.

“In 2022 we will once again be welcoming Lesbian, Gay, Bi Sexual and Trans athletes to a competitive International Powerlifting Championships from all over world. In 2018 we became the first sporting event in the world to offer an optional third gender MX Category, welcoming Trans, Non Binary and Intersex athletes to compete in strength sports for the first time. In 2022 we plan to build on this success and welcome even more LGBT+ athletes, from all over the world, to experience the special and unique atmosphere of LGBT IPC.

We are committed to welcoming all Lesbian, Gay, Bi Sexual, Trans, Non Binary, Intersex and Gender Non-Conforming athletes to compete in LGBT IPC and this year we do so under the banner of All Equal. Over the last four years we have worked extremely hard to create as many safe competitive “Routes to Platform” as possible for LGBT+ athletes and we continue to offer opportunities for all LGBT+ athletes to compete. We have accommodate everyone from novice and first timers, right through to world champions, world record holders, Arnold Classic and Olympic athletes.

We would like to take this opportunity to highlight that there are now at least forty powerlifting federations, national affiliates, championships and clubs that have adopted LGBT+ friendly policies in the last four years (See Our International Directory). Huge progress has been made since the first LGBT IPC in 2017 to provide safe and welcoming places for all LGBT+ strength athletes to participate and compete equally. “The LGBT+ Powerlifting Directory Can Be Found Here”   http://lgbtpowerlifting.org/?page_id=628 

To find out more about the championships, visit us at Facebook “LGBT International Powerlifting Championships” or at our website www.lgbtpowerlifitng.org

Forthcoming Fixtures 2021 – 2022

“LGBT IPC ANNOUNCED FOR MANCHESTER 2022” – 29^th, 30^th, 31^st July 2022

LGBT IPC 2022 will be held in Manchester at the Trinity Sports Centre, which is located just five minutes from the famous gay village and Canal Street. There is a whole programme of events planned including Weigh In, Technical Meeting, Championships, Social Evening. Congress and Closing Party.

“LGBT POWERLIFTING WORKSHOPS 2022” – London & Manchester March 2022

We offer LGBT Powerlifting Workshops every spring for Novice and First Time athletes, who are looking to train and compete in the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships 2022.

“PRIDE POWERLIFTING RETURNS AS WINTER PRIDE” – Saturday 11^th December 2021

For the first time at the end of 2021 we will be holding a “Christmas Winter Pride” event that will include: Technical Briefing, LGBT+ Bench Press Seminar, LGBT+ Bench Press Championship, followed by Christmas Drinks.

Media & Press Enquiries should be directed to Chris Morgan Co-president LGBT Powerlifting Union email chunky@chunkymuscle.com

Registration is now open for LGBT International Powerlifting Championships and Pride Powerlifting

Editors Notes:

• The LGBT Powerlifting Union is a global “Union” of athletes elected from the registered athletes and participants of the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships. The current officials of LGBTPU are from diverse backgrounds reflecting all parts of the LGBT+ community. Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual ,Transgender (Trans), Non Binary, Cis Male and Cis Female. Our adoption of the + symbol indicates we are open to all regardless of genders or sexuality, including those who identify as Trans, Non Binary, Intersex, Queer, Cis Male, Cis Female and Gender Fluid. (Please refer to note three below). It also underlines our commitment to our relationships with our mainstream and straight partners, without whom so much progress would not have been made over LGBT+ Issues during this last four years.

• LGBT IPC 2022 weekend has a full program of activities including a Technical Briefing (Friday 29^th July), Competition (Saturday 30^th July), Congress (Sunday 31^st July) and Closing Party (Sunday 31^st   July). Visit www.lgbtpowerlifting.org for more details. LGBT IPC has registered athletes from Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Germany, Romania, Sweden, United States of America and Great Britain. We welcome Trans men and Trans women who have decided to transition– who will be able to participate within either Male, Female or within Mx Category. The third gender (optional) Mx Category is also for people who do not identify as one or the other, such as Non Binary or Intersex. The new Mx Category was voted on in 2017 and introduced for the 2018 and 2019 events and the policy continues for our 2022 event.

