LGBTQ Breaking News Service

LAS VEGAS – Dan Patterson of Milwaukee may have been out of the national spotlight for a while, but he picked the perfect time to reemerge.

The former Team USA member rolled a historic 300 game June 1 at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. It was a first for his group of more than 60 teams and the 900th perfect game in 117 years of tournament history.

It also was a special way to kick off Pride Month for Patterson and his fellow competitors, many of whom started their visit to Las Vegas this year with the International Gay Bowling Organization’s IGBO Annual 2021, before making their way to South Point for the USBC Open Championships.

IGBO Annual is one of two national IGBO events and features a week of meetings, celebration and competition. The events travel each year to different bidding cities, and 2021 allowed the unique opportunity for a two-tournament crossover.

“It’s very special to be a part of history and to shoot a significant 300 in the event’s history,” Patterson said. “This is an awesome playing stage, and to come here and do it in front of your friends, on a great squad and with people who are supporting you, there’s really nothing better than that.”

It was support, and advice, from his teammates during the six games of doubles and singles at the South Point Bowling Center, that helped Patterson finish his 21st Open Championships appearance with the highest series of his tournament career.

The 45-year-old right-hander rolled games of 217, 212 and 300 for a 729 total, his best on the championship lanes by eight pins.

“Jay (Nephew) told me to switch balls, and I hesitated, but then I did, and the pins just all magically went down,” said Patterson, a member of Team USA from 2005-2007. “The shots weren’t that much better than the other five games. I was not throwing the ball phenomenal, but I got a lot of breaks. If you look at the 10th and 11th shots, they probably shouldn’t have carried, but that’s bowling, and I’m grateful they did.”

Bowling has been part of Patterson’s life for three decades, and it’s an environment that consistently has provided him with satisfaction and support – as an up-and-comer, as an elite athlete with Team USA and now as an owner of Sabre Lanes in Menasha, Wisconsin, with his husband, Marcus.

In 2006, Patterson had the opportunity to represent the United States on the lanes and help Team USA to its first team gold medal at the International Bowling Federation World Men’s Championships in 35 years. There’s an amazing sense of pride in that.

Being able to represent the gay community on the lanes and find success at the Open Championships also was an incredibly proud moment.

“I do appreciate that this is on the first day of the month of pride and it was on a gay squad, and I didn’t really put that into perspective until now, but it really is very special,” Patterson said. “From my experience in the gay community, in bowling, I can’t tell you how inclusive it always has been for me. As long as you’re going in there and you’re passionate, having fun and trying to succeed, you will be supported.

“I’ve always been attracted to environments that have benefited me, from the people to the coaching to the bowling center and all of that stuff. I don’t think there’s anything about bowling that will separate you based on your race, color, creed or sexual orientation.”

Patterson added sets of 660 in team and 600 in doubles this year for a 1,989 all-events total. His overall performance helped Shady Unicorns of Chula Vista, California, to a 3,189 team score and 9,283 Team All-Events total, both top-50 scores this year.

He was joined by Charlie Esteban (1,960), Nephew (1,840), Robert Raymond (1,777) and Timothy Yaeger (1,717).

Their team is one of 68 organized by Jim Costello, who started with four teams in 2009 and has doubled the group’s size multiple times. While many of the bowlers are gay, he describes it more as a gay-friendly group of friends and friends of friends who like to bowl and have a good time.

The contingent includes bowlers of all ages and skill levels, from Patterson’s ultra-competitive quintet down to bowling beginners. Fifty teams competed at the South Point Bowling Plaza and South Point Bowling Center this week, while the final 18 teams will take the lanes in July.

Typically, the group bowls in mid-April, but being able to shift the time frame in 2021 allowed many of the competitors the opportunity to experience both the Open Championships and IGBO Annual.

Costello encouraged the bowlers to visit both tournaments and even used the chance to educate and recruit IGBO bowlers who may not have been familiar with the Open Championships, as he does anytime he’s on the lanes or in a bowling center.

Ultimately, the longtime member of the Captain’s Club loves bowling and competing and enjoys doing the work that may have prevented team members from enjoying the Open Championships sooner or more frequently.

