The LGBT International Powerlifting Championships Announce their theme for 2020 – “Empowerment”.
This will be in collaboration with Blackpool’s Empowerment Charity that provides advocacy services within the Blackpool Community for those who may be multi-disadvantaged. Empowerment Charity is the chosen charity of Blackpool’s Lady Mayor Amy Cross and LGBT IPC 2020 will be flying the “Empowerment” flag during 2020 as part of the Mayors Fundraising campaign. LGBT IPC athletes and officials are invited to attend the Mayors Ball at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 21st March, which is in aid of Empowerment.
The LGBT (Lesbian,Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) International Powerlifting Championships will be held in Blackpool, United Kingdom on the 17th, 18th & 19th July, athletes will compete in the disciplines of Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift. Last year’s event attracted 50 athletes and a further 100 coaches, friends, family and spectators attended the event, from countries including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Romania, The United States of America and of course the host nation Great Britain) – numbers are expected to increase this year and general Registration is now open for LGBT IPC 2020.
Chris Morgan, The Meet Director of LGBT IPC, Male Co-President and Charlotte Wareing Female Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union, commenting on this year’s Championships ….
“Last year’s event saw National and World record standard performances, a Civic Visit from the Lady Mayor of Blackpool and even a marriage proposal during the medal ceremonies. The atmosphere in “The Auditorium” was electric, with lifters of all abilities taking part from novices, through to national and world standard lifters – all coming together and creating a magical experience”.
“We are delighted to be inviting Lady Mayor Amy Cross back to the Championships, along with her chosen Charity Empowerment as our theme for 2020. The purpose of LGBT IPC is to provide a safe space for LGBT strength athletes to connect, grow and feel Empowered. The collaboration with Empowerment Charity is the perfect way for us to embrace these values”.
Amy Cross, The Worshipful Mayor of Blackpool, reacting to the announcement Said ….
“It was wonderful to watch the LGBT International Powerlifting Championship last year and present the athletes medals. The contestants showed their strength in a number of ways, explaining how they had come to be in the competition and sharing their experiences.
“ The people I met where brave, kind and all to happy to share. This group of people were inspirational and helped to empower each other. I’m absolutely delighted that LGBT IPC has adopted the Mayors Charity Empowerment, as their theme for 2020”.
Mike Crowther, Chief Executive Officer of Empowerment Charity, reacting to the invitation for Empowerment to Said …….
“I am delighted that ‘Empowerment’ is the chosen charity partner for the LGBT IPC in 2020. As a charity we empower everyone we support to reach their own unique potential; no matter who they are”.
“The values of the LGBT IPC match ‘Empowerment’ values and that’s why we are such a perfect partnership!”
The LGBT International Powerlifting Championships are all gender inclusive and everyone is welcome to participate regardless of gender, sexuality, race religion or ability – there are in fact no qualifying standards. In 2018 LGBT IPC was the first sports event in the world to introduce an optional MX Category, welcoming Trans, Non Binary and Intersex athletes to participate and compete in sports.
We are very grateful to all of our partners who make LGBT IPC possible including Blackpool Sixth Form College, Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, Casson’s Strength, Cottage Bakery, Fighting Fit Powerlifting Club, Funny Girls, Pride Sports, Wilkinsons Hotel Group and of course our new partner for 2020 Blackpool’s very own “Empowerment Charity”.
Editors Notes:
LGBT IPC 2020 weekend has a full program of activities including a Technical Briefing (Friday 17th July), Competition (Saturday 18th July), Congress (Sunday 19th July) and Closing Party (Sunday 20th July). Visit www.lgbtpowerlifting.org for more details.
LGBT IPC 2020 welcomes Trans men or Trans women who have decided to transition– who will be able to participate within either Male, Female or within MX Category. The third gender Mx Category is also for people who do not identify as one or the other, such as Non Binary or Intersex. The new MX Category was introduced for the 2018 event and the policy continues for our 2020 event.
The sport of Powerlifting was part of the program of Gay Games in nine Gay Games from 1982 San Francisco through to Gay Games 2014 in Cleveland Ohio. It was also part of the World Outgames in Montreal in 2006. Bench Press Single Event was part of the Eurogames in Munich in 2004. Powerlifting was not included in Gay Games Paris 2018 www.paris2018.com but has now been confirmed to be returning in Hong Kong in 2022. www.gaygameshk2022.com The Federation of Gay Games website can be found at www.gaygames.org
You can get more information about our partners at their websites: Cassons Strength https://cassonstrength.co.uk/ Fighting Fit Powerlifting Club www. https://www.fightingfitstrength.com/ Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club https://bgwlc.co.uk/ Blackpool Sixth Form College https://blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/ The Lawton Hotel https://www.thelawtonhotel.co.uk/ The Beechfield Hotel https://www.thebeechfieldhotel.co.uk/ Pride Sports https://pridesports.org.uk/ Funny Girls http://www.funnygirlsonline.co.uk/ The Cottage Bakery https://www.thecottagebakeryblackpool.co.uk and of course Empowerment Charity http://www.empowermentcharity.org.uk/
Key People – Biographies
Chris Morgan: Male Co-President, LGBT Powerlifting Union
Chris has been one of the World’s leading openly gay athletes since starting his Powerlifting career at the Gay Games in 1998.
During his twenty year career he has represented England and Great Britain a total of twenty six times, where he has taken a total of twenty eight international medals. He has been World Champion ten times, European Champion five times, British Champion eighteen times and has won six Gay Games gold medals. In 2010 and 2011 he was the overall Best Lifter at the British Deadlift Championships and in 2011 was the overall Best Lifter at the European Deadlift Championships. He is the holder of several British and World records in the Deadlift.
Chris is constantly working for the organisation that gave him confidence to be an openly gay athlete, as a global ambassador. His role for the Federation of Gay Games is to inspire and motivate young gay athletes worldwide.
Charlotte Wareing: Female Co-President, LGBT Powerlifting Union
Charlotte has been powerlifting for six years, she has won five master’s European titles and seven World titles.
She holds 41 World Records in both raw and equipped lifting. She has twice achieved the overall best lifter at European and World level. Charlotte was the recipient of the LGBT IPC “Spirit Award” at the first LGBT IPC Championships for her courage and commitment to the LGBT Community, which she views as one of the highlights of her career.
Charlotte is keen to grow the sport of powerlifting and works hard to introduce the sport to novice lifters.