Volunteers of the Year
Like many sport and culture groups, the FGG is an all-volunteer organization. Each year, the Federation of Gay Games recognizes two of its volunteers who have made particular contributions to our work. This year, FGG honors Kena Ravel and Bradley Erickson.
Kena Ravel (USA) is a talented young graphic artist. With the FGG’s growing need to communicate more widely, more often, and more effectively, we have been fortunate to have the help of some gifted graphic artists. We were particularly blessed with the work of Kena, who showed great flexibility, contributing artwork to our specifications, as well as works in her own distinctive style, notably the visuals for FGG's scholarship fundraising campaigns.
Bradley Erickson is among the pioneers of LGBT figure skating, bringing this sport to the Gay Games, and continuing to work as sports coordinator on our sports committee. In recognizing Bradley, we also want to put the spotlight on the dozens of volunteer sports coordinators who update rulebooks, provide recommendations on venues and tournament structure, and provide continuity of contact with governing bodies. Individuals like Bradley, work to help our host committee provide the best possible sporting experience during each edition of the Gay Games.
In Gay Games years, FGG also honors volunteers from their host committee. For Gay Games 9, FGG is pleased to recognize the particular contributions of two members of their board, Cynthia Christman and Jay DeFinis.
Cindy Christman has been a tireless volunteer for the Akron/Summit Task Force, and a member of the executive committee with a focus on all security-related issues, while Jay DeFinis has chaired the GG9 development committee, the most successful host committee fundraising group seen in the history of the Gay Games.
Legacy Awards
Each year the FGG presents Legacy Awards to outstanding individuals and groups. In Gay Games years, FGG highlights individuals who embody the Gay Games values of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best™, and whose contributions help make the Gay Games “the Games that change the world”. The following people will be honored throughout the Gay Games week in a series of ceremonies:
Male Outstanding Gay Games Athlete Jean-Pierre Grasland (France) has competed in every Gay Games in running and track and field. He has earned countless medals in LGBT and mainstream sport, but beyond that, is an energetic evangelist for LGBT sport, who has with his charisma and organizational skills engaged dozens of athletes in the Gay Games, leading several French delegations to Gay Games and other events.
Jean-Pierre's female counterpart is Donna Rose (USA), a living example of how the Gay Games represent the true values of sport for all. After transitioning, she returned to competition with San Francisco's Golden Gate Wrestling Club at the 2006 Gay Games, which inspired her to compete in the 2010 USA Women’s National Freestyle Wrestling Championships (in Cleveland!), the first trans woman to compete in a major wrestling championship.
The Gay Games are an event that unites sport and culture. Female Outstanding Gay Games Cultural Participant Erin Frawley (USA) has been a member of many “Teams Band” at various Gay Games. She is a talented percussionist who each year marches and plays at LGBT Pride and other events in Boston and beyond. Her contributions go beyond the fields and the stage, and she has served on multiple occasions as the FGG delegate from the Lesbian and Gay Band Association.
Her male counterpart is Sanford Smith (USA), who has been involved in not only cheerleading as a leader of Cheer SF, but also in band and chorus, serving as artistic director in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. He has participated in Gay Games since 2002, and has led the efforts for greater visibility for cheer at the Gay Games, including the first public exhibition in Chicago (2006) and the first competition in Cologne (2010). He has been a big part of Cheer SF’s fundraising success, both to enable travel of team members as well as for charities, including a USD 8,000 donation to FGG scholarships in 2010.
Gay Games Athletes and Cultural Participants were honored for the first time in 2010 at Gay Games VIII in Cologne. This year, a new category has been added, "Outstanding Official".
The male winner of this award is Jon Baldan (Australia), who has regularly served as a referee in LGBT and mainstream sport, and at many editions of the Gay Games. He was a key part of basketball at Gay Games VI, and has served on the board of the FGG as officer for technology and vice president for operations. He has worked to ensure that the rules and guidelines for our hosts are up to date with international requirements, and on the court strives for player safety and enjoyment.
Female winner is Kimberly Hadley (Canada/Mexico) is the current female co-president of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association. She continues to referee in mainstream and LGBT matches, and currently focuses on promoting football in rural Canada and in Mexico. She served with distinction and good cheer as a football official at Gay Games VIII, a task she prepared for at the IGLFA World Championships in the four years preceding 2010.
In order to ensure that participants from around the world can take part in the life-changing experience of the Gay Games, the FGG relies on donations to its scholarship program. This year's edition has seen the first use of crowdfunding to help bring participants from a dozen countries to Cleveland and Akron. We are pleased to honor two people who made these campaigns possible, Raymond Donald Hong (USA) and Laura Moore (USA).
Laura suggested and managed FGG’s first “crowdfunding” campaign, which raised thousands of dollars. The accompanying video messages were produced by Raymond Hong. We hope that you will join Laura and Raymond in supporting FGG scholarships at bit.ly/fgg-scholarships.
Finally, we will be honoring Mauro Bordovsky (USA) with our Gay Games Pioneer Legacy Award. Mauro has competed in swimming at every edition of the Gay Games. After returning from Gay Games I, he was among the founders of West Hollywood Aquatics, the first Master’s swim club in the USA specifically for LGBT athletes.
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
HLMs are for the most part former Board members who have made particularly notable contributions during their time of service. The following have been inducted as Honorary Life Members of the FGG Assembly since the previous Gay Games:
Alan Lessik
Brent Minor
Laura Moore
Paul Oostenbrug
Joseph Pasquarella Smith
Martyn Pickup
Emy Ritt
Kate Rowe
Adelina Santiago
Michael Witt
