Atralia To Host 2023 World Gay Boxg Champnships – DNA

Contents:

• THIS GAY BOXER FACED ATH TWICE, AND ME OUT SWGG ON THE OTHER SI
• FIRST EVER WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS KICKS OFF NEW ERA OF LGBTQ+ SPORT
• CATCHG UP WH MART STARK AND THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS
• ATRALIA TO HOST 2023 WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS
• THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS LOOK TO ‘DISPT’ HOMOPHOBIA SPORTS
• MART STARK ON ANISG WORLD'S FIRST GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS AND PLANS TO 'DISPT' DISCRIMATN
• ATRALIAN FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA SPORT WH WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS
• NO HOLDS BARRED: MART STARK ON WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS
• ATRALIAN FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA WH WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS
• UNR THE RG SUBSCRIBESIGN {"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","URL":","MAENTYOFPAGE":","HEADLE":"8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023 ","SCRIPTN":"THE GURAL WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS (WGBC FOR SHORT) HAS BEGUN S PLANNG PROCS TO HOLD THE EVENT FOR THE FIRST 2023 AT SYDNEY, ATRALIA.","IMAGE":[{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":"}],"DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-12-18T12:40:16+00:00","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-12-18T12:40:16+00:00","ISACCSIBLEFORFREE":TE,"THOR":[{"@TYPE":"PERSON","NAME":"BENJAM THOMAS WATT","URL":","SCRIPTN":"BENJAM WATT IS WELL KNOWN TO ALL HAS ONE OF THE LEADG EXPERTS NEW ZEALAND BOXG. HE IS A MAN OF MANY JOBS CLUDG, FIRST OPENLY GAY BOXG JUDGE, BOXG WRER, BOXG MENTATOR, WIKIPEDIA EDOR AND BACKSTAGE EVENT ORDATOR.","INTIFIER":"ER:24688534","SAMEAS":["],"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"}}],"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"UNR THE RG ","URL":","SCRIPTN":"HERE ARE BENJAM THOMAS WATT BOXG NEWS H OUT OF NEW ZEALAND.","TERACTNSTATISTIC":{"@TYPE":"INTERACTNCOUNTER","NAME":"SUBSCRIBERS","TERACTNTYPE":","ERINTERACTNCOUNT":1},"INTIFIER":"PUB:620058","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"},"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"},"SAMEAS":["]}}SHARE THIS POST8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023 COPY LKFACEBOOKEMAILNOTOTHER8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023
• WHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSBOXG HAS LONG HAD THE STEREOTYPE OF BEG A ROUGH, MACHO AND ABRASIVE SPORT. BUT FOR MEMBERS OF THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY SUCH AS MART STARK, 'S SOMETHG THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLS OF SEXUALY OR GENR INTY.WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS DIRECTOR MART STARK. SOURCE: SBS NEWSIT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT MART STARK HAS THE NATE SPIR OF A FIGHTER.HE'S FT ON HIS FEET WH THE GLOV ON AS HE SPARS WH HIS TRAER AT THE F FIGHTERS CLUB SYDNEY'S BONDI JUNCTN. BUT THE OPENLY GAY AMATR BOXER'S BIGGT FIGHT HAS BEEN OUT OF THE RG, TENSIVE RE WARDS. STARK HAS ADDISON’S DISEASE, AN TOIMMUNE NDN THAT'S LED TO MULTIPLE HEALTH SR, CLUDG PANCREATIS, LLAPSED LUNGS, A TRACHEOSTOMY, AND TWO DUCED AS.FOLLOWG A FOUR-MONTH HOSPAL STAY 2006, HE HAD ANOTHER NEAR-ATH EXPERIENCE AT THE END OF 2017, WHICH LEFT HIM TRMATISED.MART STARK HOSPAL 2017 SOURCE: SUPPLIED/MART STARKBUT THE ORAL ALSO LED TO HIM PICKG UP THE GLOV FOR THE FIRST TIME 2018.