News : Edition : 108
: Row y`r boat
| Row y`r boat |
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| by René
Zuiderveld, in Events &
Agenda |
Ever since the Gay Games took place in
Amsterdam, already two long years ago, the gay community
couldn`t ignore anymore the hundreds, no, thousands of gays
and lesbians who like nothing better than sweating it out in
some kind of sport. So Gay Business Amsterdam, organiser of
the city`s annual Gay Pride weekend, wised up and since those
memorable Games days has diligently included sports events in
their four day program. After last year`s success with
athletes active in football, volleyball, swimming and rowing,
Pride 2000 will once again welcome queers from all over Europe
to compete in their favourite pastime, but also to revel in
the special atmosphere of the Dutch capital when it turns pink
all over for one gorgeous long weekend.
One of the sports scheduled again this year is rowing. This
prompted your Gay News roving reporter to contact John Avis,
board member of rowing club Willem III. Avis, always a
prominent figure (certainly when it comes to sports) changed
position from active spokesperson for Amsterdam`s gay
volleyball club Netzo to active gay member in Willem
III.
"Willem III is not a gay rowing club", says Avis,
"though people might think so after our participation in the
Gay Games. Financially it is simply impossible to run an
exclusively gay rowing club. The members should donate enough
money to invest in a suitable building, which means a lot of
money. A building alongside one of Amsterdam`s waters will of
course cost a fortune.  Then
boats have to be bought, furniture and what have you not. So,
no gay rowing club." "I wouldn`t even want to", he adds;
"while I was still a member of the volleyball club I always
wanted it to be open to straights and lesbians as well. If a
straight person would join, he or she would know what he or
she got into anyway. There would be nothing to worry about for
gays. That`s the policy I prefer."
Rowing may have an
elitist image, reality these days shows quite a different
face. Never in his life did Avis row before. He wasn`t raised
by parents who considered rowing part of his education, in
those days when it was still an exclusive activity for the
well-to-do. No, one day he simply felt a rowing urge and
started looking for a club that would accept new members.
Willem III it was and rookie Avis began his training. He must
have been a dedicated fanatic; what could otherwise be the
reason for his swift rise in the club to board member. Yes, he
comes across as a self-assured, outspoken man, qualities that
will always help one cimb ladders. Add his openness about
being gay to this, leading to a more open attitude in Willem
III towards gays in general and its gay members specifically.
Though this might make you think Avis had to wage a small
battle for gay rights, he himself flatly denies that. It all
developed sort of matter of fact and when the Gay Games took
place in Amsterdam, it was logical the gay section" of Avis`
rowing club wanted to participate, for Avis was not the only
gay man weekly rowing the boat.
Mixed
 The team
in the first boat, heading back to Willem III`s boat house on
Amsterdam`s Amstel river, is mixed. On a drizzly Saturday
morning four straight and four gay guys are rowing back to the
boat house`s cantine, looking forward to having a cup of
coffee together. Excuse us for gettng a bit tearjerky, when we
see a mixed team like this one working in perfect harmony,
representing a near perfect symbol of a society that so many
gay men and lesbian women still desperately long for. It also
forces your Gay News reporter to stop trying to guess
immediately who amongst these men prefer doing it with men and
who don`t. It`s simply not the atmosphere for toying with such
thoughts. Actually a blessing of sorts the reporter of an
exclusively gay paper tends to forget too easily.  And to the gay members of Willem III it is not all
that important either, although understandibly they often tend
to "flock" together. The second boat which is being prepared
for an hour of rowing has an almost exclusively gay crew,
presenting us with a perfect moment for a group picture. The
one straight guy in this morning`s group joins for the picture
being taken, till he realises it`s meant for a gay magazine.
He steps aside and the other members snigger and start teasing
him with the question what people might think if they would
spot his face in Gay News. A funny incident, telling of the
relaxed atmosphere in this rowing club better than any lengthy
interview could.
"It is quite exceptional", says Avis. "Our
matter-of-fact approach of gay issues is far less accepted in
foreign rowing clubs. I think gays and lesbians should really
support each other and create a feeling of solidarity, in
order to defend their position. Not that I have ever heard of
discrimination against them, but they don`t seem to feel as
much at ease as we do here."
 Yet it`s
obvious Willem III is not a club to join, when you`re still
trying to define your sexuality and are looking for extra
support in that struggle. The club accepts gays completely,
but somewhat on the premise that you have a confident attitude
regarding your (homo)sexuality, are open about it and act
accordingly. Not a club to participate in, when you want to
raise the political banner for your gay rights. It`s a rowing
club. To be active in, to have a good time in, when your
interest is rowing. No matter your sexual orientation. Also
this year the Willem III rowing club will compete with several
other (inter)national teams. And we are sure that Avis and his
rowing partner Thijs Mol will be peddling their watery way
together in this year`s Canal Pride, Saturday August 5th. The
rowing competition is sponsored by bar Rouge (former
Monopole) |
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Nederlands
