LGBT International
Powerlifting Championships 2019 Enjoy Great Success ….
Last weekend the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay,
Bi-Sexual, Transgender) International Powerlifting Championships were held in
Blackpool, United Kingdom (19th, 20th & 21st
July). The Organiser’s of the event LGBT IPC are reporting that 50 athletes and
a further 100 coaches, friends, family and spectators attended the event, which
is the largest LGBT Powerlifting event of all time in regards to overall
engagement. Over the last two year’s we have been planning for what we hoped
would be a hugely significant moment for LGBT Powerlifting globally and we feel
honored that athletes travelled from all over the world (including Australia,
Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Romania, The United States of America and of course
the host nation Great Britain) to participate in this unique Powerlifting
Competition.
Chris Morgan, The Meet
Director of LGBT IPC, Male Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union,
commenting on this year’s Championships ….
“We are absolutely
delighted with the overall growth in the LGBT IPC Championships and are now
focused on improving on this again in 2020. To think that we started out with
only 20 lifters in 2017 and 40 lifters in 2018, we have come a long way in a
short space of time. We are immensely proud of the whole group and their
achievements this last weekend.
“This 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 together”.
We would like to thank The Worshipful
Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Amy Cross and the town of Blackpool in granting
a Civic visit to the LGBT IPC Championships. We are hugely grateful to our
partners The Blackpool Sixth Form College, Pride Sports, Funny Girls, Bethnal
Green Weightlifting Club, Casson’s Strength, Fighting Fit Powerlifting Club,
The Cottage Bakery, Wilkinson Hotel Group and Compete Diversity Network, all
without whom we could not of delivered the event to such a high production
standards. We already have plans for significant improvements to next year’s
event and once again would like to invite the whole of the LGBT Powerlifting
Community to experience LGBT IPC.
The LGBT IPC 2020 event will return
to Blackpool’s Theatre Auditorium on the 17th, 18th,
19th July, where once again the strongest LGBT Powerlifters in the
world will participate in Technical Meeting, Competition (Squat, Bench Press
and Deadlift), Social Events, Congress and Closing Party. For more information
about LGBT IPC 2020 visit our website www.lgbtpowerlifting.org or
our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/203653086703441/ . If you
would like to pre-register as a participant for LGBT IPC 2020 email your
details to meet director Chris Morgan at chunky@chunkymuscle.com
Forthcoming dates for your diary – Thursday 22nd August
Pride Powerlifting Learning Session is happening Manchester / Sunday 10th
November in London and Saturday 23rd November in Manchester – New
Sport, New Challenge LGBT Powerlifting Workshops.
Press Release: The LGBT
Powerlifting Union Have Announced a Series of Stakeholder Meetings – “Advocacy
& Inclusion Within Powerlifting”
Many will be aware that LGBT IPC Athletes
are welcome to participate in the championships regardless of their age, sexuality,
health status, ability or gender. In 2017 LGBT IPC introduced a new MX third
gender category, which welcomes transgender, non-binary and intersex
participants to compete. The LGBT IPC is very proud to be the first sporting
event in the world to introduce a third gender category, so MX people can
participate in a safe environment, without fear of discrimination. Since
introducing MX Category we have been overwhelmed by responses and
correspondence from Athletes, Coaches, Officials, Supporters and Powerlifting
Organisations.
Many of the LGBT Powerlifting matters
raised since have caused great emotional responses both from within and from
outside of the LGBT Community. We believe that some of these issues are so
complex and views widespread that we are scheduling a series of Global
“Stakeholder” consultation meetings between now and the end of 2019. The
meetings will be scheduled in such a way to make sure that everyone who is
interested, has an opportunity to attend at least one of these meetings. These
are some of the main issues that have been highlighted to us by “stakeholders”
from within LGBT Powerlifting over the last 12 months.
“LGBT Powerlifting Advocacy” –
Acceptable terminology, acronyms and abbreviations for use globally both
within the LGBT Powerlifting Community and the mainstream Powerlifting
Communities.
“Association Rules” – How
mainstream federation rules affect LGBT Powerlifting both now and in the
future – as we prepare the Gay Games in Hong Kong 2022 and LGBT IPC
Blackpool 2020.
“Transgender Inclusion” – How
mainstream federation rules affect LGBT Powerlifting both now and in the
future and how the inclusion of Trans people in Powerlifting affects our
CIS male and CIS female partners.
