Referees are (LGBT) people too
- June 26, 2014 - 12:04am
As a young referee, Ryan Powell heard a coach yell at a youth soccer player: “Stop being a fairy! And PLAY!” Powell red-carded the coach. The official’s supervisor then called and said sharply, “Don’t let your personal life interfere with your work.”
Powell was upset. “That meant, as a gay man I should ignore remarks on the field. Well, the first lesson of refereeing is to have conviction. Blow the whistle, give the card, issue the send-off. I will never back down from that.”
Not long after, during an intense Under-17 boys game, Powell called a foul. After a brief scuffle, one player called another a “faggot.” Again, the referee issued a card. Again, there was a protest. Again, Powell was told not to let his personal feelings hamper his career.
Sports fans often focus on athletes, coaches and games. But without officials, there would be no matches. And as in every other aspect of life – including sports – some referees are gay or lesbian.
Ryan Powell is not his real name. He’s using an alias because he is not yet out to all his colleagues. He is not ready to be looked at as “the gay ref.” But he knows who he is. He’s proud of himself. And his story is very instructive.
When Powell was a high school senior, his coach made all the players become certified as referees. The idea was that they would learn more about the game. Powell enjoyed officiating (and the money he earned). He moved quickly up the ranks, earning praise as a fair, knowledgeable official.
Being a referee is “our way of giving back to the game,” Powell says. Referees have a great deal of influence over player development. “We teach the game as much as coaches,” he notes.
Powell came out to friends and family members at 19. But for several years, he was not out to even one fellow official.
Referees are “a brotherhood,” he says. “We support each other, solve problems together, spend a lot of time together.” Yet because he felt uncomfortable sharing his sexuality – he had not heard anything that led him to believe his colleagues would support him – he stayed in the soccer closet. That was difficult, professionally and personally. “When you don’t share anything about yourself, people think you’re standoffish,” he explains. “It’s not true, but that perception becomes reality.”
Gradually, Powell trusted a few fellow officials enough to come out. They were fine. But word spread. At a regional tournament – an important step in a soccer referee’s advancement – his assigned roommate refused to share a hotel room with Powell. Throughout the five-day event, Powell felt awkward. “There was animosity in the air,” he says.
He did not think he could discuss the situation with anyone. He did not want to create trouble, or pit one group of officials against another.
And, he notes, referees are “independent contractors.” They lack labor protection.
“It’s hard to advance as a referee when you are open about your sexuality,” Powell says. “It’s true that athletes now have an easier time. They’re young, and there’s a new mentality. Some of the coaches are young too.”
However, referees – particularly those in powerful positions – tend to be older and “conservative,” according to Powell. “The people who make important referee decisions in local and state organizations are, for the most part, over 60.”
If older officials do talk positively about sexuality, Powell says, they often add the caveat, “I just don’t think they should broadcast it.”
That is “very hurtful. It’s the same as saying, ‘Don’t open up and share anything about yourself. Just come to the field, then leave.’”
Referees working their way up the soccer ladder travel often. Yet, Powell says, “It’s taboo to mention that your boyfriend is staying back at the hotel. And you can’t encourage him to come to your game to support you.”
That isolation drove Powell’s first partner away. “I was too ashamed to bring him to events,” Powell says with regret. “I just wanted to keep myself out of the headlines. I didn’t want any ‘drama.’ So he never got to understand my love for soccer, and for refereeing.”
It’s a love that’s burrowed deep in Powell’s persona. His goal is to become a top-level referee.
Yet the older he gets, the more he realizes “I don’t want to shelter myself for the sake of getting ahead. I want to earn what I have on my own merits.”
It won’t be easy, but Powell is inching out of the professional closet.
Besides, he adds, “The number of world-class officials who are gay would surprise a lot of people.”
Summertime Madness: The Pool Party Guide
- May 27, 2014 - 12:57pm
It seems like a no brainer, Gay Vegas is HOT in the summer, and we're not just referring to the parties, were talking about the temperature!
Yet, gay pool parties weren't introduced to the Las Vegas strip until 2009 when the Luxor Hotel and Casino and MGM Resorts introduced Temptation Sundays.
Gay Vegas now has a multitude of gay pool parties and special events for fun In the sun all summer long. Let us help you navigate your way around the land of inner-tubes and oodles of noodles in fabulous Gay Vegas style.
TEMPTATION SUNDAYS located at Luxor Hotel and Casino is the original Las Vegas strip gay pool party.