“AS A WAY OF REALLY BATG THE POST-TRMATIC STRS DISORR, I HAD A FEW SELF-FENCE CLASS. THE SEND CLASS JT HAPPENED TO BE BOXG,” HE SAID.HAVG ONCE VIEWED AS “BARBARIC”, STARK NOW CREDS THE SPORT WH HELPG HIS PHYSIL AND MENTAL REVERY.BUT AS A GAY MAN, 'S THE AFFIRMG MUNY AROUND THE SPORT THAT'S REALLY HELPED SPIRE HIM.  “I'VE FOUND BOXG VERY CLIVE AND WELG,” HE SAID."I THK THERE'S A LOT OF FOC ON THE ELE SPORT, THE PROFSNAL SPORT. BUT REALLY SPORT IS ABOUT THAT GRASSROOTS MUNY AMATR LEVEL, AND I SAY BOXG IS ABSOLUTELY THRIVG AND WE HAVE PEOPLE PASSNATE TO WANT TO GET VOLVED THE SPORT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE."STARK HAD ASPIRATNS TO PETE AT THE NEXT GAY GAM, SCHLED TO BE HELD HONG KONG 2023, BUT WAS LEFT DISAPPOTED WHEN BOXG WAS DROPPED OM THE LP.SO HE STEAD BEGAN WORK PLANNG THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS, A TOURNAMENT SIGNED TO SHOWSE THE SPORT AS WELG TO ALL GENRS AND SEXUALI, WH THE AIM OF GROWG S POPULARY THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY."WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JT SHOW THAT LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLI BELONG THE RG AND N BE WORLD BOXG CHAMPNS, N BE OLYMPIC CHAMPNS, AND N BE VOLVED THE SPORT WHICH I LOVE,” STARK SAID.MART STARK WH THE BOARD OF THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS. SOURCE: SUPPLIED/MART STARKWH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF LLEAGU, THE WGBC IS NOW SET UP AS A NOT-FOR-PROF ANISATN WH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.THE GROUP HAS THE BACKG OF ERNG BODI ATRALIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY WORLD BOXG COUNCIL PRINT MRIC SULAIMáN AND BCE SILVERGLAD, THE OWNER OF THE HISTORIC GLEASON'S GYM NEW YORK, WHERE MUHAMMAD ALI ONCE TRAED.MORE THAN 70 PETORS OM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE EXPRSED TERT TAKG PART THE EVENT, WH THE FIRST MEET LOCKED FEBARY 2023 AT SYDNEY'S RANDWICK RACEURSE, CIDG WH THE CY HOSTG THE WORLD PRI EVENT.AND STARK EXPECTS TO BE JT AS LOURFUL, FLAMBOYANT, GLTERY AND PROUD AS THE LIK OF MARDI GRAS. “LGBTQ+ PEOPLE PUT ON THE BT EVENTS ON THE PLA. IMAGE WHAT WE’RE GOG TO DO WH BOXG!”CONQUERG ANXIETYONE OF THE FIGHTERS HOPG TO STEP TO THE RG AT THE 2023 WGBC EVENT, SHN JABS ACROSS AS A SOFTLY SPOKEN, GENTLE FIGURE.BUT AS SOON AS THE GLOV E ON, HE’S AN TIMIDATG FORCE WH PLENTY OF PUNCH BEHD HIS HOOKS.LIKE STARK, JABS IS A RECENT VOTEE OF BOXG, PICKG UP THE DISCIPLE TO HELP OVERE HIS FEELGS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY AND PRSN."BOXG BROUGHT ME OUT OF MY SHELL AND ACTUALLY MA ME MORE NFINT. BEE IS SUCH A SOMETIM -YOUR-FACE SPORT, YOU HAVE TO KD OF STEP OUTSI YOUR FORT ZONE,” HE SAID."IT PH ME TO MY LIMS, BUT A GOOD WAY."SHN JABS AT THE CORPORATE FIGHTER GYM SURRY HILLS SOURCE: SBS NEWSJABS GREW UP THE ASTAL TOWN OF GISBORNE ON NEW ZEALAND’S NORTH ISLAND, WHERE HE ADMS HE WASN’T FORTABLE BEG OUT UNTIL HE MOVED AWAY.BUT NOW LIVG PROUDLY AS A GAY MAN, HE’S FOUND SOME OF HIS BIGGT SUPPORT THE BOXG RG HAS E OM HIS HOMETOWN.