Also, seeing his bowlers have positive and memorable experiences often is all the reward Costello needs for his efforts, but being present for Patterson’s run at the record book had his heart swell with emotion and pride.

“I know a few people in our group have had the potential and skill to roll a 300 or an 800 here, and I was actually kind of emotional about it because I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t know which person. We’ve come so close so many times, and it was just a matter of time. The fact that it’s a historic one makes it even more special. I’m proud that we did it. And what a way to kick off Pride Month.”

At times, in his own life, Costello has faced stigmas about gay men and women and their ability to play sports, whether it be bowling or softball or volleyball or any other competition, but it’s not something that has held him back.

The pins don’t know if you’re a man or woman, gay or straight. Bowling is a game of strategy and skill, and he’s ready to compete every time the lane lights come on.

“Bowling is a great social activity, and people love to bowl and compete, but there’s sometimes the stigma that it’s not something everyone can do or do well, and we’ve all faced it as some point,” Costello said. “Every time I put my shoes on and the lanes come on, I’ll show you I’m a bowler and ready to compete.”

As Open Championships surveys sometimes show, one of the main reasons bowlers don’t start competing sooner is because they’re simply not invited or they’re intimidated by the steps and commitment required to be a team captain.

There’s also the misunderstanding that the tournament is for elite players, and it sometimes takes seeing it for the first time for bowlers to completely grasp the magnitude and diversity. With three average-based divisions, bowlers of all skill levels have the chance to compete against their competitive peers.

“It really is word of mouth, and I didn’t even know about it until 15 or 16 years ago, when someone asked us to go,” said Costello, who made his 13th Open Championships appearance this week. “Sometimes it just takes someone to organize it, and I enjoy being that person. Some people don’t understand why I want to do all this, but it’s because I love helping people have this experience. There’s nothing like seeing someone compete for the first time and then want to stay.”

Costello and Patterson both considered the dual-event week a success, filled with chances to reunite after two years apart, as well as compete on a variety of lane conditions.

As they return home, Costello already is looking ahead to next year and his group’s return to South Point for the 2022 Open Championships.

In the short-term, Pride Month will be filled with opportunities to celebrate, educate and support the LGBTQ community, and countless activities (parades, parties, picnics, workshops, memorials, concerts, and more) will be held in communities across the country.

The tradition began in 1970 as a way to commemorate the riots held in reaction to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969. The event was a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ liberation in the United States.

This story about Patterson and Costello is about their dedication and success at the Open Championships and is part of an ongoing digital media campaign recognizing various groups, organizations and bowlers that make up the USBC membership, while also bringing attention to topics that affect the world on a larger scale.

USBC will continue to expand its diversity and inclusion topics and welcome the opportunity to showcase the people and other areas that are important to the members.

If you know someone who is a standout or inspiration, or you’d like to suggest a topic close to you, please let us know more by sending an email to PR@bowl.com.

For more information about USBC and its programs and partnerships, visit BOWL.com/Diversity.

Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.

3 min read

Danish tennis player Holger Rune has caused an uproar and forced the ATP Tour to open an investigation into homophobic expletives that the 18-year-old player screamed during a semi-final match in Biella, Italy.

Playing a Challenger tournament in the Northern Italian city, Rune uttered the phrases ‘you are a pussy player’ and ‘you are playing like a faggot ass.’ Shortly after saying those phrases, he shouted ‘Allez, faggot’ when winning a point during a match which he eventually won and then went on to win the overall tournament.

The former World Number One Junior’s comments prompted backlash on social media with many fans criticising him for his choice of words. On his official Instagram account, Rune stated that his words were directed at himself and nobody else.

Rune also issued a statement to TV2.dk where he apologised for the remarks and to anybody who he might have offended by his words. He also apologised on his Instagram account.

“I’m young and I need to learn. Not that that allows me to say crap like that. I was taught a lesson, and I think it’s fair that people criticise (me). I’m really sorry and hope people will accept my apology,” he said.

