[Peckers_Pics] Male/Gay Health-Discussion-PICS Tribute to Mark Bingham, and rugby on network television

Jake, if you would allow me, I'd like to bring your and my fellow members' attention to the fact that NBC Sports will be televising the USA Eagles/Ireland rugby match on Sunday (Noon Central time). This, in and of itself, is probably enough to satisfy the gay fantasies of almost every member (hair wars, muscle wars, model wars, twink (sort of) wars all in one place!

In addition to their coverage, NBC is going to be highlighting Mark Bingham.

Mark, who was gay, was a rugby player in college, and a founding member of the San Francisco Fog, one of the first openly gay rugby teams in the U.S. (there are now over 30!) Mark was also a passenger on United flight 93 that crashed into a farm field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. If you haven't had a chance to see the movie Flight 93, I hope you will seek it out. You will see that the fact that he was a gay man never made a difference in what he did, how he acted, or how the other passengers interacted with him.

In honor of his selfless act, the International Gay Rugby Association and Board voted to name our bi-annual international tournament in his honor. My rugby team (the Minneapolis Mayhem) had the privilege of hosting the 5th of these tournaments in June, 2010 here in Minneapolis. We welcomed almost 1,200 gay (and gay-friendly) rugby players and their supports and fans to Minneapolis for a tremendous week of festivities and a three-day tournament. The next Bingham Cup will be held in Manchester England in June, 2012.

I have also had the honor to meet Mark's Mother, Alice Hoagland, who has worked tirelessly not only to honor the memory of her son Mark, but to make sure the recommendations of the various 9-11 Commissions were implemented.

I never had the privilege to meet Mark in person, but I know many of his teammates on the SF Fog, and to a man, they say he "was all that" and more. It's not often that an openly (and proud) gay man is so honored by an entire nation, and I thought you and our fellow group members would be interested in knowing about the tribute.

Bill

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"Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."

...Jake (Moderator)

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