Contrary to what you may have heard, sports have always been an important part of the LGBT community. From Billy Jean King to Greg Louganis and as far back as Bill Tilden (in 1950, a survey of sports writers named him the greatest tennis player of the first half of the century) there have been out sports stars performing at the top of their fields.

So it should come as no surprise that LGBT sports groups abound, even in our fair city where it often seems that the most strenuous activity most of us manage is lifting a martini glass. Alternative sports groups meet regularly here supported mainly by the Chinese gay community. Shanghai Horizons is a running group that meets at weekends to run and Inlemon.org (Chinese site) has more information about other sports groups involved in swimming, badminton and other sports.

This year marks the second anniversary of the Shanghai LGBT United Sports Meet. From 3-5pm on Sunday, June 5 in Shanghai, gay and lesbian athletes from around China will gather for a day of activities and fun. It’s an important opportunity for athletes in the community to come together, compete and develop stronger ties while hopefully creating more groups and activities to keep us healthier and out in daylight hours, rather than holed up in bars weekend after weekend.

The meet is chock full of activities to satisfy the appetites of elite athletes and duffers alike. Events are individual or group-oriented and cover a variety of activities from races and relays to tugs-of-war and greedy snakes (passing a hula hoop down a string of six individuals with linked hands). This event is a collaboration of the multitude of gay sports groups which are active in Shanghai and focuses on making connections in the community through athletics and sports.

Organizer Laoximen tells me he’s keen to make this event a bigger success than last year by including as many groups as possible in the alternative sports scene with a concerted effort to get more lesbian participants involved in the events.

Being out in sport is still a huge issue. We live in a straight world and they don’t always want to play with us, so we might as well screw them and enjoy ourselves in a supportive, fun and welcoming environment.

DETAILS

What: 2nd Annual Shanghai LGBT United Sports Meet

When: Sunday, June 5 | 2.30-6pm

Where: Track of GeZhi Middle School | 150 Beihai Road, Gezhi school playground, near People's Square subway station

Web: Inlemon.org