First Interview For Sweat Magazine

I was assigned a very interesting article to write for Sweat Magazine on an all gay rugby team in Toronto called the Muddy York. The Muddy York was established four years ago and has an active roster of about twenty players.

Yesterday was my first interview with the team. I showed up to their practice completely unexpectedly and nonetheless I was welcomed with open arms. The members of the team were friendly and very willing to share their thoughts about being an all gay rugby team.

I learned that the team plays in two unions. IGRAB which is in the International Gay Rugby Association Board and for the Toronto Rugby Union which has only straight teams.

My ignorance made me think that these players would be teased and would face hard ships playing an all contact sport against straight men. I was shocked to learn otherwise.

The players all said that there has never been an incident of discrimination between the teams since they were formed and that the straight teams play against them like they would play against any other team. "We come out here for the sport and so do they," said the coach for the Muddy York.

I was even more surprised to learn that the assistant coach is a lesbian. In the gay community lesbians and gay men are often segregated, but when it came to sports they all unite.

The men were friendly that they invited me to have a few drinks with them after their next practice on Thursday so that we can talk in a more social setting. I gladly accepted their invitation.

I learned a lot from my brief interview with a few of the players. To men and to women sport is sport, its all a battle, whether you are gay or straight its a battle.