“IT JT SHOWS THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS LOVG SUPPORT THERE THE WHOLE TIME,” HE SAID.“LAST TIME I WENT BACK, PEOPLE STOPPED ME THE STREET TO SAY THEY WATCHED THE FIGHT, WHICH WAS A REAL NICE THG, AND JT SHOWS THAT YOU’RE A LOT MORE ACCEPTED THE MUNY [THAN YOU MAY THK].”JABS IS NOW TRAG TWICE A DAY AT THE CORPORATE FIGHTERS CLUB SYDNEY'S SURRY HILLS, AHEAD OF ANOTHER BOUT DECEMBER, WHERE HE’LL BE RAISG FUNDS FOR BEYONDBLUE AND THE WGBC.SHN JABS THE RG DURG HIS LAST BOUT. SOURCE: SUPPLIED/SHN JABSTHE 33-YEAR-OLD SAID HIS OWN EXPERIENC THE BOXG MUNY HAVE BEEN POSIVE, FDG AN OPEN AND ACCEPTG ENVIRONMENT AT HIS CLUB.BUT HE ADMS FOR MANY OTHERS THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY THE SPORT - DOMATED AT THE ELE LEVEL BY A MACHO, ABRASIVE CULTURE - N SEEM TIMIDATG.“I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE AREN'T TOO MANY GAY BOXERS OUT THERE JT BEE OF THE FEAR OF JOG SUCH A WHAT IS SCRIBED AS A MASCULE SPORT. I THK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGT BARRIER,” HE SAID.“A LOT OF MY IENDS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND OTHER PEOPLE THE MUNY, WANTG TO JO BOXG, BUT ARE TOO SRED TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.”HE'S NOW GOT PLANS TO START A LOL CLUB AS A SAFE AND WELG SPACE FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLI.“WE'RE HOPG JT TO GET MORE PEOPLE EVEN, YOU KNOW, TO DO A CLASS ON THE SPORT, JT TO SEE THAT IS NOT AS SRY AS WHAT IS PUT OUT THERE SOMETIM."CHANGG ATTUSACROSS ELE MEN’S SPORT, THERE ARE STILL ONLY A HANDFUL OF ATHLET WHO HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT INTIFYG AS BEG PART OF THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY, AND FEWER STILL WHO HAVE FELT FORTABLE DISCLOSG SUCH TAILS OF THEIR PERSONAL LIV WHILE ACTIVELY PETG ON THE FIELD.BUT THERE IS EVINCE THAT IS SLOWLY BEG EASIER TO BE OPEN.WHEN ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO ME OUT AS THE FIRST OPENLY-GAY ACTIVE MALE FOOTBALLER LAST MONTH, HE RECEIVED WISPREAD SUPPORT OM AROUND THE WORLD.READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSOTHER ATHLET ARE ALSO CREASGLY SHOWG THEIR SUPPORT AS ALLI TO THE MUNY."I THK HEARTS AND MDS ARE CHANGG. THERE’S BEEN MORE VISIBLE ALLYSHIP, THANKFULLY … WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THAT,” STARK SAID.“[BUT] THERE ARE STILL HIGH LEVELS OF HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM SPORT, PECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.”COMBATG THAT, HE SAID, REQUIR A “REAL FOC” ON CHANGG ATTUS AT THE GRASSROOTS AMATR LEVEL, “BEE THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CHANGE HAPPENS.”“ONCE WE START MAKG THOSE DIFFERENC, WE’RE GOG TO SEE MORE [SUPPORT] AT THE ELE LEVEL,” HE SAID.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 15 NOVEMBER 2021 9:28AMBY NAVEEN RAZIKSOURCE: SBS NEWSTAGSSPORTATRALIASHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHARETOPICS
• JAGUARS ASSISTANT KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH MAJOR MEN'S PRO SPORTS TO INTIFY AS GAY

