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Here at OutUK were excited to announce that we're sponsoring the biggest gay sporting event in the UK this year - The Bingham Cup. First held in San Francisco in 2002, this is the prestigious international rugby competition predominantly for gay and bisexual men, named in remembrance of Mark Bingham, one of the heroic victims of Sept 11th.
A keen rugby player who played for one of the US's leading gay rugby teams, he was one of the group of passengers who overpowered the hijackers on Flight 93, bringing the plane down before it could hit its intended target, believed to be The White House.

The Bingham Cup's being held at London's Esher RFC ground on the May Bank Holiday Weekend 28th-31st May. It's expected to attract around 600 participants from teams from Argentina to Canada to Australia, with thousands of spectators. Belying its macho image, Rugby Union is one of the least homophobic of all sports.

London's gay and bisexual club the Kings Cross Steelers has existed since 1995 and has been playing straight teams in the English leagues for 4 years. In 2002 it was one of just eight sides to receive a Team Of The Month award from the rugby establishment.

Scott Burch, Bingham Cup Sponsorship Director says "It's great to welcome OutUK as one of the sponsors of The Bingham Cup. This is going to the world's largest Amateur 15-a-side Rugby Union event after the World Cup, and we're all looking forward to a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend of international rugby at the end of May. OutUK has a reputation for supporting major gay cultural and sporting events, and it's thanks to them and all our sponsors that this event has been made possible here in the UK."

Mike Gray, OutUK Editor, says support for events like The Bingham Cup is important for a host of reasons: "OutUK has always made a policy of supporting major events that challenge the wider community to rethink their stereotypical or even homophobic views of the gay community. It's even more vital now that everyone stands up to be counted after all the recent terrorist assaults on our democratic rights with the aim of putting the clock back not decades but centuries. The Bingham Cup will also be a great sporting and fun event and we're delighted to be a part of it."

We'll be keeping you up to date with all the news and background to The Bingham Cup, and you can get full details right now on The Bingham Cup website www.binghamcup.com.