• MX category is also an all-inclusive category for males, females, agender, aporagender, bigender, butch, cisgender, demigender, femme, non-binary, gender neutral, gender queer, gender fluid, transsexual, intergender, polygender and any other gender expression. At this time over 70 different forms of gender identity have been identified, Facebook users can choose from 50 differing gender identities. The LGBT IPC MX category uniquely has 14 gender neutral weight classes, which were specially created by merging male and female weight classes.

• Award Winning Project – In 2019 the LGBT Powerlifting Union and LGBT International Powerlifting Championships were awarded the most “Innovative Project Award” at the Out For Sports 21^st Annual Awards, hosted at the London Mayor’s Office. This awards was for their optional MX Category, where Trans, Non Binary and Intersex participants are able to choose their gender category (M, F or MX) from day one of their transition. The aim is to empower, encourage and inspire young LGBT+ athletes, by providing a safe space within strength sports for new athletes to develop.

• Gay Games Powerlifting  – The sport of Powerlifting was part of the program of Gay Games in nine Gay Games from 1982 San Francisco through to Gay Games 2014 in Cleveland Ohio. It was also part of the World Outgames in Montreal in 2006. Bench Press Single Event was part of the Eurogames in Munich in 2004. Powerlifting was not included in Gay Games Paris 2018 www.paris2018.com but will be returning in Hong Kong in 2022. www.gghk2022.com where an optional MX Category will be included for the first time. The Federation of Gay Games website can be found at www.gaygames.org.

• LGBT IPC 2022 Partners – You can get more information about our partners at their websites: Fighting Fit https://www.fightingfitstrength.com/  Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club https://bgwlc.co.uk/ Pride Sports https://pridesports.org.uk/ 

Key People – Biographies

Chris Morgan: Male Co-President, LGBT Powerlifting Union

Chris has been one of the World’s leading openly gay athletes since starting his Powerlifting career at the Gay Games in 1998.

During his twenty year career he has represented England and Great Britain a total of twenty six times, where he has taken a total of twenty eight international medals. He has been World Champion ten times, European Champion five times, British Champion eighteen times and has won six Gay Games gold medals. In 2010 and 2011 he was the overall Best Lifter at the British Deadlift Championships and in 2011 was the overall Best Lifter at the European Deadlift Championships. He is the holder of several British and World records in the Deadlift.

Chris is constantly working for the organisation that gave him confidence to be an openly gay athlete, as a global ambassador. His role for the Federation of Gay Games is to inspire and motivate young LGBT+ athletes worldwide.  In 2018 Chris was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from LGBT+ Powerlifters globally for his dedication and commitment towards inclusion and equality with the sport of Powerlifting.

Charlotte Wareing: Female Co-President, LGBT Powerlifting Union

Charlotte has been powerlifting for six years, she has won five master’s European titles and seven World titles.  

She holds 41 World Records in both raw and equipped lifting.  She has twice achieved the overall best lifter at European and World level.  Charlotte was the recipient of  the LGBT IPC “Spirit Award” at the first LGBT IPC Championships for her courage and commitment to the LGBT+ Community, which she views as one of the highlights of her career.  

Charlotte is keen to grow the sport of powerlifting and works hard to introduce the sport to novice lifters. 

More details coming soon …

Registration opens again on Friday 1st January 2021 …

We are expecting a full LGBT IPC Championships in 2021 as all of the registrations from 2020 have been rolled over and we are planning to host both the “Class of 2020 and 2021” on the same weekend.

LGBT IPC are proud to welcome all abilities from novices, right through to World Champions. We were the first sports event in the world to introduce an optional MX third gender category in 2018 and this continues in 2021.

Our MX Category welcomes Trans, Non Binary and Intersex athletes from the first day they make their decision. They are able to choose to compete as Male, Female or MX. LGBT IPC welcomes everyone !

My workshop dates for 2021 will be available soon !

Checkout the competition details at www.lgbtpowerlifting.org

Chris Morgan, 10x World Champion Powerlifter & Meet Director or LGBT IPC.

52 Registrations for 2020 have been rolled over to 2021 ! The dates for LGBT IPC 2021 are 16th, 17th, 18th July 2021.