“IT was high heels and hairspray at the starting line for Scotland’s first Gay 5K” starts the Scottish Herald article on a gay fun run that had a serious message.
Local heroines Miss Bellahouston and Vanity Von Glow added a flash of glamour to the event, which got off the blocks in Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow last night in a bid to promote sport and better health to the gay community.
Tom Lusk, race promoter and community development officer for Gay Men’s Health, said: “Many people in the gay community do not feel welcome or respected within a sporting environment and are often put off participating in sport at an early age.”
He said organisers want everyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (LGBT) to get involved in activities that promote self awareness and self-worth “so that people get into healthy habits”.
Mr Lusk said he also wanted the race to help break the taboo of gay sportsmen, adding that nobody in the broader sporting community took up a request to support the Gay 5K.He added: “I think that tells us something. We would have ideally liked people from football clubs to come down and support the event and that is an indicator that Scotland isn’t quite there yet and not in the 21st century. In England you have got cricketers coming out and in Sweden you have got footballers coming out, but not in this country.”
Green MSP Patrick Harvie was one of around 170 runners taking part in last night’s event.
He told The Herald: “This race is a way of bringing the LGBT community together somewhere that is not the pub. I used to work in gay men’s health and lots of outreach events were done in pubs. This was what a lot of the gay scene and the social life revolved around. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is a slightly less healthy lifestyle.”
There is some research to suggest that gay men are more susceptible to heart disease and various cancers due to higher rates of smoking, drinking and drug use.
Simon Young, 36, a consultant anaesthetist, set up Glasgow Frontrunners club for the gay community last year.
He said: “People in the LGBT community often go to gyms themselves but they maybe don’t socialise with the people there. It can be quite a lonely activity. What we are doing is showing that you can be gay and you can be into sport.”
Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon sent a message of support. She said: “I believe it is the first of its kind in Scotland and is not only positively promoting inclusion, but is also focusing on people staying active, raising their awareness of health issues and getting involved in their community.”
Miss Bellahouston and Vanity Von Glow cheered on the runners as they set off through Kelvingrove Park, but did not take part themselves – Ms Von Glow said she would never wear flat shoes.
Miss Bellahouston added: “Sport can be a very macho scene. It’s good that people can come here and do what they enjoy in a safe environment.”
ALISON CAMPSIE slightly arrogant and homophobic reporting in the Herald Scotland.
Gay 5K race gives a vital health lesson - Herald Scotland | News | Home News
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