OutSport Toronto | Serving and Supporting LGBT Sport in the Greater Toronto Area

You Can Play Project in Support of LGBT Athletes Launches

Posted Sun, 4 Mar 2012, 2:41pm

The You Can Play Project, led by NHL Scout Patrick Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke and keynote speaker at OUTSPORT TORONTO’s 2011 Fall Scrum, launched today, March 4^th with a PSA on NBC during the New York Rangers-Boston Bruins game. The spot featured eight NHL players voicing their support and respect for LGBT athletes. A full media blitz will follow over the next several days with a slow reveal of other participating athletes over the next few weeks. The video of the PSA is at the end of this article.

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You Can Play!

Posted Fri, 2 Mar 2012, 2:19am

Drop what you’re doing this Sunday and tune in to the NHL on NBC for the Bruins-Rangers game, at 12:30pm, for a MAJOR announcement!

During his keynote speech at this past November's OUTSPORT TORONTO Scrum, Patrick Burke alluded to a major program to be unveiled in 2012. The time has come, and this Sunday, via a public service announcement on NBC during the New York Rangers-Boston Bruins game, the You Can Play program will be launched! The spot will feature eight NHL players voicing their support and respect for LGBT athletes. Please tune in to NBC this Sunday at 12:30 to watch the game, and catch the unveiling of this exciting new program! Read more...

OutSport Toronto to Present Workshop at TDSB Futures 2012 Conference

Posted Sat, 11 Feb 2012, 1:19pm

Members of OUTSPORT TORONTO's member organisations have stories of exclusion, bullying, and harassment in gym class. We also have great stories of inclusive and welcoming experiences as members of our various sport and recreation groups. We are in a unique position to offer insight into making physical education and ahtletics programmes more inclusive and accessible. So, when the Toronto District School Board requested that OUTSPORT TORONTO submit a proposal to run a workshop at the TDSB's "Futures 2012 Conference - Equity and Inclusive Education" (3 - 5 May 2012, AllStream Centre), we jumped at the chance! Read more...

Toronto Gay Hockey League, Brian Burke, and the Toronto Marlies Get Together To Stop Bullying

Posted Fri, 2 Dec 2011, 5:42pm

OUTSPORT TORONTO is posting this press release on behalf of our member organisation, the Toronto Gay Hockey League.

Marlies to unveil public service announcement during December 10 game

The Toronto Marlies will be showcasing their anti-bullying public service announcement with the Toronto Gay Hockey League (TGHA) and Brian Burke in attendance during their game against the Albany Devils on December 10th. Following the game, Burke will join the TGHA for their league shinny at the Ricoh Centre. Read more...

National Post Article on OutSport Toronto Scrum 2011, Toronto Star Article

Posted Sun, 6 Nov 2011, 11:08pm

As part of OUTSPORT TORONTO's Scrum 2011, just before his keynote address, Patrick Burke was interviewed by the National Post. Afterward, the National Post attended his keynote. Read the article at http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/11/06/burke-fighting-for-more-out-of... .

Also, the Saturday Toronto Star had an article with Q&A on Patrick and his work found at http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1081667--changing-the-homop... Read more...

Patrick Burke on CBC Metro Morning and Proud FM

Posted Thu, 3 Nov 2011, 2:55pm

Patrick BurkePatrick Burke, keynote speaker at OUTSPORT TORONTO's Scrum 2011, was interviewed this morning by CBC Metro Morning's Matt Galloway, and Wednesday morning on Proud FM's Your Morning with Richard and Chris. Patrick spoke of his upcoming speaking engagement with OUTSPORT TORONTO, the Scrum itself to be held Saturday, 5 No Read more...

Press Release: Nov. 5th LGBT Sports Community Comes Together

Posted Sun, 16 Oct 2011, 7:39pm

For Immediate Release

October 13, 2011 – Toronto, ON Nov. 5^th LGBT Sports Community Comes Together

On November 5^th the LGBTTIQQ2SA (LGBT) amateur sport community will be coming together at the 519 Community Centre for the OutSport Toronto Fall Scrum – a full day conference open to those interested in learning about a range of sport topics including LGBT sports psychology, how to participate in sport while minimizing potential injuries, and how to volunteer and be a good board member. Read more...

Seneca College Reaches Out to LGBT Community

Posted Sun, 7 Aug 2011, 12:36pm

For Immediate Release

Targeting marginalised youth to teach them leadership and programme planning skills particularly geared toward inner-city communities, Seneca College (www.senecac.on.ca) is exploring the creation of a new “Urban Recreation Certificate” programme. Focusing on students who may themselves be or have been marginalised, the program will provide a bridge into a career in urban recreation, and will engage marginalised youth in further studies. Read more...

TGHA - Important Announcement

Posted Sat, 30 Jul 2011, 2:58pm

On July 8, 2011, Tracey Kohuch, the former Treasurer of the TGHA, pled guilty to the charge of ‘Fraud Over $5,000’. He has also accepted responsibility for the missing funds of approximately $62,000 from the TGHA. Tracey’s sentence will be handed out on September 21, 2011. Read more...

OutSport Toronto SportZone Tackles Pride Paradox: Scores!

Posted Tue, 12 Jul 2011, 4:55pm

Downtown Swim Club swimmers show off thier swim wear and water guns in the SportZoneWhat is the Pride Paradox? Pride is a spectacle. It’s a passive affair with performers and a large audience. By its nature it creates a barrier that divides the community and discourages participation. Sport, on the other hand, is inherently active. It demands participation. It encourages play.

Sport faces additional barriers to LGBT participation that shadows the pride paradox. Many of us have been excluded from participation in sport through the bullying we experienced or the messages we received growing up. How could we possibly join the team of jocks that were the same people pushing us into lockers? “Besides” they might have said, “you can’t play… you’re queer. Do you see any queer insert-your-favourite-professional-sport- here players?” Read more...