However, on the same day as Rune issued his statement his mother accused TV2 of ‘harassing’ her son for what she described as a ‘wrong comment.’ Aneke Rune, who is also the manager of the tennis player, hit out at those who she claims are trying to ‘make news and gossip from a hard working young man.’

“If you are a man you can apologise as Holger did if anyone felt offended by his words to himself in the match. Do NOT harass Holger for a wrong comment TV2 and who else is out there trying to make news and gossip from a hard working young man,” Aneke wrote on Instagram.

Det er vist lige i overkanten, hvis man mener, at det er chikane, “opdigtede” nyheder og sladder, når Holger Rune-sagen rulles ud.
Heldigvis svarede den unge, myndige mand godt for sig, da han lagde sig fladt ned og sagde undskyld for en dumhed. #tennisdk #HolgerRune pic.twitter.com/YnEqp4Owqb

— Jacob Qvirin (@jacobqvirin) June 6, 2021

In a statement issued to TV2 on Monday, the ATP has confirmed that they are investigating the incident under the official code of conduct (section 8.04).

“ATP is committed to ensuring an inclusive environment for all players, staff and fans, and there is absolutely no room for homophobic remarks in tennis,” a statement reads.

“According to section 8.04 N.2 of the Player Code of Conduct, ATP is in the process of investigating the comments of Holger Rune during a match on Saturday 5 June 2021 in ATP Challenger 80 in Biella.”

Christian Bigom is the chairman of Pan Idræt, a multi-sports club in Copenhagen which focuses on ‘inclusion of people with a special focus on sexual orientation and gender diversity.’ Speaking about Rune’s comments Bigom argues the focus shouldn’t be on the individual but why these phrases are being used in the first place.

“I think it’s fine that Holger Rune has said sorry. That is really good,” he said to Ubitennis.net.

“I would rather ask a question about why it is these words that are used. To me, it testifies to a very negative language used in the world of sports. Not only in tennis, but certainly also in football.”

18-year-old Rune is currently ranked 291st in the world. He claimed the French Open boys’ title in 2019 and recently won his maiden Challenger title in Biella on Sunday.

Last Updated on Jun 9, 2021

Some owners of D.C. gay bars have said Mayor Muriel Bowser’s announcement on May 10 that the city’s restaurants and bars could resume operations at full capacity and return to pre-pandemic operating hours on May 21 caught them by surprise.

After several months of business shutdowns followed by a partial reopening with strict limits of only 25 percent of the normal number of customers inside bars and restaurants, a ban on standing in bars or being served while sitting at a barstool, the mayor’s reopening order left many bars and restaurants short on servers and bartenders.

But nearly everyone associated with D.C. gay bars who spoke with the Washington Blade — including owners, employees, and customers — have said they were ecstatic to see a full reopening after more than a year of COVID-related restrictions and hardship.

“We didn’t really open at a 100 percent capacity,” said John Guggenmos, co-owner of the D.C. gay bars Trade and Number 9, immediately after Mayor Bowser issued her full reopening order. Like other bar owners, Guggenmos said Trade and Number 9 had to bring back employees who had to be let go due to the shutdowns and operating restrictions over the past year.

“But you know, seeing people again, hearing the stories of some of the struggles they went through, and our customers just talking to each other and saying how glad they are to be back gave us a sense of our community and how much we are more than just four walls and some chairs and music,” Guggenmos said.

Dito Sevilla, who works as bar manager at the 17th Street restaurant Floriana, and as longtime host of the restaurant’s lower-level space known as Dito’s Bar, said the May 21 lifting of COVID restrictions has returned business to pre-pandemic levels.

“We were not fully staffed on day one either,” Sevilla told the Blade. “Everyone had to work a little extra,” he said. “And that was OK with them because they had gone without working for so long that working some extra shifts that week wasn’t going to hurt anyone. They were thrilled to do it.”

Doug Schantz, owner of the U Street, N.W. gay sports bar Nellie’s, said he too was caught off guard by the short advance notice of the mayor’s May 21 full reopening of restaurants and bars but like other bar owners said he is pleased that the full reopening has come to D.C.

