People

We interviewed Team England's Head Coach Ballistic Whistle about the team and more in this first look inside the creation of the historic teams that will meet in Toronto December 1-4 to compete in the first ever Roller Derby World Cup. See the full roster on Derby News Network.

DL: What was it like putting together your country's first team?

"For five days in July the Dutch city of Rotterdam hosted the 13th edition of EuroGames, a sporting and cultural festival aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. It brings together 3,500 athletes from 44 countries gathered to compete in 21 sporting disciplines."

Source

Associated Press reports from the Amsterdam Gay Pride parade, where military participants marched for the first time, with honored US and British (out, gay) Military guests.

"It's so amazing to be here. This country got it right," said former U.S. Army Lt. Dan Choi, who was discharged last year after violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Choi applied to re-enlist after President Barack Obama signed a law last month repealing the ban.

Fred Karger has decided to throw in with the many Republicans seeking nomination from the RNC in the 2012 US Presidential race.

“I think the Republican party is so out of touch with the public,” Karger said. “The party has moved so far right and I think a lot of people feel, as I do, that the party has let them down. What I’m trying to do is change things and shake things up.”

The Values Bus Tour (supported by the Faith Family Fredom Fund, The National Organization for Marriage and The Susan B Anthony List) schedule is online, and the tour site heralds it's 2012 presidential hopefuls who will be on board:

"Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, U.S. Rep. Steve King to Join State-wide Bus Tour

This Seattle Post-Intelligencer article tells a personal family story, while providing us with new facts:

"— More than 24,000 households in Washington are led by same-sex partners.

— In Jefferson County on the Olympic Peninsula and in San Juan County, comprising most of its namesake islands, more than one out of every 50 couples is same-sex.

This article takes a look back at Hollywood pioneer Lucille Ball's 1980 interview in People magazine. She was ahead of her time, in so many ways.

"On gay rights: “It’s perfectly all right with me. Some of the most gifted people I’ve ever met or read about are homosexual. How can you knock it?”

"Musician and performer Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson, or “Paul Oscar” was awarded the Humanitarian Award by the Samtökin ’78, the Icelandic National Queer Organization."

The Icelandic musician was one of the first in his country to come out of the closet publicly, drawing attention to the scourge of defamation and encouraging acceptance of diversity in the press.

Editor's Note: Reprinted at the request and with the permission of The Nation. Check out the second Sports issue in their 146 year history! Story by Diane "Lady Hulk" Williams

RollerCon is fun. Period. But some people really know how to bring the fun. Part of the reason RollerCon 2011 was the Best RollerCon Ever (note: I was not at RollerCon 2005, but have attended every one since - anyone who was at 2005 says it's the best since then...) was because of the extra added fun created by the geniuses of the LA Derby Dolls Enforcers.

So this week, I give you the very first Derby Award Of The Week: The Keeping It Derby Award! The Award goes to the LADD Enforcers for Refs 2 U.