FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Dec 4, 2002

When is the next pro athlete coming out? Vote in the survey, http://gayconference.org/Survey.php

Tonight's Phil Donahue/MSNBC show features Athletics Advisory Board members

"Will former pro athletes coming out of the closet sideline the fear of players still 'in'?" is the title of tonight's Phil Donahue show on cable channel MSNBC. The show features two members of the National Gay & Lesbian Athletics Conference - Athletics Advisory Board, Dave Kopay and Dan Woog. In the front two rows of the audience were Mac Chinsomboon (Executive Director), Steven Young (Exposition Director), and Jeff Payne (Community Outreach Director). The producer of the show has given the foundation a link directly from the MSNBC website to www.gayconference.org. The show airs on MSNBC on Wed, Dec 4 at 8pm ET (7pm CT), again at 11pm ET and again at 3am ET on the following morning.

The transcript from the show is online here: http://www.msnbc.com/news/843670.asp

The program has the following panelists:

• Esera Tuaolo, gay ex-NFL Minnesota Viking

• Dave Kopay, gay ex-NFL player and author of "The David Kopay Story"

• Bob Lipsyte, sports editor of the NY Times (straight ally)

• Bobby Valentine, ex-manager of the NY Mets (straight ally)

• Dan Woog, author of "Jocks 2"

• Greg Congdon, ex-high school football player that tried to commit suicide 4 years ago

• Robert Knight, Culture and Family Institute and author

Mr. Knight presented some very negative positions that were not appreciated by the other panelists, nor the audience-at-large. Mr. Knight apologized to Mr. Congdon for trying to commit suicide, but insisted that homosexuality was wrong and should be not publicized to the general public. Ironically, Mr. Knights commentary gave more validity and meaning to the other panelists' comments and plight. Chinsomboon notes at the end of the broadcast, split screen with Mr. Knight, "it’s really important ... to elevate this discussion beyond sex and religion. It’s really about positive role models and creating heroes for our society because ... sports as an industry ... [is] very influential within our society."

Looking at the greater impact on society, Chinsomboon adds, “The conference isn’t just for ‘jocks’ but it’s for everyone and it’s about growing up and having positive role models, mentors, and heroes. Could we save lives in the process and at least make the coming out process less painful and less shameful? Consider stories like those of Matthew Shepard and how it could be different.”

Chinsomboon says the Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation was formed to defeat the stereotyping and marginalizing of gay and lesbian athletes and sports fans. His greatest hope is that sports will quickly catch up and surpass how gays and lesbians are treated in the business, political and entertainment worlds – all of which are intertwined – the conference in March is the social platform that will bring LGBT and straight people together to discuss these issues. “Sports have always been a way to bring people together. Whether you’re playing on your neighborhood softball team or cheering the Patriots, it’s about having fun, doing your best, being a part of the community, and connecting with other people, not who you sleep with.”

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