This weekly pool party is every Sunday May 18th - September 28th, 7pm - 11pm at Luxor's North Pool. Admission is $20 and $10 reduced cover for locals, hotel guests, and military. With special guest DJ's, bottle service starting at $100 and luxury plush day beds, you will be able to resist anything but Temptation while in Sin City.
Luxor.com/lgbt
XPOSED is the strip's latest gay pool party which launched this year at the new Tropicana resort in Las Vegas.
Every Saturday beginning March 29th from 11am - 6pm the Tropicana Beach Club transforms into Xposed featuring sun-kissed go-go dancers, waterfalls, palm trees, luxury daybeds, cabanas, live entertainment and big name DJs! The pool party features two Olympic-sized sand volleyball courts, two heated pools, a high-rise stage for live entertainment and an exclusive menu featuring handcrafted cocktails and light bites. This tropical oasis also has the unique ability to provide two experiences at one event with two distinct pools - a party pool for the boisterous and a chill pool for those seeking serenity making it the ideal pool party to let all your inhibitions be Xposed. General Admission: $20 Trop Plus Members and Las Vegas locals get free admission 11am - 1pm and $10 after 1pm
xposedlv.com
BOYS & BURGERS at Blue Moon Resort Las Vegas. Every Sunday April through October. The Blue Moon Resort hosts a pool party at its clothing optional pool during its day pass hours from 7am - 8pm featuring the Boys & Burgers BBQ from 12pm - 2pm. A special Labor Day Pool Bash will be held on Sunday August 31st.
Day pass prices are $25 which includes a towel or $20 if you bring your own.
(B.A.D.) BEARS ATTACK the DESERT at Blue Moon Resort Las Vegas. The bears are out of hibernation and 4th of July weekend will be in full swing with this 4 day pool party extravaganza featuring plenty of fireworks and live music. With their Saturday night White Party and the Bear Beer Bust you're destined to have a fun and furry fourth with the bears. July 3rd - 6th
bearslasvegas.com
Day pass prices (7am - 8pm) are standard for this event $20 - $25.
BIGGER VEGAS at Blue Moon Resort. For those of you who live large and in charge, Bigger Vegas is one of the largest social events for chubby gay men and their admirers. Their pool party is Thursday July 10th from 3pm - 9pm. For more information visit biggervegas.com
Day pass prices (7am - 8pm) are standard for this event $20 - $25.
LUCKY BEAR WEEKEND at
Blue Moon Resort Las Vegas.
This hotel take over from September 26th - 28th will host a daily bear filled pool party!
bearslasvegas.com
Day pass prices (7am - 8pm) are standard for this event $20 - $25.
So if your looking to make a splash this summer Gay Vegas is the place to do it!
Matinee Las Vegas Festival: May 23rd - May 26th
- May 22, 2014 - 11:17pm
Matinée is asking fans to “feel the revolution” this Memorial Day – the party revolution, that is. The festival that has become world famous for re-imagining the elaborate party experience with blazing pyrotechnics and production by Matinée Ibiza, returns to Las Vegas with the biggest dance festival of the summer. Taking place Friday, May 23rd thru Monday, May 26th, MATINÉE LAS VEGAS FESTIVAL will play host to over 8,000 clubbers dancing to twenty of the world’s leading DJs at eight high-energy party events.
“In todays over technologized world, people want a real interactive experience,” explains Paul Nicholls, part of the production team behind Matinée North America. “We combine fantasy elements from concerts, theatrical stage shows, Hollywood films and even video games into one giant offline spectacle.”
“A Matinée party is all about awe and extravagance,” continues Matinée North America’s Patrick Crough. “We partner with the hottest and most cutting-edge acts from around the world. We are integrating several of their amazing Cirque acts into our main events. It will be breathtaking.”
Matinée launched over fifteen years ago in Ibiza. Since then, it has evolved internationally with lavish events including CircuitFestival Barcelona. When party founders decided to expand the brand into North America, they asked Crough and Jake Resnicow to oversee and produce all parties in the USA and Canada.
Their first Matinée event was Pride in New York where they transformed Manhattan’s Governor’s Island into an extravagant dance arena, with explosive music and thrilling light shows. At sunset, a surprise fireworks display ignited the skyline.
They made their Las Vegas debut in 2011 with the first Matinée Las Vegas Festival. It included jaw-dropping spectacles, including one that involved synchronized swimmers performing in a glass pool of water set on fire. The evening capped with a surprise performance by pop singer Natasha Bedingfield.
“Matinée raises the bar on nightlife,” says Jake Resnicow. “Whether in the heart of Manhattan or on the beaches of Miami, a Matinée event is meant to take revelers out of body and beyond the confines of their imagination.”