The “Stakeholder Meetings” will be hosted
by the LGBT Powerlifting Union and designed to give everyone who has contacted
us an opportunity to interact and contribute in a considered, professional and
meaningful way, We would like to acknowledge that LGBT Powerlifting issues have
moved on quickly since the introduction of LGBT IPC in 2017 and MX Category in
2018 and we believe a global consultation at this moment in time would be a
good way of sharing information and views on issues affecting LGBT Powerlifters
all over the world.
The stakeholder meetings are designed to
give delegates the opportunity to share their views and in a structured way, so
that the interests of all LGBT Powerlifters are taken into consideration in any
future interactions with any mainstream organisations wishing to interact with
the LGBT Powerlifting Union over their LGBT policies and guidelines in the
future. We believe it would be in the interests of all LGBT Powerlifters
worldwide to be in communication with each other over these matters and we hope
the LGBT Powerlifting Community and stakeholders engage with this process.
Charlotte Wareing,
Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union, commenting on the forthcoming
stakeholder meetings …
“We believe that
athletes, coaches, officials, organisations and spectators all have a deep
interest in ensuring that sporting
competition remains fair and inclusive.
“The LGBT Powerlifting
Union and LGBT IPC has a strong tradition of bringing new lifters into the
sport and we believe this is due to our commitment to openness, fairness, and
inclusivity within competition – regardless of a person’s sexuality or gender. The LGBT Powerlifting Union invite all those interested in the
development of LGBT Powerlifting to contribute to the Stakeholder Consultation
and we invite people to contact us in preparation for the forthcoming meetings
The closing date for inclusion in the Consultation process is Thursday 31st
October 2019 ”.
The LGBT Powerlifting Union are now in the
process of inviting interested “Stakeholder” to the series of meetings which
will be scheduled before the end of 2019. If you would like to be part of these
“Stakeholder” meetings, then please email Chris Morgan chunky@chunkymuscle.com Charlotte Wareing at chazwrng@netscape.net . Please note no further press comment on these
matters will be made
Editors Notes:
LGBT
IPC 2020 weekend has a full programme of activities including a Technical
Briefing (Friday 17th July), Competition (Saturday 18th
July), Congress (Sunday 19st 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 programme 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
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.
*** REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR BLACKPOOL 2019 ***
The LGBT Powerlifting Union are very proud to confirm that Blackpool has been chosen to host the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships in Summer 2019, with the modern Blackpool Sixth Form College providing the venue, for what promises to be a prestigious new sports event for the town. In July 2019 LGBT strength athletes from all over the world will come to Blackpool to contest the Championships, which are the first sports event in the world to offer an Mx third gender category for Trans, Non Binary and Intersex participants.
The previous two LGBT IPC events were held in London with athletes attending from nine different nations including Australia, Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, United States of America and of course the host nation Great Britain. Blackpool won the bidding process for the 2019 and 2020 Championships, with it’s reputation for being the UK’s most LGBT friendly seaside town and it’s abundance of low cost accommodation options.
LGBT IPC Athletes are welcome to participate in the championships regardless of their age, sexuality, health status, ability or gender. Last year the LGBT IPC introduced a new Mx third gender category, which welcomes transgender, non-binary and intersex participants to compete. The LGBT IPC is very proud to be the first sporting event in the world to introduce a third gender category, so Mx people can participate in a safe environment, without fear of discrimination.
The previous championships were attended by national champions, world champions, world record holders and also a lifter who had competed in the Arnold Classic Sports Festival. The LGBT IPC competition is particularly friendly towards novices as they have their own category, for those who are competing for the first time. LGBT IPC is very committed towards reaching out to sections of the community that are under-represented in the sport.
Speaking about the confirmation of Blackpool as host town of the Championships, Chris Morgan, Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union Said …
“We are delighted to confirm that the “LGBT International Powerlifting Championships” will be in Blackpool, the most LGBT and in particular Trans Friendly town in the UK. We have confirmed a fantastic new venue and have a fresh and exciting new programme of events and activities. Registration for athletes and coaches is now open and details can be found at our website www.lgbtpowerlifting.org”.
