More than other sports? Any groups that cater to? Fellow slowtwitchers?
How would orientation have any relevance to participating in a triathlon?
i definitely know more lesbian rugby/hockey/field hockey players than lesbian triathletes, for a start. (though i do know one lesbian triathlete - we dated for three years.)
-mike
Does it matter what the orientation of the person lining up next to you at the start is?
i don’t want to speak on behalf of fever, but i think everyone knows it’s totally irrelevant to triathlon - just like your thoughts on the presidential election or climate change. therefore, it’s a perfect topic for lavender room discussion. or that’s my take on it, anyway.
-mike
Since when did Lavedar Room queations have to be relevant to triathlon?
I know several gay and lesbian triathletes.
Here’s a link if you’re interested.
I’ve been around the sport a long time and I have never even remotely considered the thought of sexual orientation in the masses. Darn good question though. By sheer guess I would say there is less than in some other sports but that would be a terrible generalization (of all sports involved). Can’t say that I have even heard of any groups that ‘cater’ to sexual preference either. It would suggest that if there are people in the sport that they keep that aspect of their life well to themselves. I’d also wager that if this is the case that you’ll get more replies via PM than you will on this thread.
For the record…I am not a gay triathlete. If I were though…this narcisistic sport would be a hot bed for finding eye candy (of either male or female persuasion)
& I am not surprised @ all (not that I care)!
Fred.
You know I’ve never really thought about it before, but I might me a ‘gay lesbian’ triathlete. I take really good care of myself physically, care about my appearence, shave my legs, cook, have good fashion and decorating sense, like shoes, and am really into chicks! yup, must be a gay-lesbian!
Man this explains alot… 
There’s the guy that won the Amazing Race.
As to the other poster’s comment on lebian rugby, yeah, lots. I played rugby in college and it was a lesbian dominated sport for the most part. Big, scary kind, not lipstick porno kind.
The only masters swim program at the pool next to where I used to live in Edmonton was a Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered club. They were open to everyone though so heterosexual people were not excluded although I’m not sure what the demographics of their membership was. My supervisor’s partner was a member of the group. It seemed like a great way to meet like-minded people of similar interests and orientation, just like any other sport&social group out there.
(though i do know one lesbian triathlete - we dated for three years.)
-mike
Wow, the things some people will tell each other in order to get rid of them… 
Funny, it's a fine line, at least for me. I find active women attractive, and have found myself attracted to a few lesbians over the years, including the first girl (or anyone outside of myself actually) that I ever really cared about (before she had really figured things out herself).
The only masters swim program at the pool next to where I used to live in Edmonton was a Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered club.
I’ve never really understood this. Why are there groups of people that gather, not specifically gay/lesbian but any group, to do an activity and base it on something completely unrelated to the activity? If you’re going to go to a masters swim, aren’t you going to swim?
The only other thing that will likely be going on there is a bit of socializing. To me what groups that emphasis their sexual orientation, race etc., while doing some other activity, are saying is “We don’t think you can socialize with us” and or “We only want to socialize with people that are like us”. I guess I don’t see the good in it. Am I missing something here?
~Matt
More than other sports? Any groups that cater to? Fellow slowtwitchers?
I’ve heard that Ironman discriminates againsts slow gay triathletes. Slow straight people, too
By it’s nature, a club is a social thing. People join clubs for all kinds of reasons, including to get in shape or to expand their social circle (usually both).
I’m sure the GLBT sports folks would welcome you to join their clubs. From what I’ve heard, those groups are more inclusive than exclusive. I think the idea is to welcome folks who otherwise feel rejected by normal sports clubs.
I think the idea is to welcome folks who otherwise feel rejected by normal sports clubs.
Which is my point exactly. Why would a homosexual, black or other group feel rejected at any swim meet? I’ve gone on a few rides, ridden a few large rides, done masters, running groups etc etc. I have NEVER seen anyone be snide to a person because they “didn’t fit in”. Yes I’ve run into more than a few elitist group that didn’t want anyone in simply because “you’re not part of the group”, but never because “You’re black” or “You’re gay”.
Now I fully understand groups that are of a certain homogeneous group. “Retired mens club”, “Gay and Lesbian Club” etc. These groups exist expressly for the purpose of hanging out with like minded and lifestyle people. In a sense when you go to a “Retired mens club” you DON’T want young guy’s hanging around…I was going to say girls but I’m sure that’s not the case :-). You want to hang out with, talk about and do things that YOUR group wants to do. I wouldn’t understand the “Retired men’s Master Swim” oh and we welcome everyone…Huh? If you welcome everyone then you’re a “Master’s swim” period.
~Matt
I think the idea is to welcome folks who otherwise feel rejected by normal sports clubs.
This is what I don’t get, you go to a masters night to swim, the workout goes off nicely, and everybody is beat, they head home. At what point did the GLBT attender feel “rejected”?
ps. I do get the concept of social clubs, populated with others that are more “like you”. (unless you’re white and male)
I think the idea is to welcome folks who otherwise feel rejected by normal sports clubs.
Which is my point exactly. Why would a homosexual, black or other group feel rejected at any swim meet? I’ve gone on a few rides, ridden a few large rides, done masters, running groups etc etc. I have NEVER seen anyone be snide to a person because they “didn’t fit in”. Yes I’ve run into more than a few elitist group that didn’t want anyone in simply because “you’re not part of the group”, but never because “You’re black” or “You’re gay”.
Now I fully understand groups that are of a certain homogeneous group. “Retired mens club”, “Gay and Lesbian Club” etc. These groups exist expressly for the purpose of hanging out with like minded and lifestyle people. In a sense when you go to a “Retired mens club” you DON’T want young guy’s hanging around…I was going to say girls but I’m sure that’s not the case :-). You want to hang out with, talk about and do things that YOUR group wants to do. I wouldn’t understand the “Retired men’s Master Swim” oh and we welcome everyone…Huh? If you welcome everyone then you’re a “Master’s swim” period.
~Matt
Dude, stop it! lol
I don’t know if I see it as being ‘rejected’ as much as I see it as multi-tasking. In order to meet and bond with people, a common goal is often required. It seems to me that sport/social club would be a way to meet like-minded people without having to get involved in politics or activism for those who aren’t interested in that sort of thing. Without the sport side, what would the GLBT social group do? I can only assume that a part of their activities would be equal rights causes - what about those people who aren’t interested in that sort of thing?
Right now I’m a early 30s unmarried female running with a group of middle aged married men in a new town that I just moved to. (So far the other women regulars are -much- slower than me) Sure, they’re nice guys but I’ll be really excited with the NY resolution crowd brings in some more females! Everyone is rather friendly to me and I’ve never had any issues but it would be nice to meet some people more like me. If they had a special group for “women in their 30s looking to run a sub 3:30 Boston Marathon” I’d be all over it.
As adults, we’re out of school and away from the bar scene. Many people have massive commutes to work and live on opposite side of the city to their co-workers. Kids are driven to schools outside their neighbourhoods. Some people don’t have kids. Where else are you going to make friends? It seems that the methods our parents used are gone - the idea of special interest sports clubs is great.
It seems that the methods our parents used are gone - the idea of special interest sports clubs is great.
So you’re waiting for the “women in their 30s looking to run a sub 3:30 Boston Marathon” sports club to open? Good luck with that…might have a better chance of getting your own “club” if you reconsider that whole lesbian thing.