THIS GAY BOXER FACED ATH TWICE, AND ME OUT SWGG ON THE OTHER SI

On this week’s edn of Outsports’ “The Sports Kiki, ” I spoke wh Stark about his spirg journey, and visn for his groundbreakg event, the World Gay Boxg Champnships. That’s the kd of experience Stark wants to provi 200-some-odd athlet at the World Gay Boxg Champnships. Why don’t I create an anizatn lled the World Gay Boxg Champnships and hold a tournament for the LGBTQIA+ muny and our alli, and really dispt homophobia, transphobia, and brg the boxg muny together for the love of the sport.

Our managg edor of sports, David “Dirk” Smh recently ught up wh the founr and anizer of the World Gay Boxg Champnships, Mart Stark. You jt hosted the first World Gay Boxg Champnships back Febary durg World Pri Sydney, how did that go? For example, I reached out to Boxg Atralia 2020 and wh two weeks of me ntactg them their board voted to support the World Gay Boxg Champnships and they provid the stutnal guidance and support for everythg that we need.

DS: I noticed the grassroots level is really where we’ve been able to see a lot of change and progrs, not jt for LGBTQ+ athlet and LGBTQ+ sports, but how grassroots clive sports like the World Gay Boxg Champnships and other events have ma a broar impact on our muny and our society terms of makg progrs and buildg awarens and tn for LGBTQ+ cln, not jt sports, but wh our society as a whole. DS: You’ve been very proactive reachg out and ntactg the natnal erng body and the state erng body but also athlet, anizers, and profsnals om all over the world to help you fd support and promote the World Gay Boxg champnships. 3% believe homophobia is a problem boxg, almost 90% the same for transphobia, 40% have experienced some form of homophobia wherever they tra and pete.

FIRST EVER WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS KICKS OFF NEW ERA OF LGBTQ+ SPORT

I believe ’s nsistent wh other studi on experienc homophobia and transphobia sport.

CATCHG UP WH MART STARK AND THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS

Where n people nnect wh you and the World Gay Boxg Champnships on social media webs?

Our sports edor, Dirk Smh ught up wh Mart Stark who is by anizg and promotg the first ever World Gay Boxg Champnships set to take place 2023.

ATRALIA TO HOST 2023 WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS

Dirk Smh: Tell more about the World Gay Boxg Champnships; when/where they will be held, who’s ved, etc.

Dirk: What is the missn of the World Gay Boxg Champnships? I want to give somethg back to the sport and dispt homophobia, transphobia etc. Dirk: Wh more tablished LGBTQ+ Sports anizatns such as the Internatnal Gay Rugby, Internatnal LGBT Aquatics that help anize LGBTQ+ sport for events like Gay Gam, S Cy Classic and others.

THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS LOOK TO ‘DISPT’ HOMOPHOBIA SPORTS

Do you hope to grow World Gay Boxg along a siar path to brg boxg at the foreont of LGBTQ+ sports? I want boxg back the Gay Gam. Dirk: Is there anythg you’d like to share wh our rears about the World Gay Boxg Champnships?

Dirk: Thank you Mart and we n’t wa for the World Gay Boxg Champnships! We dispt homophobia, transphobia and hatred through creasg LGBTQIA+ cln and participatn.

There will be Atralian and ternatnal boxers petg the over five INTERVIEWWGBC CEO, Mart Stark, speaks to CNN on disptg homophobia, transphobia and hatred. As well, many succsful boxers e om margalized groups racially or enomilly, so the risk to their standg om homophobic abe simply has no impact on them. The World Gay Boxg Champnships, anized by Atralian boxer Mart Stark, will premiere at the 2022 World Pri Sydney, Atralia.