“One reason we stay so cutting edge is we re-invest into the parties,” adds Crough. “As the numbers get bigger, so does the experience.”
Last year’s MATINÉE LAS VEGAS FESTIVAL was wildly successful. The main event at Rain Nightclub in the Palms Hotel featured Spanish dancers, fire displays and live Cirque acts. The weekend’s big surprise was the large crowd of men that packed the Monday Pool Party. Says Nicholls, “It was a party we added at the last minute because pre-sales were so high. It ended up being a really great way to close the long weekend.”
Xposed Pool Party Launches
- May 21, 2014 - 5:50pm
The New Tropicana resort in Las Vegas kicked off the first-ever Saturday LGBTQ beach party, Xposed!, Saturday in the all-new Tropicana Beach Club. Partygoers enjoyed the grand opening festivities such as sun-kissed go-go dancers, live entertainment and DJ Ryan Kenney and DJ Kidd Madonny spinning all the latest hits. Guests also indulged in signature libations and played beach volleyball on the white sand volleyball courts, all while surrounded by the breathtaking waterfalls, palm trees, and luxury daybeds and cabanas.
For more information on Xposed!, visit XposedLV.com. Like Xposed! on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram @XposedLV.
Notable names that attended and walked the spectacular 3D beach ball step and repeat red carpet included Josh Strickland of “Vegas! the Show”; Jaymes Vaughn, Ryan Stuart and Jon Howes from “Chippendales”; Derrick Barry as Britney Spears, from “Divas Las Vegas”; the world-famous dance crew JABBAWOCKEEZ; Skye Diva, “Tropicana Nights” headliner; cast members from “ROCK OF AGES”; and more.
The event was produced in association with LA-based event producer Paul Nicholls, who runs a multitude of successful weekly events including the popular Stripper Circus franchise with weekly parties in LA, Vegas and San Diego, and is also a partner in the biggest gay dance festival of the summer, Matinee Las Vegas Festival.
Tweet this: Star-studded @XposedLV opens as 1st #LGBTQ Saturday beach party in #Vegas @TropLV #SaturGAYS http://XposedLV.com
Temptation Sundays
- May 21, 2014 - 5:37pm
Temptation Sundays turns up the heat on the hottest summer yet at Luxor Hotel and Casino. Hosted by J.Son from NakedBoyNews.com, the longest-running Las Vegas LGBT pool party begins May 18 and continues each Sunday through September 28.
The top LGBT pool event in Las Vegas for tourists and locals alike, Temptation Sundays is specially tailored for the community, but welcomes everyone looking for a great day poolside with high-energy music and drink specials. Guests can enjoy elite deluxe cabanas complete with LCD TVs and refrigerators available for full-day reservations starting at $300. Guests also can lounge in luxury in plush daybeds starting at $150 and tempt other partiers with VIP seating options starting at $35. Bottle service begins at $100. Throughout the summer, resident DJ Matt Lucio and special guest DJs will be on the ones and twos keeping the energy high each week.
Scheduled events are as follows with additional special events added throughout the season:
May 10: GLO Opening Party, 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Be prepared to “GLO” wild at the opening of everyone’s favorite LGBT pool party. Partygoers can kick off Temptation Sundays with GLO, the first nighttime LGBT pool event on The Strip. Guests are encouraged to don their glow-in-the-dark neon swimsuits for a special nighttime experience.
June 22: It’s Electric
With a nod to the Electric Daisy Carnival, one of the largest music festivals in the country, guests are invited to wear their favorite daisy and neon themed swimwear. Music lovers can dance the day away to guest DJ Diesel.
July 20: 50 Shades of Tan
Halfway through the summer, guests can bring their bronze bods to the pool and battle for the best tan. For guests looking to stay away from the rays, there will be sunless magic available so they also may soak up some of the fun, competition and glory. Winners will receive prizes including stays at Luxor, dinner packages and more.
August 3: J.Son 5.0
Guests are invited to celebrate Temptation Sundays 5th Anniversary and J. Son’s birthday with a free shot for every guest. Come down to the pool to toast the top LGBT pool party on The Strip as Guest DJ Axis keeps the party on its feet!
September 7: Proud and Loud
Those in town for Gay Days and PRIDE have found the hottest pool party in Vegas at Temptation Sundays. This pool party will cap off the Las Vegas Gay Days and Las Vegas PRIDE weekend and is sure to provide the biggest splash of the weekend.
