LGBTQ+ athletic clubs are n’t too hard to come by, offering a variety of sports such as softball, soccer and more in cities across the country. However, it would be harder for LGBTQ+ sports to locate a location for kingspolo. That’s where Chip McKenney comes in.
Founded in 2006, the Wellington, Florida- based Gay Polo League ( GPL) is the world’s leading shirt organization for LGBTQ+ players. What started out as a specific area fascination for McKinney quickly spread to 15 nations and the almost 15-year history of its premier International Gay Polo Tournament, forming a queer athletes’ group all over the world.
Up almost 20 years before, McKenney’s fine horse had to be retired. A dedicated knight through his involvement in showjumping, this transform left a space in McKenny’s existence. Because he did n’t frequently go to clubs or gyms, which are the stereotypical places where gay men hang out, he also realized how small his network is of LGBTQ+ people is. He subsequently attended a few events put on by various Los Angeles LGBTQ+ organizations, but those ended up being people just just standing around talking, which was n’t what he was looking for.
One McKenney knew at this time suggested that he get polo lessons. He traveled to Santa Barbara for an adult training despite not having been on a mare for six months and knowing nothing about the game at this time.
I sat down the horses and looked at the trainer, and I sat down halfway through the lessons, and I sat down. This is a wonderful sport for Transgender people, and I’m going to begin a homosexual polo league,'” he said. ” And that’s how it all started”.
McKenney said that his analysis came to the conclusion that the sport is both historically and uniquely special. He claimed that polo “feels pretty special” to watch and participate in because of its strong beliefs and ability to be played anywhere in the world.
He called two friends to come up with him for a session the following week on the way home. This grew into a standard gathering in the upcoming months, bringing in even more attendees. After their performing time, they began having outings where they could stay and watch actual game. McKenney later began planning group-specific events. One of the first ones,” Gay for a Day,” allowed players to take someone from any neighborhood.
The team’s promotion increased. McKenney created a site, began organizing hospitals, and all just kept expanding. Today, the league has members and multiple tournaments worldwide, including its flagship GPL Tournamentwhich McKenney described as” the love child between Burning Man and Pretty Woman” in Wellington, the United States ‘ top polo location.
” My major goal was to do an occasion in Florida, in Wellington”, he said. ” We arrived in 2010 and we had this occasion, which was really well received. Strong ahead, and we’ve been competing for the first time in North America every month.
Hosting an LGBTQ+ function in Florida is no little problem in today’s political culture. GPL has obviously faced controversy and criticism for the continuation of activities in Florida because the condition has some of the state’s strictest anti-LGBT+ laws in the nation. McKenney said he will continue to work in the position as a way to challenge the state’s LGBTQ+ population.
If GPL were to ever leave the state, it would be because they feel they’ve done all they could do it, no because they’re wary, Mckenney said.
” If something, it’s more important than ever to be here because I feel like I’m in the abdomen of the creature at days”, he explained. What I’ve learned from that is that having a little more sincerity and a little more faith in the value of being noticeable are both important.
The International GPL Tournament even includes more than just shirt. Additionally, there is a GPL Polotini Wigstock party, where attendees get together to socialize and raise money, and an extremely complex and ridiculous tailgate. The following portion typically involves a theme and quite inventive guests, which has historically included people who have created an aircraft cabin with airline seats and hiring a string quartet to perform for a Titanic-themed set.
Being a part of GPL is one of Gus Larrosa’s favorite aspects of having fun and welcoming society. A local of Buenos Aires, Argentina, he first heard of the group when they came to play it in 2016. Before joining the GPL, he had been a polo player for years and had spent his entire life on his mother’s plantation.
Almost a century later, he’s also involved in the leagueand is also married to McKenney.
Larrosa stopped playing dynamic sports when he was younger and accepting his sexual preference. He claimed that meet GPL members altered his life, enabling him to share his story and expertise with others in similar circumstances, and also giving him the confidence to speak out about his family.
You may feel the energy in GPL, where you start to learn a lot about the people and their history, Larrosa said. It’s really important to demonstrate that you can be gay, play a sport, and do n’t feel like doing anything different when you begin to share and perhaps others will help you or you can help another person. You can be a professional”.
What started out as a fun way for McKenney to find his sport correct turned out to be something much bigger and more extensive. He claimed that his main focus has been on presenting LGBTQ athletes to the world as major athletes, and that activism and polo have become his areas of responsibility.
When I realized we had a program, I began to consider how we could use it to benefit and support the lesbian community, which has given so much to both me and others,” McKenney said.
At various occasions, the organization raises money for charity companions, with contributions coming from both local and national organizations. The Elton John AIDS Foundation reached out to the group to discuss its involvement ahead of the 2024 International GPL, and it has since become the tournament’s standard generosity.
Because of his sport-related fandom, McKenney wanted to work with charitable organizations and promote neighborhood engagement at his events. He was a child when there were no clear LGBTQ+ athletes. He said that, yet today, the picture of LGBTQ+ people in athletics also has a long way to proceed.
A GPL fit, according to McKenney, would be the kind of event where your mother and children could go and have fun. Additionally, the GPL welcomes supporters to enjoy.
” We have people of all unique skill rates”, McKenney said. Our youngest player is 22 years old, and our oldest player is 76.” We have people of all different ages and sizes. We do n’t have those qualifiers. What we do is we welcome everyone, and our culture is one of encouragement and support”.