MART STARK ON ANISG WORLD'S FIRST GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS AND PLANS TO 'DISPT' DISCRIMATN

If all go as planned, 2023 will be a big year for Atralia, and the world LGBT boxg muny when the first ever World Gay Boxg Champnships, kicks off. The event is the ia of Mart Stark, an openly gay boxer, who saw an opportuny after learng that boxg formed part of the 2018 Gay Gam.

“Last year I was hospal and got thkg about an ia to hold a World Gay Boxg Champnships, and I’ve received enormo support sce. Stark said he also hop to grow the sport among Atralia’s LGBTIQ muny as there is currently no gay boxg club the untry.

ATRALIAN FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA SPORT WH WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS

“There are LGBTIQ clubs the UK, Ameri, Germany, and Canada, ” Stark said, “One of the first out LGBTQI world champnship boxg refere is a gay man om New Zealand. When talkg about the small Sydney gay boxg group, Stark said the group meet every Saturday and wele others who want to jo. Stark also said the gay gby team, Sydney Convicts, have also been supportive and helpful brgg their experience hostg the Bgham Cup 2014 and buildg a club.

NO HOLDS BARRED: MART STARK ON WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS

Follow the World Gay Boxg Champnships on Facebook, Twter, LkedIn or Instagram for rmatn on how to jo. Now, Stark is an avid amatr boxer and the bras behd the newly created World Gay Boxg Champnships.

The World Gay Boxg Champnships event aims to crease LGBTQ participatn the sport through the tular event and a seri of satelle activi cludg LGBTQ fight nights. He “disvered a passn immediately” for the sport, a rehg moment for an out gay man who admtedly was “the last one to be picked” other team sports. World Gay Boxg Champnships.

He set his sights on boxg the Gay Gam, but the sport’s removal om s lp phed Stark down a path to empower other LGBTQ people terted the sport the same way empowered him.

ATRALIAN FIGHTS HOMOPHOBIA WH WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS

Homophobia exists sport, but sometim we have to dispt that by beg part of the sport, ” Stark said.

UNR THE RG SUBSCRIBESIGN {"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","URL":","MAENTYOFPAGE":","HEADLE":"8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023 ","SCRIPTN":"THE GURAL WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS (WGBC FOR SHORT) HAS BEGUN S PLANNG PROCS TO HOLD THE EVENT FOR THE FIRST 2023 AT SYDNEY, ATRALIA.","IMAGE":[{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":"}],"DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-12-18T12:40:16+00:00","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-12-18T12:40:16+00:00","ISACCSIBLEFORFREE":TE,"THOR":[{"@TYPE":"PERSON","NAME":"BENJAM THOMAS WATT","URL":","SCRIPTN":"BENJAM WATT IS WELL KNOWN TO ALL HAS ONE OF THE LEADG EXPERTS NEW ZEALAND BOXG. HE IS A MAN OF MANY JOBS CLUDG, FIRST OPENLY GAY BOXG JUDGE, BOXG WRER, BOXG MENTATOR, WIKIPEDIA EDOR AND BACKSTAGE EVENT ORDATOR.","INTIFIER":"ER:24688534","SAMEAS":["],"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"}}],"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"UNR THE RG ","URL":","SCRIPTN":"HERE ARE BENJAM THOMAS WATT BOXG NEWS H OUT OF NEW ZEALAND.","TERACTNSTATISTIC":{"@TYPE":"INTERACTNCOUNTER","NAME":"SUBSCRIBERS","TERACTNTYPE":","ERINTERACTNCOUNT":1},"INTIFIER":"PUB:620058","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"},"IMAGE":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","NTENTURL":","THUMBNAILURL":"},"SAMEAS":["]}}SHARE THIS POST8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023 COPY LKFACEBOOKEMAILNOTOTHER8/01/2021 FIRST-EVER WORLD GAY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR 2023

Can you image a straight guy sayg I am the world gay boxg champn, ” Stark said wh a chortle. If ntu, I don’t want to be bee we still have homophobia and transphobia sport.

