Our Picks

Now, more than ever, the Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation (GLRF) is essential as a safe space for rowers, coxies, coaches, and race officials.  As an individual membership online community, GLRF offers a continuous connection between members of the LGBTQ rowing community and clubs, programmes, organizations and vendors in the broader rowing community.
 
We want to highlight a powerful tool on our community platform: the Share A Link feature.  It provides an opportunity for LGBTQ rowers and supportive allies to promote rowing clubs or programmes, and other rowing-related entities that genuinely support acceptance and inclusion. The goal is to help both GLRF members and website visitors to find a rowing home, vendors, and other resources where they can trust they will feel welcomed and comfortable in their identity.
 
Every Share A Link listing provides a descriptive text space to describe the club or programme, vendor, or organization and any supportive language for LGBTQ acceptance and inclusion. Share A Link users can search by categories, geography, and by tags, helping them find an accepting space to row and participate in the sport.  The categories, covering all aspects of the rowing experience, include: 
Clubs & Programmes Open Ocean Race Teams Boat, Oar, and Erg Manufacturers Rowing Retailers National and Regional Rowing Federations/Associations Rowing Resources Training and Fitness Resources Rowing 101  
Representatives of LGBTQ-inclusive clubs and programmes, vendors, and organizations are welcome to add a link for their entity.   
 
Why does this matter now?
 
The current political climate, the assault on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and programmes, and threats against LGBTQ participation in sports in the United States will (among many other things) make it harder for LGBTQ individuals to find places where they can feel comfortable and safe, and for organizations to express support for the LGBTQ community. 
 
Although we believe there is an urgent need to show support from the North American rowing community, it is equally important for this resource to be built out worldwide. We call on the global rowing community to support our Share A Link feature.  With robust input from both the LGBTQ rowing community and allies, Share A Link will be a powerful tool.
  
The Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation isn’t just for LGBTQ individuals.  We warmly welcome allies.  Our registration system doesn’t ask anyone’s sexual orientation, just a person’s gender identity. Belonging to the Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation helps expand our network and strengthen our community.
 
Registering with GLRF is free, as is adding Share A Link listings (you must register to be able to add to Share A Link).
 
If your club or programme is a strong proponent for LGBTQ inclusion, why isn’t your link listed?

Seat Search as a concept began at the 1998 Gay Games when the WHOars needed a coxie for their 8+ and 4+.  With the launch of Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation website in 2003, we offered a Seat Search feature for featured regattas.  The idea of using a database was not really feasible for the website tools we were using at the time so the capabilities were limited.
 
Fast forward to December 2024 and now Rower Seat Search and Club Seat Search is a default feature in any Regattas+ listing.  For example, if a GLRF member added the Head of the Yarra in Melbourne as a Regattas+ listing, a rower could submit a seat search to race in a boat, and a rowing club or program could list a Club Seat Search for an opening in their boat maybe for a cox or for 6-seat.
 
What’s the difference between a Rower Seat Search and a Club Seat Search? For a rower whose club is not going to a regatta or who wants to race in more than just one entry, the Rower Seat Search helps a rower announce that they are looking for an open seat in a race.  For a club or program that perhaps wants to enter two races but only has rowers for one boat and is short one or more for a second race, the Club Seat Search helps a to fill a boat.
 
Each Seat Search entry leverages the GLRF member profile to display key rower and coxie profile of data that is important for filling a boat.  The Seat Search feature provides for three categories: sweep, scull, and cox.  Seat Searches can be made for each category, “rower looking for …” and “club seeking a …” 
 
If this was available in 1998, the WHOars would have submitted a Club Seat Search for a coxie.
 
Regattas+ is part of the Gay + Lesbian Rowing Federation community platform that enables members to add their own regattas, ergattas, and rowing camps/clinics.  Every Regattas+ listing creates community for LGBTQ rowers by providing a RSVP-like members going feature, comments feature, upload files, and share images. 
 
Whether it is the Head of the Mississippi regatta or the Covered Bridge regatta or a Eurogames regatta, GLRF is helping to create community among LGBTQ+ rowers.
 
Of course, allies can join GLRF and add a Regattas+ listing.  GLRF doesn’t ask anyone’s sexual orientation.

2025 Sin City Erg Regular Registration Deadline Regattas+ Seat Search feature is now active
GLRF membership drive – refer rowers and earn a free t-shirt
Last Chance for Lifetime recurring OnTheWater fee
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Share A Link - an international database of inclusive rowing clubs