{"id":242,"date":"2014-09-17T16:34:38","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T16:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/?page_id=242"},"modified":"2024-06-26T14:02:06","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T14:02:06","slug":"5-lgbt-uk-sports-timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/?page_id=242","title":{"rendered":"5 – LGBT UK Sports Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Timeline of UK LGBT Sport –\u00a0<\/strong>British Gay Sports History (THIS IS AN ARCHIVED PIECE OF WORK)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The LGBT UK Sports timeline was first published in 2012 at the time of the London Olympic Games as a way of documenting British LGBT Sports History for future generations.<\/p>\n

British Gay Sports Timeline – 1919 to 2014\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1910s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1919<\/p>\n

14-year-old Lily Parr\u00a0is \u201ctalent-spotted\u201d by the manager of a women\u2019s football\u00a0team at the Dick, Kerr and Co munitions factory in Preston, Lancashire. Parr quickly becomes a star player and stays with the team until 1950, scoring over 900 goals. Parr was the only woman in the inaugural list of the National Football Museum\u2019s Hall of Fame in 1992. The annual Lily Parr Exhibition Trophy\u00a0was established during LGBT History Month\u00a02007.<\/p>\n

1920s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1926<\/p>\n

Betty ‘Joe’ Carstairs\u00a0becomes the fastest woman on water when she wins the Duke of York\u2019s trophy. Known for her eccentric lifestyle (having tattoos and keeping penguins) as much as for her love of speed, Betty had a string of affairs with, among others, Marlene Deitrich and Oscar Wilde\u2019s niece, Dolly.<\/p>\n

1930s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1936<\/p>\n

British javelin and shot put record holder, Mark Weston, completes gender reassignment surgery. As Mary Weston\u00a0it is claimed she was an Olympian, though no record of her competing is found. It arises from a misunderstanding – Mary competed in the Women\u2019s World Games which were originally called the Women\u2019s Olympics.<\/p>\n

1940s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1950s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1956<\/p>\n

Gay yacht designer Christopher ‘Kim’ Holman\u00a0wins the Pattinson Cup at the Burnham Week Regatta with his 20-foot sloop. He goes on to design dozens of other winning yachts, and cofounds the Suffolk Yacht Harbour marina, and is member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.<\/p>\n

1958<\/p>\n

John Menlove Edwards, the leading British rock-climber of the inter-war years, commits suicide at the age of 57. A psychiatrist by profession, he struggled with depression, the limitations imposed on his research ideas, and the isolation he felt of being gay when it was still illegal.<\/p>\n

1960s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1970s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1976<\/p>\n

Gay Outdoor Club Formed\u00a0(GOC) formed.<\/p>\n

1976<\/p>\n

Angela Eagle\u00a0(later a Labour politician) is joint winner of the British Girls’ Under-18 chess championship.<\/p>\n

1976<\/p>\n

Goslings Swimming Club is\u00a0formed. Now the club includes badminton.<\/p>\n

1976<\/p>\n

UK\u2019s ice skater John Curry\u00a0wins gold and comes first \u2013 twice \u2013 at the Winter Olympics \u2013 Innsbruck, Austria. At a press conference he confirms rumours of his sexuality becoming the first Olympian to come out while the games are in progress. He is awarded the OBE in the Birthday Honours. Beside Curry on the medal podium is bronze winner Toller Cranston, who is inspired by Curry to come out later.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1977<\/p>\n

CAG Tennis Group\u00a0formed in Croydon.<\/p>\n

1980s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1980<\/p>\n

Sailing and Cruising Association\u00a0is formed in London, a club for sailing and boating enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

1982<\/strong><\/p>\n

British athletes attend the first ever Gay Games in San Francisco. UK athletes and sports groups have attended every Gay Games, Out Games and Euro Games since. Multi sport events have been the catalyst for the growth of the gay sports movement worldwide throughout the last 30 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1986<\/p>\n

Ted Tinling inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

1988<\/p>\n

Hackney Women’s Football Club formed. The first “out” Women’s football team in Europe.<\/p>\n

1989<\/p>\n

Gay Football Supporters Network is the first UK Gay Sports Club to form.<\/p>\n

1990s<\/span><\/h2>\n

1990<\/p>\n

London Raiders Softball Team Club forms. Originally called Rainbow Raiders.<\/p>\n

1990<\/p>\n

Out to Swim is the first gay swimming club formed by athletes returning from Gay Games.<\/p>\n

1991<\/p>\n

Stonewall Football Club is the first gay football club to form.<\/p>\n

1992<\/p>\n

Carl Hestor represents the Team GB Equestrian and attends the Barcelona Olympics.<\/p>\n

