Rapids see season end in final minute

The Rapids' season ended with a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake that knocked Colorado out of playoff contention on Saturday night in front of 16,047 fans at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. This marks the first time in the club's 13-year history that they will miss the postseason in back-to-back seasons.

Coming into the game, Salt Lake held a two-point advantage over the Rapids, meaning the home team needed a win to advance to the playoffs. It looked like they would move on for most of the match, as Colorado were the aggressors and had many chances, compared to a relative few for Salt Lake. For the full match recap and video highlights, click here.

New York Warriors win the gay Superbowl

19 teams from 16 cities competed in the eight annual Gay Bowl National Tournament with the team from New York claiming victory - via KSL.com

Last chance to register for Football 101 with the Broncos

The subject is in the title. Oh, and click to embiggen and read.

Join the Gay and Lesbian Sierrans

Are you a Sierra Club and a GLS member yet? If not, consider becoming both a Sierra Club member and a member of GLS. Your Sierra Club membership support allows the Club to continue its important work in battling the barrage of threats to the environment that have been coming from Washington. By becoming a GLS member, you will allow our group to fund its conservation work projects (such as Capitol Peak). Once you become both a Sierra Club and GLS member, you will be able to vote on GLS' leadership.

To become a Sierra Club member, please go to the Sierra Club web site http://www.sierraclub.org/ and select the "Join" button on the right.

The GLS is a special interest section with in the Sierra Club and you can get more information about us, including the event list and pictures, at http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/gls/

To sign up for GLS, please print and mail in this form with your check: http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/gls/supportform/GLS-MembershipForm.pdf

Gay History Month: Colorado Climax wins gold

October is Gay History Month and Colorado's got lots of it (gay history that is).

Why, it seems like only yesterday that members of the then newly formed Colorado Climax hockey team won the gold medal at the 2000 Friendship Tournament in Toronto.

But it wasn't - it was in 2000.

Here are some pics of the Colorado Climax in action over the years:





And here are members of the 2002 Colorado Climax making their entrance at Aussie Stadium at the 2002 Gay Games:

Anti-gay attitudes at the Olympics?

In an August 18 Reuters article, Paul Majendie draws attention to the fact that only 10 of the 10,500 athletes competing in Beijing during this summer's Olympics are openly gay.

The article explained that many athletes fear coming out and facing disapproval from fans and teammates.

Majendie points out that the lack of openly gay athletes creates an environment in which being a gay athlete is perceived to be a deterrent to success. The lack of encouragement for openly gay athletes permeates through the world of athletics, and is rarely given the much needed attention Majendie offers with this article. He details some of the tangible consequences athletes could face if they come out, such as lost endorsement deals and unwanted media attention distracting them from their performances.

Read the full article here.

Gay guy gets gold

Openly gay diver Matthew Mitcham gets gold medal - via Towleroad

2008 Gay Softball World Series

GLAAD has just announced that they will be sponsoring the Gay Softball World Series this year. I didn't even know there was a Gay Softball World Series.

But there is.

The Gay Softball World Series are jointly organized by the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) and the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) and is the largest annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sporting event. In addition to assisting with promotions and media communications, every athlete who competes in the tournament will receive a free one-year membership to GLAAD.

"GLAAD is proud to support the 2008 Gay Softball World Series and all of the athletes competing," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "This event gives softball players from across North America the opportunity to compete in an inclusive environment, and we are proud to highlight the achievements and stories of these athletes."

Nearly 4,000 athletes representing 179 teams from 41 member cities across the United States and Canada will gather in the Emerald City. The teams will play games at five different King County softball complexes to crown national champions in eight divisions.

"Northwest Quest – Series 2008 is excited to have GLAAD as our newest sponsor. We believe this is just the beginning of a great partnership with GLAAD," said Media/PR Director Ron Taylor, media and publishing director for the series. "GLAAD's reputation, contacts and promotional expertise can only lead to better awareness and appreciation of the LGBT community and sports."

GLAAD is sponsoring this athletic event under its Sports Media program, which was created in 2007 to ensure that the stories of LGBT athletes, coaches and fans are included in media as a way to combat anti-LGBT attitudes in American sports culture. Previous events sponsored by the Sports Media program include educational forums that have featured openly gay athletes, including John Amaechi, Dave Kopay and Esera Tuaolo, and the sponsorship of the 2008 International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships.

Denver Area Tennis Enthusiasts picnic

DATE does not have court permits for Saturday this week (8/2). Instead, they're having a picnic at Congress Park (8th Avenue & Josephine) starting at 11 a.m. The group will be at the picnic tables next to the tennis courts and there should be some open courts if you can brave the heat. Contact DATE at DenverAreaTennis.net to RSVP.

Monday evening tennis is also back at City Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. DATE plays on courts 1 - 4.

Denver Gay and Lesbian Flag Football League

Denver Summit gay flag football is becoming the Denver Gay and Lesbian Flag Football League this fall. Are you a football lover? Have you been playing flag football for years and wished you could find other gay people who share your passion about the sport? Have you never played football but are itching for a team sport as a way to meet new people?

The National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) has identified Denver, CO as an expansion city. And the Denver Summit has officially earned a bid to play in the Gay Bowl annual flag football championship in October 2008 in Salt Lake City, UT.