Speaking about the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships in Blackpool 2019, Charlotte Wareing, Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union Said …
“I’m very proud the LGBT IPC is coming to my home town of Blackpool and that we can offer hospitality to athletes coming to Blackpool from all over the world. We are very grateful for the positive response from all our community partners that have made this all possible. We are looking forward to delivering an incredible experience for all of our guests in the summer of 2019”.
LGBT IPC Programme 2019
The choice of the seaside town of Blackpool as our host town will give us the opportunity of doubling our participation levels over the next two years as the town has an abundance of high quality, low cost accommodation. Athletes from all over the world will find Blackpool a very affordable place to stay and easy to access as they will be able to take the one hour fast train directly from Manchester International Airport straight into the Gay Village in the centre of Blackpool.
Blackpool 2019 will be happening 19th – 21st July 2019 and the programme currently includes a Coaching Clinic, Technical Briefing, Competition, Social Evening, Congress, Development Workshop and Closing Party at the World Renowned “Funny Girls Cabaret”. Blackpool 2019 and 2020 will give us the opportunity to build our participation numbers and provide a very safe host town environment for all of our Trans, Non Binary and Intersex participants.
Community Partnerships
In the build up to Blackpool 2019 the LGBT Powerlifting Union are planning workshops in the North on Saturday 5th January (Blackpool) and the South on Sunday 13th January (London) with more dates to follow soon for workshops in the USA. The UK workshops will be hosted by experienced coaches Chris Morgan, Charlotte Wareing and Hanne Bingle who have won over 20 world titles between them, with the assistance of partner gyms Fortitude Fitness in Blackpool and Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club in London.
The LGBT Powerlifting Union, would like to thank Blackpool Sixth Form College for being our host venue partner, The Lawton Hotel and The Beechfield Hotel for being our host hotels, Pride Sports for assisting us in the delivery of Congress and Development Workshops, and Funny Girls for hosting our closing Cabaret Banquet Party. LGBT IPC will also be partnering with LGBT Horizon Charity in delivering “The Healthy Living Café”, which will be open throughout the championship weekend, with all proceeds donated to their local LGBT Hardship Fund.
LGBT IPC weekend has a full programme of activities including a Novices Coaching Clinic & Technical Briefing (Friday 19th July), Competition (Saturday 20th July), Congress (Sunday 21st July), Development Workshop (Sunday 21st July) and Closing Party (Sunday 21st July). Visit www.lgbtpowerlifting.org for more details.
LGBT IPC 2019 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 2019 and 2020 events.
The sport of Powerlifting was part of the programme 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
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 five 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.
Visit our Facebook Group to download your Registration Form https://www.facebook.com/groups/203653086703441/
PRESS RELEASE: POWERLIFTING SET TO RETURN TO GAY GAMES IN HONG KONG 2022
The LGBT Powerlifting Union has agreed to assist Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 in the delivery and promotion of their Powerlifting event in the next Gay Games cycle. Powerlifting was not included in the sports schedule in the Gay Games X that is currently happening this week in Paris, but has now been confirmed for the next Gay Games after discussions took place between the next host city Hong Kong and the LGBT Powerlifting Union, who have successfully run the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships (LGBT IPC) in both 2017 and 2018.
The Second annual “LGBT International Powerlifting Championships” were held in London the weekend before the opening of Gay Games inParis, with participation numbers doubling, from the previous year. Athletes attended this year’s LGBT IPC from eight different nations including Australia, Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, United States of America and of course the host nation Great Britain.
Within LGBT IPC Athletes are welcome to participate regardless of their age, sexuality, health status, ability or gender. This year the LGBT IPC introduced a new Mx third gender category, which welcomes transgender, non-binary and intersex participants to compete. The LGBT IPC are the first sporting event in the world to introduce a third gender category, so Mx people can participate in a safe environment, without fear of discrimination.
This year’s championships were attended by national champions, world champions, world record holders and also a lifter who had competed in the Arnold Classic Sports Festival Australia. The LGBT IPC competition is particularly friendly towards novices as they have their own category, for those who are competing for the first time. LGBT IPC is very committed towards reaching out to sections of the community that are under-represented in the sport.
Speaking about the confirmation of Powerlifting for the Gay Games in 2022, Chris Morgan, Gay Games Ambassador and Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union said …
“We are delighted with discussions that have taken place and the LGBT Powerlifting Union have agreed to assist the next Gay Games host city Hong Kong to deliver and promote their Powerlifting event. Of course we are disappointed not to have been able to participate in these Gay Games in Paris, but we are looking forward and growing stronger as a group each year ahead of the next Gay Games in Hong Kong”.