1992<\/p>\n

Dynamo Dykes Vollyball Club Forms.<\/p>\n

1994<\/p>\n

British Gay & Lesbian Sports Federation forms to unite gay sports clubs.<\/p>\n

1994<\/p>\n

Death of John Curry, 1974 Olympic ice Skating Gold medallist.<\/p>\n

1995<\/p>\n

London Front Runners Forms.<\/p>\n

1995<\/p>\n

Kings Cross Steelers first Gay Rugby Club forms.<\/p>\n

1995<\/p>\n

Streatham Storm women’s ice hockey is formed.<\/p>\n

1995<\/p>\n

London Spikers Volleyball Club Formed<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

Village Manchester Football Club is Formed \u2013 Manchester\u2019s first LGBT Sports Club.<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

Ishigaki\u00a0jujitsu club is formed.<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

Leicester Wildecats FC \u00a0is formed.<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

Grace’s Cricket Club is formed.<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

Cycle Out is\u00a0formed.<\/p>\n

1996<\/p>\n

The Team Manchester NHS project began researching LGBT Sports as a means to tackle heart disease.<\/p>\n

1997<\/p>\n

Brighton Lesbian & Gay Sports Society Forms to unite Brighton Sports groups.<\/p>\n

1997<\/p>\n

Irons Golf Formed.<\/p>\n

1997<\/p>\n

Yorkshire Terriers FC formed.<\/p>\n

1998<\/p>\n

Nine new LGBT sports groups, including Northern Wave Swim Club are launched under the Team Manchester banner.<\/p>\n

1998<\/p>\n

Manchester Village Spartans RUFC formed.<\/p>\n

1998<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justin Fashanu Britain\u2019s first Bi-sexual footballer commits suicide after nearly a decade of hounding by the UK press. His story effected a whole generation of gay athletes and it took until 2013 for another UK footballer to come out.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1999<\/p>\n

Out for Sport London is formed and they hold first multi sports day at Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n

1999<\/p>\n

Sue Emerson becomes first European Female Co President of the Federation of Gay Games.<\/p>\n

1999<\/p>\n

Leftfooters FC founded.<\/p>\n

1999<\/p>\n

Northern Ace Tennis Club Founded.<\/p>\n

2000s<\/span><\/h2>\n

2000\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The First UK Gay Sports Festival was held in Waltham Forest. The opening ceremony was graced by the Beverley Sisters and the cultural festival was headlined by Bucks Fizz. The festival was organised by Waltham Forest Local Authority and a consortium of gay sports groups, who were led by FGG Co-president Sue Emerson. The highlight of the weekend was the dance sport competition, which was completely sold out with a capacity of 250 people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2000<\/p>\n

Lee Pearson, Team GB Equestrian Para Olympian Wins 1st<\/sup>\u00a0Para Olympic Gold.<\/p>\n

2000<\/p>\n

Northern Flight Badminton Club Forms.<\/p>\n

2000<\/p>\n

Orion Rowing Club Forms.<\/p>\n

2001<\/p>\n

Trina Gulliver wins the first of a total of Nine World Darts Championship titles.<\/p>\n

2001<\/p>\n

London LGB Gymnastics & Diving Forms.<\/p>\n

2002<\/p>\n

Michael Hill, Motorcyclist Launches Taboo Motor racing.<\/p>\n

2002<\/p>\n

Caledonian Thebans RFC formed.<\/p>\n

2003<\/p>\n

Northern Wave organise the north\u2019s first international multi sport festival at Europride Manchester.<\/p>\n

2003<\/p>\n

GFC Brighton & Hove formed.<\/p>\n

2004<\/p>\n

Chris Morgan, Great Britain and England Powerlifter qualifies for first world final and is appointed Gay Games Ambassador.<\/p>\n

2004<\/p>\n

Cardiff Lions RFC formed.<\/p>\n

2004<\/p>\n

Ron Newton Britain’s number one sprint hurdler, competes for Team GB at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Newton failed to qualify for the second round of the 110 m hurdles competition. He was the only gay British Olympian that year.<\/span><\/p>\n

2004<\/p>\n

Hotscots FC formed.<\/p>\n

2005 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out for Sport London Hosts \u2018The Building Bridges Conference\u2019 that was intended to heal rifts between the Federation of Gay Games and Gay & Lesbian International Sports Association. The event was hosted by Ivan Bussens who helped the two major gay sports governing bodies come together to overcome their differences and discuss the future of gay sports.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2005<\/p>\n

Birmingham Blaze formed.<\/p>\n

2005\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Northern Wave and Team Manchester launch the first ever \u2018Pride Games\u2019, which took place in Manchester and was attended by 750 participants. There has since been Pride Sports events held every year, hosting thousands of athletes from all over the world. Founder of Pride Games Trevor Burchick was awarded an MBE in the new year\u2019s honours list the same year for services to the community of Greater Manchester.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2005<\/p>\n