"Homophobia sportsLast week, profsnal boxers Amir Khan and Kell Brook exchanged several homophobic remarks a pre-fight prs nference. "It's you who was on gay s w***g yourself off, " Brook told his boxg opponent, Amir Khan. Mart Stark will reprent the World Gay Boxg Champnships this year's Mardi Gras para.

(Supplied: Mart Stark)Mart Stark says fear of homophobia disurag LGBTQ+ muny members om experimentg wh the sport.

WHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSBOXG HAS LONG HAD THE STEREOTYPE OF BEG A ROUGH, MACHO AND ABRASIVE SPORT. BUT FOR MEMBERS OF THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY SUCH AS MART STARK, 'S SOMETHG THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLS OF SEXUALY OR GENR INTY.WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS DIRECTOR MART STARK. SOURCE: SBS NEWSIT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT MART STARK HAS THE NATE SPIR OF A FIGHTER.HE'S FT ON HIS FEET WH THE GLOV ON AS HE SPARS WH HIS TRAER AT THE F FIGHTERS CLUB SYDNEY'S BONDI JUNCTN. BUT THE OPENLY GAY AMATR BOXER'S BIGGT FIGHT HAS BEEN OUT OF THE RG, TENSIVE RE WARDS. STARK HAS ADDISON’S DISEASE, AN TOIMMUNE NDN THAT'S LED TO MULTIPLE HEALTH SR, CLUDG PANCREATIS, LLAPSED LUNGS, A TRACHEOSTOMY, AND TWO DUCED AS.FOLLOWG A FOUR-MONTH HOSPAL STAY 2006, HE HAD ANOTHER NEAR-ATH EXPERIENCE AT THE END OF 2017, WHICH LEFT HIM TRMATISED.MART STARK HOSPAL 2017 SOURCE: SUPPLIED/MART STARKBUT THE ORAL ALSO LED TO HIM PICKG UP THE GLOV FOR THE FIRST TIME 2018.“AS A WAY OF REALLY BATG THE POST-TRMATIC STRS DISORR, I HAD A FEW SELF-FENCE CLASS. THE SEND CLASS JT HAPPENED TO BE BOXG,” HE SAID.HAVG ONCE VIEWED AS “BARBARIC”, STARK NOW CREDS THE SPORT WH HELPG HIS PHYSIL AND MENTAL REVERY.BUT AS A GAY MAN, 'S THE AFFIRMG MUNY AROUND THE SPORT THAT'S REALLY HELPED SPIRE HIM.  “I'VE FOUND BOXG VERY CLIVE AND WELG,” HE SAID."I THK THERE'S A LOT OF FOC ON THE ELE SPORT, THE PROFSNAL SPORT. BUT REALLY SPORT IS ABOUT THAT GRASSROOTS MUNY AMATR LEVEL, AND I SAY BOXG IS ABSOLUTELY THRIVG AND WE HAVE PEOPLE PASSNATE TO WANT TO GET VOLVED THE SPORT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE."STARK HAD ASPIRATNS TO PETE AT THE NEXT GAY GAM, SCHLED TO BE HELD HONG KONG 2023, BUT WAS LEFT DISAPPOTED WHEN BOXG WAS DROPPED OM THE LP.SO HE STEAD BEGAN WORK PLANNG THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS, A TOURNAMENT SIGNED TO SHOWSE THE SPORT AS WELG TO ALL GENRS AND SEXUALI, WH THE AIM OF GROWG S POPULARY THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY."WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JT SHOW THAT LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLI BELONG THE RG AND N BE WORLD BOXG CHAMPNS, N BE OLYMPIC CHAMPNS, AND N BE VOLVED THE SPORT WHICH I LOVE,” STARK SAID.MART STARK WH THE BOARD OF THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPS. SOURCE: SUPPLIED/MART STARKWH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF LLEAGU, THE WGBC IS NOW SET UP AS A NOT-FOR-PROF ANISATN WH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.THE GROUP HAS THE BACKG OF ERNG BODI ATRALIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY WORLD BOXG COUNCIL PRINT MRIC SULAIMáN AND BCE SILVERGLAD, THE OWNER OF THE HISTORIC GLEASON'S GYM NEW YORK, WHERE MUHAMMAD ALI ONCE TRAED.MORE THAN 70 PETORS OM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE EXPRSED TERT TAKG PART THE EVENT, WH THE FIRST MEET LOCKED FEBARY 2023 AT SYDNEY'S RANDWICK RACEURSE, CIDG WH THE CY HOSTG THE WORLD PRI EVENT.AND STARK EXPECTS TO BE JT AS LOURFUL, FLAMBOYANT, GLTERY AND PROUD AS THE LIK OF MARDI GRAS. “LGBTQ+ PEOPLE PUT ON THE BT EVENTS ON THE PLA. IMAGE WHAT WE’RE GOG TO DO WH BOXG!”CONQUERG ANXIETYONE OF THE FIGHTERS HOPG TO STEP TO THE