R6,000 RAISED FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S LESBIAN SOCCER TEAM

A total of R6,000 was raised on Sunday to help the Chosen FEW lesbian soccer team get to the upcoming World Outgames in Antwerp, Belgium.

The funds were raised during a ‘Healthy Queer Radical Fun Day’ at the Pieter Roos Park in Parktown, Johannesburg on Youth Day.

The day included soccer, rugby and volleyball games, the playing of 30 Seconds, Twister, Scrabble and Pictionary as well as face painting for the kids.

The events were rounded off with a family picnic. 

The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) said that it “aspires to build and support lesbian mothers by continuing to hold child friendly events that families can attend”.

An after party was also held at the Roots restaurant. All the takings from the day’s events and the party went towards the Chosen FEW fundraising efforts.

Fourteen players from the Chosen FEW team have been awarded a partial grant by the World Outgames organisers to participate in the event, which takes place from 31 July to 11 August.

Each player will receive free registration, free accommodation and around R2,000 towards their travel costs. However, the team requires financial support for the players to be able to take advantage of this opportunity. This includes funds for visas, flight tickets, proper training material and soccer equipment.

The R6,000 raised on Sunday goes some way towards helping the team, but much more is needed. FEW have asked the LGBTI community to assist them further by making donations to their team’s cause. (See below for account details.)

Comprised of 25 young black lesbian women from around Johannesburg who are activists for LGBTI rights, the team is a project of FEW.

Chosen FEW has previously participated in international LGBTI sporting events, including the Chicago Gay Games in 2006 (winning a bronze medal), the London Football Championships in 2008 (placing fourth) and the 2010 Cologne Gay Games (winning third place).

According to FEW, the purpose of the team is “to strengthen sports activism… so that we are able to defend and advance the rights of women, particularly lesbian women”.

The World Outgames is a quadrennial global event, hosted by a selected city, for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI) community and open minded friends based upon three pillars: sport, culture and human rights.

Chosen FEW account details

Account Name: Forum for the Empowerment of Women

Account number: 406 053 8374

Bank: Absa

Branch code: 6320025

Branch Name: Eastgate

Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

Reference: Chosen FEW