London Titans FC Formed.<\/p>\n

2005\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sir Elton John appointed Gay Games Ambassador.<\/p>\n

2005<\/p>\n

Bristol Bisons RFC is formed.<\/p>\n

2005<\/p>\n

Mersey Marauders FC formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

Nottingham Ball Bois FC is formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

Newcastle Ravens RFC is formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

Bristol Cycle Out formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

London Romans FC formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

BBC Sports Presenter Clare Balding comes out by marrying partner in civil partnership ceremony.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

London Falcons GFC formed.<\/p>\n

2006<\/p>\n

Trevor Burchick and Lou Englefield form Pride Sports, to deliver future Pride Games and develop LGBT sports in Manchester.<\/p>\n

2007<\/p>\n

Sion O\u2019conner becomes male co-president of Federation of Gay Games.<\/p>\n

2007<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Ameachi, British NBA Basketball Star Comes Out, appointed Gay Games Ambassador, awarded OBE in 2011.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2007<\/p>\n

Death of Ivan Bussens, founder of Out for Sport London.<\/p>\n

2007<\/p>\n

Nigel Owens, International Rugby Referee Comes Out.<\/p>\n

2007<\/p>\n

The World\u2019s first LGBT Youth Games is held at Pride Games Manchester.<\/p>\n

2007\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The English Football Association for the first time forms a Working Group to tackle Homophobia in Soccer. They decided to launch new ground regulations, which ban homophobic abuse on the terraces and give powers to stewards to remove offenders. The following year the Gay community are invited to watch England v Czech Republic football match by The FA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2008<\/p>\n

The Justin Campaign against homophobia in sport is launched in his memory 10 years after his death.<\/p>\n

2008<\/p>\n

Cardiff Dragons FC formed.<\/p>\n

2008<\/p>\n

Newcastle Panthers FC Formed.<\/p>\n

2008<\/p>\n

The first annual LGBT Sports Summit is held in Manchester, launching the UK LGBT Sports Network.<\/p>\n

2008<\/p>\n

London Pheonix FC formed.<\/p>\n

2009<\/p>\n

Pride sports host the European Lesbian and Gay Sports Federation (EGLSF) annual assembly and Lou Englefield becomes female co-president of European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation.<\/p>\n

2009<\/p>\n

Gay Games and GLISA announce their commitment to working towards 1 quadrennial event for 2018 at the Manchester EGLSF general assembly.<\/p>\n

2009<\/p>\n

Bristol Panthers FC formed.<\/p>\n

2009<\/p>\n

Trowbridge Tigers FC formed.<\/p>\n

2009<\/strong><\/p>\n

Professional rugby player \u00a0Gareth Thomas comes out whilst still playing at international level for Wales. He became Wales\u2019s most capped player in 2007 and captained the British Lions during their 2005 tour of South Africa. Gareth\u2019s coming out once again raised the issue of team sports and in particular, raised the questions when there would be a UK footballer to come out of the closet?<\/strong><\/p>\n

2010s<\/span><\/h2>\n

2010<\/p>\n

Sheffield Eagles become first semi professional rugby league team to wear an anti-homophobia message in a televised match.<\/p>\n

2010<\/p>\n

London announces bid for Gay Games 2018.<\/p>\n

2010<\/p>\n

Wolves Warriors AFC Formed.<\/p>\n

2010<\/p>\n

Saltire Thisle FC Formed.<\/p>\n

2011<\/p>\n

Graham Obree, Team Great Britain and Commonwealth Games cyclist comes out.<\/p>\n

2011<\/p>\n

Aisle Pitter, The founder of Stonewall Football Club is awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List.<\/p>\n

2011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben Cohen, Rugby World Cup Winner with England\u00a0 back in 2003 \u2018Comes Out\u2019 as a straight ally to the gay community and launches the Stand up Foundation against homophobic bullying . Ben was recently honoured with a major humanitarian award in the US by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2011<\/p>\n

Claire Harvey, Selected for Great Britain Sitting Volleyball Team.<\/p>\n

2011<\/p>\n

Birmingham Bulls RFC formed.<\/p>\n

2011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Davies, England Cricketer Comes Out whilst still playing international cricket. \u00a0Steven made his debut for England in March 2009 in twenty \/twenty cricket and then went on to make his full test debut in October of the same year. He is the first international cricketer to come out as gay.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2011<\/p>\n

Bexley Invicta FC formed.<\/p>\n

2011\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Midlands Unity League\u00a0<\/span>created, an 11-a-side football league for gay community football clubs in the Midlands founded by Birmingham Blaze<\/span>\u00a0<\/a>FC, Leicester Wildecats FC<\/span>, Nottingham Ball Bois FC<\/span>\u00a0and \u00a0Wolverhampton Harts GFC<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2011 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