He said Nellie’s put in place a “soft” reopening on May 21, with operations limited to his second-floor space that has a roof deck and he continued to close at midnight instead of the resumption to normal closing times with the mayor’s order at 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

Schantz said he timed his full reopening to take place this weekend to coincide with the kickoff of the city’s LGBTQ Pride events. And by July 1, he said, Nellie’s will resume its popular drag brunch.

“We’re taking it one step at a time, but so many people were happy to be back,” he said. “They want to be back to normal.”

David Perruzza, owner of the Adams Morgan gay sports bar Pitchers and its adjoining lesbian bar A League of Her Own, said he and his regular customers, many of whom continued to show up at the two bars during the height of the pandemic restrictions, are delighted over the full reopening. Like several of the other bar owners, Perruzza said he will continue to operate outdoor seating under the “streetery” program the city established when indoor seating was initially banned and later resumed at just 25 percent capacity.

One COVID-related rule remaining in place for bars and restaurants, which is expected to be lifted soon, is the requirement that bars and restaurants obtain a name and phone number for at least one person entering as part of a group and for each individual entering for contact tracing purposes in the event someone tests positive for COVID on the day the customer was present. The city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, which initiated the requirement during the height of the pandemic, was expected to end the requirement in the next few weeks, according to sources familiar with ABRA.

In addition to the full reopening of bars and restaurants on May 21, the city has cleared the way for the full resumption of large indoor and outdoor events on June 11, including parades and sports stadiums. That development has prompted D.C.’s Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes the city’s LGBTQ Pride events, to add to this week’s Pride events a June 12 Pride Walk, which will begin at Dupont Circle at noon and travel to Logan Circle before heading south to Freedom Plaza, where a rally will take place.

“The excitement has been palpable since bars and restaurants in D.C. recently reopened at full capacity and without limit or activity restrictions,” said Mark Lee, coordinator of the D.C. Nightlife Council, a local trade association representing bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

“The enthusiasm is especially evident at LGBT venues, with long lines common after a long period of shutdowns and slowdowns,” Lee said. “The celebration will expand on June 11 when nightclub-licensed dance clubs fully reopen, and large music venues begin hosting tour acts and special shows in the coming days.”

But Lee said a “flip side” to the reopening celebrations is the reality that many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs must grapple with a massive debt burden of back-rent owed to landlords that threatens their survival.

Lee and others point out that the forced shutdowns and capacity restrictions that these mostly small businesses have faced during the pandemic resulted in a drastic reduction in revenue that forced them to rely on local D.C. and federal COVID moratoriums on evictions for commercial and residential tenants. With the moratoriums ending, the businesses must now repay the back rent owed that Lee says often exceeds $100,000 or more.

“That’s why the D.C. Nightlife Council and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington are urging Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council to utilize a small portion of the city’s federal relief monies to create a Rent Relief Fund for local establishments facing unsustainable past-due lease obligations,” Lee said.

Perruzza said that in addition to facing back rent payments related to the pandemic, he and other bar and restaurant owners had to pay D.C. property taxes under their lease agreements at a time when their revenue was greatly suppressed from the pandemic. He said he believes he will be able to cope with the rental payoff, but the relief fund proposed by Lee and others would be immensely helpful for his and other struggling small businesses.

Bowser and members of the D.C. Council have said they were considering the relief proposal.

“We’re thankful for the support the community showed throughout the pandemic and the eagerness to want to get back to us,” said Guggenmos of Trade and Number 9. “We are thrilled and it’s great seeing everyone, but it doesn’t mean the sleepless nights are over,” he said in referring to the rental debt and other COVID-related expenses that his clubs continue to face.

Among the other D.C. gay bars whose representatives or customers said they are pleased over the reopening at full capacity include Uproar, Dirty Goose, JR.’s, Larry’s Lounge, Window’s, Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, Duplex Diner, and Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va.

Lee said the downtown D.C. nightclub Sound Check at 1420 K St., N.W., was scheduled to resume its weekly Avalon Saturday “gay” nights on June 12. Before being put on hold during the pandemic, the event featured drag shows and dancing.