Morning Ben: August 1, 2012
Ben Cohen on the cover of Gay Times Magazine
Rugby star and LGBT hero Ben Cohen appears on the cover of the recent issue of Gay Times, talking gay stereotypes, how to fight bullies, and his new underwear line which raises money for his StandUp Foundation.
In the interview, Cohen says that the StandUp Foudation has had a “hell of an impact” in the last year, in the U.S. and the U.K. in part because it was the first foundation of it’s kind.
“We’re on a very simple mission — to create awareness and support organizations and to affect and educate that next generation,” he told Gay Times. “We need to teach people to understand that homophobic and racial slurs and bullying is not right. And to be part of the impact is fantastic.”
He thinks, too, that being straight has helped people listen to his message: “I think that the most important thing about it is that I’m straight and promoting a foundation that’s anti-homophobia. I’m bridging the gap between gay and straight. And I think straight people are more likely to listen when they see me breaking down stereotypes.”
Ben Cohen on what you wear
Fabulous for so many reasons.
Ben Cohen is featured today in the New York Times:
When the noted British athlete Ben Cohen — the David Beckham of rugby — walked down the runway this month for an AmFAR benefit at the New York Public Library, odds were that many in this audience thought he was just another handsome, muscular model. With his easy smile, buzz cut and 6-foot-3 frame, Mr. Cohen fit the mold and the clothes.
One of the highest-scoring players in British Union rugby history, Mr. Cohen, 33, was being honored that night. Taking the microphone, Mr. Cohen explained to the crowd that instead of signing a three-year contract, he quit rugby last year to devote himself full-time to battling homophobia.
In 2011, he started the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to combat bullying, especially the bullying of children who might be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — an issue that has received heightened attention in the last two years after the suicides of several gay teenagers who had been bullied by peers.
And btw – you may have noticed he’s very, very good looking 🙂
Make sure you visit the StandUp Foundation, which he founded, to see what you can do to help Ben Cohen end bullying.
10 straight people LGBT people can be proud of
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| Ben Cohen, world class rugby player and anti-bullying activist |
Since June is gay pride month, the folks at Buzzfeed made a list of a few straight people that have done things for the LBGT community that we can all feel good about.
How do you like the list? Who would you add?
1. Ben Cohen, rubgy player/activist
2. Lisa Lampanelli, comedian
3. Hudson Taylor, wrestler and coach
4. & 5. Theodore Olson and David Boies, lawyers
6. Benjamin Todd Jealous, president of the NAACP
7. Zach Wahls, student
8. Josh Hutcherson, actor
9. Barack Obama, president
10. Dick Cheney, former vice president
Ben Cohen in the new issue of Metrosource
Metrosource has a new interview and photo shoot with straight LGBT ally Ben Cohen.
As many of you may know, Ben Cohen is a world-class, top ranked rugby player who left his career in rugby to create the StandUp Foundation, an organization created to combat homophobia and bullying among schoolkids. I can him a hero.
Here’s just an excerpt from the interview:
Ultimately, Cohen doesn’t have a definite explanation for what initially drew his gay fans to him over other sports stars, but he’s immensely grateful that they were. “If it wasn’t for the gay community finding me attractive in the first place,” says Cohen, “I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this.”
Cohen was in the midst of a Q&A session with a gay-positive student group called True Colors. “The interesting thing about True Colors — it was 14 women and one gay chap,” Cohen says. The kids let him know that their group was not well respected by their fellow students. Cohen asked them, “Who would give credibility to your organization?” The kids named two of the school’s star athletes, and Cohen decided to meet with them.
So Cohen decided to meet with these particular athletes — along with a group of their fellow teammates. “I’m not here to point fingers,” he explained to them, “but as a sportsman, you need to know how to be a role model whether you like it or you lump it.”
By the time Cohen finished with them, the school’s sports teams had agreed to wear not only the StandUp Foundation’s patches on their jerseys but also patches supporting the True Colors group. He hopes the patches will help them continue the conversation. “We are leaving that little bit of legacy behind,” he says.
Read the rest of the interview at Metrosource.
You can support Cohen at standupfoundation.com
Ben Cohen – cover of Metrosource Magazine April/May 2012
Footballer Lee Steele ‘released’ for nasty Gareth Thomas tweet
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| Gareth Thomas |
Openly gay rugby star Gareth Thomas is a cast member in the current season of Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother.
That prompted pro rugby player Lee Steele to tweet: “I wouldn’t fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockedasshole.”
The club said its officials had met to discuss the comment last night and posted a short statement on the club website this morning. It said it had issued the following statement to the FA: “The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club.”
Mike Ford, the club’s manager, told the BBC sacking Steele was the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his career, but that he had to “pay for his error of judgement”.
Rugby star and gay ally Ben Cohen issued a statement saying, “If you are a sportsman you’re a role model and people look up to you no matter what division you’re in.” However Cohen stopped short of endorsing Steele’s dismissal.
Ben Cohen calendar signing in London
Ben Cohen will be signing his new calendar in London at Prowler in SoHo.
Thursday, November 24th from 6-8pm.
Go get your calendar signed in person by Ben!
Ben Cohen declares November 14th “StandUP Day” to stop bullying
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| Juan Martinez, Ben Cohen and Byron Beck StandingUp Against Bullying at NIKE Portland |
Today is StandUp Day. Don’t know what that is? Well, then let’s have rugby legend Ben Cohen tell you:
“It is time to stop the bullying. Young people’s lives are being ruined and all it takes is the right person at the right time to stand beside them when it matters most to make the difference.
The 14th of November marks the death of my father, Pete, who although he is no longer here, has been a massive influence on my life and one of the reasons that I felt compelled to start StandUp.
Our aim is to bring awareness to the average person on the street who may not realise the harm that is being caused by bullying. By becoming aware, they may just be able to notice when something is not right and so stand up when needed before it is too late. The concept is simple, but very powerful.
I will be asking people to stand up with me by wearing their StandUp T-shirt or wrist band, by telling at least one person about StandUp, posting or tweeting about how they are standing up, or simply changing their profile picture to the StandUp logo for the day. It is time to stand up against bullying and I am proud to be able to ask you to stand up with me.”
Ben is currently on a tour of the US in support of his StandUp Foundation — the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, and funding those doing real-world work to stop it.
(source)
Ben Cohen getting ready for a training session
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| Click for larger view |
Now this is how to start your day right.
Oh, and working out in the morning is good too….