LGBT athletes are invited to Downing Street to launch the government charter against homophobia and transphobia in sport. Billy Jean King, Gareth Thomas and Ben Cohen attended the event, with the Rugby Football League, Rugby Football Union, Lawn Tennis Association, English Cricket Board and the English Football Association all sign up to the charter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2012 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

LGBT History Month for both 2011 and 2012 are for the first time focused on Gay Sports. The launch event for 2011 takes place at Twickenham and is attended by Gareth Thomas and John Ameachi. The launch event for 2012 then takes place at the Oval Cricket ground and is attended by equalities minister Lynne Featherstone and World Champion Powerlifter Chris Morgan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2012<\/p>\n

Premier league football teams sign government’s Charter Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport.<\/p>\n

2012<\/p>\n

Northampton Outlaws RFC Formed.<\/p>\n

2012 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the first time at a summer games the London Olympics hosted a \u2018Pride House\u2019 for gay athletes, officials and spectators to meet and socialise during the Olympic Games.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2012<\/p>\n

Nicola Adams came out publicly as Bi Sexual in 2012 after becoming the first woman to win an Olympic Boxing Gold Medal.<\/p>\n

2013<\/p>\n

Robbie Rogers the former Leeds United winger comes out as Gay.\u00a0He currently plays as either a winger<\/span>\u00a0or as a second striker<\/span>\u00a0for LA Galaxy and\u00a0has also represented the USA national soccer team<\/span>. Rogers is only<\/span>\u00a0the second male footballer in Britain to come out after Justin Fashanu<\/span>\u00a0came out in 1990.<\/span><\/p>\n

2013<\/p>\n

Leeds Hornets RFC Formed.<\/p>\n

2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tom Daley, Great Britain Diver, former World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist comes out as Bi Sexual. He then comes out as gay in April 2014.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2013<\/p>\n

Kate Walsh and Helen Richardson, Great Britain Women’s Hockey team mates and Olympic Bronze medalists get married.<\/p>\n

2013<\/p>\n

Transexual’s In Sport forms to promote Trans Inclusion in Sports in the UK.<\/p>\n

2013<\/p>\n

Manchester Canalsiders ARLFC form as the World’s first LGBT amateur rugby league club.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Football v Homophobia campaign hits it’s target of 50% or professional clubs taking action to tackle homophobia & transphobia during LGBT history Month, including 16 out of 20 Premier league clubs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Clare Balding is the lead BBC presenter for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, amidst protests against Russian anti LGBT propaganda laws.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Pride Sports lead international condemnation and protest against Russian LGBT propaganda laws during the Sochi Olympic Games. Initiatives include Manchester’s Gay Village joining hands during opening ceremony and Great Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner delivering a message of solidarity.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Tomas Hitzlsperger former Aston Villa, West Ham United and Everton Premier League football player comes out as gay in the German press.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Pride Sports help launch the initiative 1QE4ME urging Global LGBT organisations to pursue the goal of one global LGBT Sports Event.<\/p>\n

2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

England women’s football captain Casey Stoney reveals she is gay, saying she has been inspired to come out by Olympic diver Tom Daley.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Stonewall Football Club retain their IGLFA World Championship.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Wessex Wyverns RFC formed.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Joanie Evans appointed Female \u00a0Co-president of the Federation of Gay Games.<\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

LEAP Sports host a Pride House in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2014<\/p>\n

Mark McAdam \u00a0Sky Sports correspondent comes out.<\/span><\/p>\n

About the author ….<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Morgan is the author of the LGBT UK Sports Timeline …\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He is a \u00a0seven time world champion, fourteen time British champion and six time Gay Games gold medalist in Powerlifting and a Global Ambassador \u00a0to the Federation of Gay Games. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris’s News Blog can be found at www.chunkymuscle.com<\/a> and you can find out more about Gay Games at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.gaygames.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris would like to thank both Trevor Burchick and Lou Englefield of Pride Sports for their help and input to this project. You can learn more about Pride Sports online at\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>www.pridesports.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The original Infographic and further research by Jonathan Harbourne\u00a0founder of the London\u00a0http:\/\/www.lgbthistoryuk.org\/wiki\/index.php?title=London_Raiders<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow this link to visit the original version of the LGBT History Month UK Sports timeline \u00a0…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.lgbthistoryuk.org\/wiki\/index.php?title=Timeline_of_LGBT_Sport<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Timeline of UK LGBT Sport –\u00a0British Gay Sports History (THIS IS AN ARCHIVED PIECE OF WORK) The LGBT UK Sports timeline was first published in 2012 at the time of the London Olympic Games as a way of documenting British LGBT Sports History for future generations. British Gay Sports Timeline – 1919 to 2014\u00a0 1910s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-242","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=242"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1602,"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/242\/revisions\/1602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chunkymuscle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}