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"Heroes Among Us": March 28-30, 2003 at MIT, download the 95-page Program Binder

A part of SPORTS HISTORY with the on-site filming of a documentary by our Oscar-nominated producer. Pictures are now online. Streaming video from the sessions will be online soon, subscribe to our email list to be notified when this happens.

READ ESSAYS ARTICLES FROM ATTENDEES about the 2003 experience -- see the PICTURES and VIDEOS, join the mailing list for new news

Conference Highlights:
+ A cast of speakers never before assembled -- historical in all aspects
+ About 300 attendees from all over the US and international countries such as UK, France, Canada, with students representing 21 colleges/universities
+ The Sports Leadership Congress on Friday was attended by about 100 attendees to discuss the needs of the sports community
+ Feedback from attendees has been that the conference has changed their lives, as it has ours
+ Tears of change, happiness, reflection, and remembrance were shed
+ Reporters and editors in attendance included ESPN: The Magazine, ESPN TV, HBO Real Sports, Sports Illustrated, Observer (UK), Washington Blade, The Atlantic, and others
+ Join in on post-conference conversation on our discussion board
+ Pictures taken by Outsports.com, GLAAD, and others will be available online shortly. Video and audio transcripts will also be made available soon. Sign up for the email list to be notified. See our press coverage.
+ First hand testimonial from an attendee and panel organizer and article 2, and other GLAAD articles on sports

The program included speaker panels by famous athletes and authorities, Sports Leadership Congress, Sports-Wellness-Health clinics (sports massage, acupuncture, shoe/run evaluation, etc.), sports author book signings, food, entertainment, documentary filming, and more ...

Speakers include:
* Dave Pallone, former Major League Baseball umpire and author of Behind the Mask
* Billy Bean, former Major League Baseball player that played for the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres
* Pat Griffin, author of Strong Women / Deep Closets
* Luke Cyphers, ESPN: The Magazine Editor-at-large
* Craig Lazarus, ESPN: TV, Co-Producer of the weekly Sunday show, Outside the Lines
* Dan Woog, author of Jocks and Jocks 2
* Mitchell Wherley, spouse/partner of Esera Tuaolo (NFL linebacker for nearly nine years including for the Vikings, Packers, Jaguars, and Falcons and recently came out on HBO's Real Sports)
* Mark Tewksbury, Olympian gold medalist, butterfly, honorary co-President of Montreal 2006 Gay Games
* Holly Metcalf, Olympian gold medalist, rowing
* Robert Dover, Olympian bronze medalist, equestrian team captain
* Alicia McConnell, Director of Athlete Development, US Olympic Committee official spokesperson
* Alyssa Wykes, fullback with the Philadelphia Liberty Belles professional women's football team
* Rosie Stallmann, NCAA representative
* Jim Buzinski, Co-founder of Outsports.com, Los Angeles Times sports writer
* Laurie Priest, Mount Holyoke Athletics Director
* James Dale, was an Eagle Scout and volunteer Scoutmaster until 1990 when the Boy Scouts of America expelled him for no longer meeting their standards of morality
.... and many, many more ... over 70+ speakers

+ Esera Tuaolo, former NFL linebacker for the Vikings, Packers, Jaguars, and Falcons, joins the Advisory Board along with Billie Jean King, and many others ...

VOTE in the Sports SURVEY (and see real-time results)

We are a non-profit charity and our first annual conference held on March 28-30, 2003 on the campus of MIT (Stratton Student Center) and Boston City Hall, and is a full weekend of speakers and panel discussions, entertainment, and sports exhibitions. Over 300 athletes, coaches, fans, academics, and supporters attended from around the world. See who came.

* Friday (optional): sport leadership congress working meetings for sports leaders
* Friday: Registration and pickup sporting events (e.g. volleyball, basketball, swimming, etc.), light fare and opening remarks, social “meet and greet”
* Saturday: Keynote speakers, panel discussions, lunch, all day exposition with orthopedic sport and health clinics, "Taste of Boston" evening reception sponsored by several restaurants, and evening entertainment
* Sunday: Brunch, sports exhibitions, pick up volleyball, soccer, basketball
See the FULL PROGRAM and travel/housing details. Check out our distinguished Athletics Advisory Board, many of whom will be coming.

There's something for everyone: Youth   High school    Collegiate    Women   Recreational   Professional   Olympics   Sports Fans    Academics    Sports Leadership   Sport & Health Clinics  Federation of Gay Games

Read our press releases. Join the Ultimate Sports Club as a GLAF patron. For corporations, see our sponsorship package. Link to us and help us get the word out.

Help us out by VOTING IN OUR SURVEY which will allow you to help the community. Those that pre-register will get the chance to answer the same survey. Pass this to your FRIENDS to vote too!   Join our mailing list for updates.

You will get real-time survey results after VOTING:     "In your opinion, how long before male professional team athletes will come out while still playing?"   this year    %   next year    %   in 2 years    %   in 3 years    %   in 4 years    %   in 5 years    %   in 10 years    %   more than 10 years    %   never    %

Our partners: National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), Federation of Gay Games (FGG), Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network (GLSEN), Women's Sports Foundation, Outsports.com, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS), AIDS Action Committee (AAC), Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), City of Boston Mayor Menino, Great Boston Business Council (GBBC), Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Northeastern University's Center for Sport in Society, Spaulding Hospital of Harvard Medical School, and others.

Our growing list of conference Advisory Board members includes former and current Athletic Directors at NCAA member institutions (Mike Muska, Laurie Priest), Olympians (Robert Dover, Mark Tewksbury), Ironmen (Chris Bergland), Eco-Challengers (Ilana Lobet), collegiate and high school athletes/coaches (Dan Woog, Gumby Anderson), athletes turned authors (Pat Griffin, Patricia Nell Warren), and many others that are well-known within the community can be found at: www.gayconference.org/Team.htm

Community Outreach -- Special Projects
- Athletics Demographics Project (please VOTE IN OUR SURVEY)
- Collegiate Athletics Department Ratings Project
- Timeline and Online Documentary Project