GLRF becomes inaugural member of new sports association

The Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation became one of the inaugural members of the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) when the GLRF application for membership was approved by the GLISA board. GLRF was admitted as an International Sports Federation. Membership in GLISA is comprised of three categories: International Sports Federations, Continental Sports Association, and Host Cities.

The GLRF Board of Directors decided to submit an application for membership as an International Sports Federation because it saw an opportunity to shape the direction and future of this new sports organization. Additionally, membership is appropriate because part of the mission of GLRF is to promote international sports competition. Since GLISA licenses the new World Outgames, which features an international rowing regatta, it follows that membership in GLISA would be goof for gay and lesbian rowing.

One of the key features of this new sports association is the creation and maintenance of a quadrennial sports calendar. This concept is key to further developing gay and lesbian sports. The idea is to encourage sports competitions at every level: local, regional, national, and international, in a sequential manner. Athletes will now have a structured, scheduled set of competitions that will act to develop and improve their performance through regularly scheduled events.