Brave calendar to feature good sports in 2013

The Community Brave Foundation will be releasing a new calendar for 2013 featuring some of the LGBTI community’s favourite sporting clubs including The Sydney Convicts, The Stingers, The Flying Bats and Sydney Rangers to help inspire young LGBTIQ youth to join one of the many community sports teams around.

The calendars, which will also be available as a free online version, will also feature representatives from the Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust, fitness freak Mark Moon and femme fatales Vicious Vixen and Shannon Cleary.

Rami Mandow, founder and chair of the Community Brave Foundation, told SX the calendars were an extension of the anti-bullying organisation’s core messages.

“We believe that through sports we all can achieve healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy souls – which is the theme for the calendar.

“The objective of the calendar is to send a strong message to LGBTIQ youth that through sports, through teamwork and through staying healthy, you can beat bullying,” he said. 

“You can stand up for your mates. You can work together.”

30-year-old Sydney Rangers footballer, Dook Supraditaporn, told SX he got involved with the calendar because he and his teammates believe that in sport everyone is equal. 

“It is about our skill on the field and love of the game,” he said.

“Sports men and women are role models in our society. And yet many are not free to be who they are, for fear of bullying on or off the field. The same could be said for any young gay person who loves team sports. No one should be bullied because of their sexual orientation, or for any other reason.”

Mandow said other benefits were also on offer for those who purchased a calendar.

“We’re even throwing in a few freebies to help keep our subscribers healthy with Vicious Vixen providing a free group personal training session in her all-female classes down on Bondi Beach and City Gym offering a one-week free gym pass,” he told SX.

“We’re currently in talks with several health food stores and facilities around Darlinghurst and Surry Hills to bring more freebies down the track in 2013.”

Each calendar will cost $3.50 with advance orders being taken until December 10.

For more information, visit http://thecommunitybravefoundation.tumblr.com/post/36869113403/register-now-community-brave-2013-calendar

Image: Brenton Parry Photography