We meet Klaus Heusslein — co-president of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) and find out that the EGLSF are doing a lot more than just delivering the LGBT EuroGames.
When was the EGLSF established?
Our federation was founded in 1989. The EGLSF is a federation which is open to LGBTIQ and mixed sport groups and organisations — all member organisations are autonomous. At the moment this network has more than 17,500 members in over 80 organisations and sport groups.
What are the main things that you deliver for your members?
We are the coordinator and license holder of the EuroGames tournaments. We are also active in anti-homophobia campaigns and best-practice work.
What are challenges do you face?
To coordinate the growing number of individual members and tournaments fighting homophobia especially in Eastern Europe.
We are aiming to continue to get more member clubs and individuals from Eastern Europe involved.
What sort of outreach does the EGLSF undertake?
We provide outreach support to athletes from all over Europe, however, participants from Eastern Europe have priority. We support them not only by funding travel expenses or lower registration fees but also help to obtain the necessary visa to travel to Central and Western European countries if they desire to participate in an EGLSF event.
What role does your organisation play in tackling homophobia in sport?
We are active in all kind of anti-homophobia campaigns as well as anti-homophobia work.
We are in close contact with LGBT human rights organisations and national mainstream sports associations in order to coordinate anti-homophobia education.
What are some of the key tournaments and events that your members are training for?
Usually athletes of EGLSF member clubs are very much focussed on the EGLSF’s EuroGames. But also bigger regional tournaments like the TIP Paris, Panteresports Barcelona, or the FVV XMAS Tournament in Frankfurt (to mention just a few of them) attract big numbers of participants.