RG AT THE 2023 WGBC EVENT, SHN JABS ACROSS AS A SOFTLY SPOKEN, GENTLE FIGURE.BUT AS SOON AS THE GLOV E ON, HE’S AN TIMIDATG FORCE WH PLENTY OF PUNCH BEHD HIS HOOKS.LIKE STARK, JABS IS A RECENT VOTEE OF BOXG, PICKG UP THE DISCIPLE TO HELP OVERE HIS FEELGS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY AND PRSN."BOXG BROUGHT ME OUT OF MY SHELL AND ACTUALLY MA ME MORE NFINT. BEE IS SUCH A SOMETIM -YOUR-FACE SPORT, YOU HAVE TO KD OF STEP OUTSI YOUR FORT ZONE,” HE SAID."IT PH ME TO MY LIMS, BUT A GOOD WAY."SHN JABS AT THE CORPORATE FIGHTER GYM SURRY HILLS SOURCE: SBS NEWSJABS GREW UP THE ASTAL TOWN OF GISBORNE ON NEW ZEALAND’S NORTH ISLAND, WHERE HE ADMS HE WASN’T FORTABLE BEG OUT UNTIL HE MOVED AWAY.BUT NOW LIVG PROUDLY AS A GAY MAN, HE’S FOUND SOME OF HIS BIGGT SUPPORT THE BOXG RG HAS E OM HIS HOMETOWN.“IT JT SHOWS THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS LOVG SUPPORT THERE THE WHOLE TIME,” HE SAID.“LAST TIME I WENT BACK, PEOPLE STOPPED ME THE STREET TO SAY THEY WATCHED THE FIGHT, WHICH WAS A REAL NICE THG, AND JT SHOWS THAT YOU’RE A LOT MORE ACCEPTED THE MUNY [THAN YOU MAY THK].”JABS IS NOW TRAG TWICE A DAY AT THE CORPORATE FIGHTERS CLUB SYDNEY'S SURRY HILLS, AHEAD OF ANOTHER BOUT DECEMBER, WHERE HE’LL BE RAISG FUNDS FOR BEYONDBLUE AND THE WGBC.SHN JABS THE RG DURG HIS LAST BOUT. SOURCE: SUPPLIED/SHN JABSTHE 33-YEAR-OLD SAID HIS OWN EXPERIENC THE BOXG MUNY HAVE BEEN POSIVE, FDG AN OPEN AND ACCEPTG ENVIRONMENT AT HIS CLUB.BUT HE ADMS FOR MANY OTHERS THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY THE SPORT - DOMATED AT THE ELE LEVEL BY A MACHO, ABRASIVE CULTURE - N SEEM TIMIDATG.“I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE AREN'T TOO MANY GAY BOXERS OUT THERE JT BEE OF THE FEAR OF JOG SUCH A WHAT IS SCRIBED AS A MASCULE SPORT. I THK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGT BARRIER,” HE SAID.“A LOT OF MY IENDS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND OTHER PEOPLE THE MUNY, WANTG TO JO BOXG, BUT ARE TOO SRED TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.”HE'S NOW GOT PLANS TO START A LOL CLUB AS A SAFE AND WELG SPACE FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR ALLI.“WE'RE HOPG JT TO GET MORE PEOPLE EVEN, YOU KNOW, TO DO A CLASS ON THE SPORT, JT TO SEE THAT IS NOT AS SRY AS WHAT IS PUT OUT THERE SOMETIM."CHANGG ATTUSACROSS ELE MEN’S SPORT, THERE ARE STILL ONLY A HANDFUL OF ATHLET WHO HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT INTIFYG AS BEG PART OF THE LGBTIQ+ MUNY, AND FEWER STILL WHO HAVE FELT FORTABLE DISCLOSG SUCH TAILS OF THEIR PERSONAL LIV WHILE ACTIVELY PETG ON THE FIELD.BUT THERE IS EVINCE THAT IS SLOWLY BEG EASIER TO BE OPEN.WHEN ATRALIAN FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO ME OUT AS THE FIRST OPENLY-GAY ACTIVE MALE FOOTBALLER LAST MONTH, HE RECEIVED WISPREAD SUPPORT OM AROUND THE WORLD.READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSOTHER ATHLET ARE ALSO CREASGLY SHOWG THEIR SUPPORT AS ALLI TO THE MUNY."I THK HEARTS AND MDS ARE CHANGG. THERE’S BEEN MORE VISIBLE ALLYSHIP, THANKFULLY … WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THAT,” STARK SAID.“[BUT] THERE ARE STILL HIGH LEVELS OF HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM SPORT, PECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.”COMBATG THAT, HE SAID, REQUIR A “REAL FOC” ON CHANGG ATTUS AT THE GRASSROOTS AMATR LEVEL, “BEE THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CHANGE HAPPENS.”“ONCE WE START MAKG THOSE DIFFERENC, WE’RE GOG TO SEE MORE [SUPPORT] AT THE ELE LEVEL,” HE SAID.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 15 NOVEMBER 2021 9:28AMBY NAVEEN RAZIKSOURCE: SBS NEWSTAGSSPORTATRALIASHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHARETOPICS

"Many gay people are reluctant to jo boxg class due to fear of beg unweled, " Stark said. "I was weled and accepted by the crowd as an openly gay male reprentg the flag and walkg out to Relax by Frankie Go to Hollywood — the most inic LGBTQ+ song om the '80s, " he said.

However, Stark says there is still a limed number of gay and transgenr athlet petg at the profsnal level men's sports cludg boxg. To tackle the issue, he plans to lnch the first World Gay Boxg Champnships (WGBC) next year. "The ma aim is to dispt homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and terphobia boxg and sport general, " he said.

JAGUARS ASSISTANT KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH MAJOR MEN'S PRO SPORTS TO INTIFY AS GAY

" Boxg NSW, Boxg Atralia and other ternatnal boxg anisatns are backg the first World Gay Boxg Champnships. (Supplied: Mart Stark)The WGBC founr hop the fixtur n bee a grassroots playground for profsnal gay boxers and change the LGBTQ+ muny's perceptn of boxg.

The world’s first LGBTQ+ boxg tournament is set to be staged Sydney after the natn’s erng body threw s support behd the Atralia has endorsed efforts by World Gay Boxg Champnships (WGBC), a not-for-prof found by lol boxer Mart Stark to build clivy and bat homophobia and transphobia the sport, to lnch the first such LGBTQ+-iendly, who has lived wh Addison’s disease sce 2006, took up boxg two years ago while learng self-fence at his lol martial arts centre.