And about the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships in Blackpool 2019 he continued …
“Next year our own event “LGBT International Powerlifting Championships” will be in Blackpool, the most LGBT and in particular Trans Friendly town in the UK. We have confirmed a fantastic new venue and have a fresh and exciting new programme of events and activities. Next year’s focus will be on development and outreach, with more detailed information about this released in the coming months”.
The choice of the seaside town of Blackpool as our host town will give us the opportunity of doubling our participation levels over the next two years as the town has an abundance of high quality, low cost accommodation. Athletes from all over the world will find Blackpool a very affordable place to stay and easy to access as they will be able to take the one hour fast train directly from Manchester International Airport straight into the Gay Village in the centre of Blackpool.
Blackpool 2019 will be happening 19th – 21st July 2019 and the provisional programme currently includes Coaching Clinic, Technical Briefing, Competition, Social Evening, Congress, Outreach Workshop and Closing Party at the World Renowned “Funny Girls Cabaret”. Blackpool 2019 will give the opportunity to build our participation numbers and provide a very safe host town environment for all of our Trans, Non Binary and Intersex participants.
In the build up to Blackpool 2019 the LGBT Powerlifting Union are planning Workshops in the North(Blackpool) and South (London) and more details about these will follow soon. There will also be more LGBT Powerlifting workshops and seminars planned in the USA and these will be announced soon. Within the Congress the LGBT Powerlifting Union received provisional bids and expressions of interest to host future LGBT IPC events from Atlanta, USA and Munich, Germany. More information about these will follow soon.
The LGBT Powerlifting Union would like to thank the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) for their advice and support over the last two year’s which has made the re-entry of Powerlifting to the Gay Games In Hong Kong possible. We look forward to continuing dialogue and building representation within FGG over this next quadrennial cycle and making the sport of Powerlifting accessible to as many LGBT people as possible.
LGBT IPC weekend has a full programme of activities including a Novices Coaching Clinic & Technical Briefing (Friday 19th July), Competition (Saturday 20th July), Congress (Sunday 21st July) and Closing Party (Sunday 21st July). Visit www.lgbtpowerlifting.org for more details.
LGBT IPC 2019 will welcomes Trans men or Trans women who have decided to transition– who will be 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 2019 event.
The sport of Powerlifting was part of the programme 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 Out games 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.combut has now been confirmed to be returning in Hong Kong in 2022. www.gaygameshk2022.comThe Federation of Gay Games website can be found at www.gaygames.org
Key People – Biographies
Chris Morgan: Male Co-President, LGBT Powerlifting Union
Chris has been one of the UK’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 nine 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 five 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 once each at European and World level. Charlotte was the recipient of the LGBT IPC “Spirit Award” at this year’s 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.
Dates have been confirmed for LGBT IPC 2019 with press information and media interviews to follow over the next week or two.
Thank you to all those who attended LGBT IPC in 2017 and 2018 in London, next year we are going to be in the most LGBT and Trans friendly seaside town in the UK.
The LGBT Powerlifting Union are a group of athletes, with focus on giving LGBT Powerlifters representation with both mainstream and LGBT Sports organisations.
We have recently been negotiating with the Federation of Gay Games about inclusion of Powerlifting in Gay Games XI in Guadalajara, Mexico.
We have also been helping mainstream organisations create their LGBT+ and Trans policies, to make sure they are as inclusive and fair as possible.
LGBT IPC
The LGBT International Powerlifting Championships are currently organised by “The Union”. They are competitive championships, designed to encourage LGBT+ Participation in the sport and welcome everyone.
We currently offer Novice, Closed, Open categories for participants, which gives LGBT+ athletes as much choice as possible to compete. (See competition rules for more details of this).
LGBT IPC started in 2017 and in 2018 was the first sports event in the world to offer an MX third gender category, welcoming Trans, Non Binary and Intersex athletes to compete. The LGBT IPC in 2022 will also have an MX Category !
In 2019 LGBT took place in Blackpool, UK and In 2022 LGBT IPC took take place in Manchester, UK . We look forward to welcoming you at future LGBTPU events.
