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since OutUK were main sponsors of the biggest gay sporting
event in the UK during 2004 - The Bingham Cup.
First held in San Francisco in 2002, it was and still is a prestigious international rugby competition predominantly for gay and bisexual men, named in remembrance of Mark Bingham, one of the heroic victims of 9/11. Going back to 2004, here's the original announcement of OutUK's involvement: |
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| A keen rugby player who played for one of the US's leading gay rugby teams, Mark Bingham was one of the group of passengers who overpowered the hijackers on Flight 93, bringing the plane down before it could hit its intended target, believed to be The White House. | |
| The Bingham Cup's being held at London's Esher RFC ground on the May Bank Holiday Weekend 28th-31st May. It's expected to attract around 600 participants from teams from Argentina to Canada to Australia, with thousands of spectators. Belying its macho image, Rugby Union is one of the least homophobic of all sports. |
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London's
gay and bisexual club the Kings Cross Steelers has existed since 1995 and has been
playing straight teams in the English leagues for 4 years. In 2002 it was one of
just eight sides to receive a Team Of The Month award from the rugby establishment.
Scott Burch, Bingham Cup Sponsorship Director says "It's great to welcome OutUK as one of the sponsors of The Bingham Cup. This is going to the world's largest Amateur 15-a-side Rugby Union event after the World Cup, and we're all looking forward to a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend of international rugby at the end of May. OutUK has a reputation for supporting major gay cultural and sporting events, and it's thanks to them and all our sponsors that this event has been made possible here in the UK." Mike Gray, OutUK Editor, says support for events like The Bingham Cup is important for a host of reasons: "OutUK has always made a policy of supporting major events that challenge the wider community to rethink their stereotypical or even homophobic views of the gay community. It's even more vital now that everyone stands up to be counted after all the recent terrorist assaults on our democratic rights with the aim of putting the clock back not decades but centuries. The Bingham Cup will also be a great sporting and fun event and we're delighted to be a part of it." We'll be keeping you up to date with all the news and background to The Bingham Cup, and you can get full details right now on The Bingham Cup website www.binghamcup.com. To commemorate this anniversary we present items from the OutUK Outback Archive which reflect the events of 9/11 and its aftermath.
Results and pictures from the 2004 Bingham Cup |