Bisexual is not gay enough? Softball players sue gay sports organization for discrimination
”This case is just about treating everybody in the community equally … and not interrogating folks about whether they’re gay enough to play.”
Melanie Rowen of the National Center for Lesbian Rights which is representing three softball players in a case against the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance. Seattle Times reports that Steven Apilado, LaRon Charles and Jon Russ say they were deemed “nongay” and their team (called D2) was stripped of a 2nd place finish in the 2008 Gay Softball World Series. They claim they were asked “personal and intrusive questions” and contend that a prohibition against teams having more than two heterosexual players is discriminatory, plus the bylaws allegedly do not mention bisexuals. Each of the three seeks $75,000 for emotional distress. (Seattle Times)
”Certainly I’ve seen infighting in the community. Anyone who’s worked for our rights has seen infighting, because we’re all human…. But as I’ve told [NCLR executive director] Kate Kendell, it baffles me why they’ve taken on this case. Why is the National Center for Lesbian Rights asserting this claim on behalf of three poor beleaguered straight men? I don’t get it.”
Beth Allen, a lawyer representing North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance against three men who say they suffered emotional distress after their softball team was deemed to be using too many heterosexual players. All three men are of African-American ethnicity and the National Center for Lesbian Rights is alleging that race may have also been a factor since two of the men’s white teammates were cleared to play. (The Advocate)
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