Temptation Sundays occurs every Sunday May 18 – Sept. 28, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., and a special Saturday kick-off May 10, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. at Luxor’s North Pool. General admission is $20; Las Vegas locals, Luxor and Excalibur guests, military, police and fire personnel receive discounted admission of $10. VIP guest list subscribers receive complimentary entry until 2 p.m. by texting “VEGAS” to 77948. For more information, visit Luxor.com/LGBT and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Paula Abdul does VIP at Piranha Nightclub
- February 1, 2014 - 12:48am
Puala Parties at Piranha!
The one and only Paula Abdul partied it up at Piranha Nightclub.
Paula Abdul said F%^& it and joined Gay Vegas at Piranha Nightclubs F*ck It Friday night.
She was hosted by the marvelous Hot Chocolate (Larry Edwards) in Piranhas VIP area.
Paula Abdul was at Britney Spears show with Larry Edwards (Hot Chocolate) and decided to join the host at Piranha Nightclub for some after partying.
@PaulaAbdul So happy to have you at the show tonight!!! Hope you loved it xoxo
— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) February 1, 2014They spent the evening reminiscing about a performance by Larry for Paula Abdul on a Jay Leno tribute show, where Hot Chocolate was dressed like a Laker Girl performing one of Paulas hits.
It was quite the night at a completely packed Piranha and Paula Abdul was more than happy to take photos with Piranhas VIPs.
INDULGENCE TO START 18 AND OVER LGBT NIGHT
- January 28, 2014 - 4:04pm
New 18+ Gay Night!?!? Starting next Thursday February 6th at 8pm and every Thursday after Indulgence Hookah Lounge will be premiering an 18 and over GLBT event called Rumors.
Heres some information about the venue:
- The venue is over 3000 sq. ft.
- There will be a dancefloor
- 6 private VIP rooms that fit up to 10-15 people
- There will be a Virgin Bar
- There will be sexy male and female gogo dancers
- Servers will be dressed in sexy underwear and lingerie
- There will be Hookah service available
This information is provided by Indulgence Hookah Lounge's Facebook page located here: https://www.facebook.com/indulgence702
LANA DEL REYS ONCE UPON A DREAM COVER LISTEN HERE FIRST
- January 28, 2014 - 3:23pm
This so reminds us of Shannel
Just saying... remember Shannels performances as the evil witch on Snow White.
I can so see her performing a remix to this Lana Del Rey song, whom we just love, dressed as Maleficent!
The new disney movie is scheduled for realease on May 30th, 2014 and we are so excited to see it.
Lana Del Rey is just amazing and we love the cover she did for the classic Disney movie Sleeping Beauty.
Listen and then Comment:
NO HOMO!... PHOBES WEBSITE #FAGGOT
- January 26, 2014 - 3:59pm
If you haven't already seen this website www.nohomophobes.com check it out. It raises awareness on homophobic language on twitter by counting the number of times Twitter users use the the following expressions; no homo, so gay, faggot, and dyke. It also shows a real time stream of the users that are saying these things on Twitter. Try and control yourself as you are inundated with ignorance, as you may find it difficult to not respond to some of these users. Since July 5th, 2012 22,995,666 have tweeted faggot, 6,444,854 have tweeted no homo, 6,281,996 have tweeted So Gay and 2,369,031 have tweeted dyke. Check out today's hateful tweets at www.nohomophobes.com
Attack on the Share a Coke App
- January 26, 2014 - 1:18pm
I'm not a big supporter of corporations by any means and I understand pouring vodka into the streets because vodka is a symbol of Russia. What I don't understand is attacking Coca Cola for supporting the Olympics, which they have done every year of my living existence. Recently people have been attacking Coca Colas "Share a Coke" App found at www.shareacoke.co.za because you are not able to type in "gay" and you get a response that says "Oops lets pretend you didn't just say that." While I understand everyone is looking for someone to point fingers at when it comes to the situation in Russia, I don't think this was an attack on the LGBT community. When you are a computer programmer and you need a generic list of offensive language, they have that available and unfortunately "GAY" which can be used in a derogatory form is on that list. If you saw how long the list was you would be enlightened with how many bad words there really are, and then you would immediately have the urge to take a shower. I know for a fact that this was intended as brand protection and is not directed intentionally at the gay community. As a matter of fact the Coke app is fully capable of generating LGBT, welovegays, and as you can see GAYVEGAS. There is so many things you cannot write on this App, the list goes on forever even hastags and .coms aren't allowed. So relax and enjoy an American classic, and know that it was not intentional, Coca Cola still loves you and supports the Olympics not anti-gay Russia.