Gay and Lesbian Professional Athletes Association

Gay and Lesbian Pro Athletes Create Their Own Identity!

Press Release

October 22, 2002

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ - A new worldwide association has been developed to represent gay and lesbian professional athletes. The Gay & Lesbian Professional Athletes Association (GLPAA) is a not-for-profit association dedicated to change in professional sport.

The GLPAA has been developed to eliminate homophobia in pro sports and to ensure that all gay and lesbian pro athletes have an equal playing field to succeed. Randall Reid, one of the GLPAA's founders, notes that "our aim is not to 'out' gay and lesbian athletes. The decision to come out is completely personal and should only be made by each person when and if they are ready. We just want to make it okay to be gay in the locker room."

The GLPAA's global operations are based in Toronto, Canada. The organization operates from the offices of Quasar Sports Management Inc., a sports management company that provides services exclusively for the specific needs of gay and lesbian professional athletes. Quasar Sports is a founding sponsor of the GLPAA.

The GLPAA is building an international support network for both athletes who want to come out of the closet and those that want to stay in. The GLPAA also works with corporate sponsors to protect endorsement opportunities for gay and lesbian athletes. "We applaud companies that promote, respect and encourage the human spirit of all athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation", says Mr. Reid. The GLPAA has also begun to lay the foundation for a gay and lesbian professional sports hall of fame.

"We're here to make real changes in the sports world", says Mr. Reid. "There are lots of gay and lesbian athletes out there already. They deserve to compete in a world that allows them to be who they really are."

The GLPAA's web site is www.glpaa.org. Quasar Sports Management Inc. is at www.quasarsports.com.

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