Canadian Olympian Mark Tewksbury on how Dallas helped shaped his athletic destiny and how his coming out story might open the sports world's closets

Calgary native Mark Tewksbury and his family moved to Dallas when he was five year old. He didn't stay in Big D for too long, but the blistering Texan sun forced him to seek cool water. And shortly after, Tewksbury began swimming competitively.

In 1992, Tewksbury burst onto the international scene following a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 100-meter backstroke at the Barcelona Olympic Games. That gold medal win capped a remarkable 16-year athletic career, which included three Olympic medals seven world records and a Time magazine cover.

In 1998, Tewksbury made headlines again when he publicly came out.

Last year, the sports hero revisited Big D when he served as grand marshal for the 2005 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. And over the summer, Tewksbury released "Inside Out," a memoir about becoming an athletic superstar with a painful secret.

He's certainly channeled his suffering into more gold.

This summer, Tewksbury served as co-president of the World OutGames I, which were held in Montreal. As an athlete who overcame great odds, Tewksbury is one of the sport world's highest-profile gay activists and one who's helping pave the way for the era when competitive male athletes can be out and proud.


You're heading back to Big D. What fresh topics will you address: perhaps Neil Patrick Harris' recent coming out?
I'll essentially speak about "Inside Out" and what led me to write it.
The book seems to have struck a nerve in that it captures a universal experience of a generation who struggled with their sexuality and the road to acceptance. I will certainly make the link between recent coming out stories in the world of entertainment and the beginnings of the "who cares?" reaction that accompanies that. In the world of sports, the same thing is sure to happen. Yet in 2006, there remains no openly gay male football, soccer, baseball, hockey or basketball players who are playing today. The first person to come out will be huge. Once three or four more come out, the "no gay men in sports" stereotype may finally be challenged.

Dallas was where you first took to the water. What do you remember about that visit?
Because I was so young, I only have flashes of memories. There was a terrific birthday party at Six Flags. And I remember going to my first drive-in and sitting on the hood of the car.
We lived in an apartment block. And in that complex, there was a shared outdoor pool. This was post-1972, and Mark Spitz was king of the Olympics.
The weather was so hot. And we all spent a lot of time in the cool and refreshing water. But I didn't spend that much time underwater yet. The experience led to me coming back to Canada and swimming with my grandma in her apartment building. Grandma and I wore matching head-wraps, which gave signs of the young gay boy I was.

Before you came out, how did you envision your future?
I dreamed of having a "normal" life with a partner, a house and happiness. For so many years, I put my personal life on hold. My dream was simply to have a personal life when I was swimming. I wanted to duplicate not only the model I had of my family, but also of a gay couple that had been my first relationship.

When you're famous and closeted, can the nervous tension of being outed also be exciting?
For many of us, there is a kind of thrill being able to move through a secret world. What I didn't realize was how unhealthy having secrets could become. What was once considered exciting turned restrictive and non-functional.

Do you come from a particular faith background?
I was a catholic, but left that religion long ago. Now I prefer to communicate directly with spirit I don't need the middleman.
I appreciate the challenge religious gay people face. Thankfully, there are welcoming denominations like United and Metropolitan Community churches that. Last year, I even spoke at a synagogue.

In telling your life story, does one portion seem difficult to analyze?
The whole thing was hard at first. I thought about this project for many years before it became a reality. But once the timing was right, when I felt there was a beginning, middle and end that made sense, the entire thing poured out of me in about six weeks.
I had thought it would be hard to remember the details from when I was younger, but certain turning points you just don't forget.
The most recent parts of my life were surprisingly the hardest.

How has your life changed since the publication of "Inside Out?"
Perhaps the biggest thing is that the issues that were once issues are truly issues no more. I feel like I have said what I needed to say about growing up gay, and am living in a place where I can focus again on simply being a human being distinct, certainly but part of something bigger called humanity.

As the OutGames co-president, what was Montreal like?
Magnificent. The entire city embraced the participants, with greeters at the airport, streets closed off. Many things made OutGames unique: the human rights conference that was opened by Louise Arbour, UN high commissioner of Human Rights; the sports being sanctioned across the board by the Quebec and Canadian sport federations; and the participation of all three levels of government.

What's one thing about the next OutGames that will probably be different from the first?
The Danish people will have a very different event than Montreal. The program and standards will remain the same, but delivered in a uniquely Copenhagen style.

When it comes to gay issues, how does the U.S. fare compared to Canada?
In the past, Americans have a made huge impact on global LGBT culture. Then somehow religion and politics got in the way. The world is looking forward to seeing a positive shift again and having the U.S. take its proper place as a world leader on gay issues. Until then, however, you might have to look north to Canada where we can get married, adopt kids and fully participate in our communities.


POOL SHARK

Mark Tewksbury visits Dallas Wednesday through Friday.

On Nov. 15 at 8 p.m., he attends a welcome party that begins at The Round-Up Saloon, 3912 Cedar Springs Road.

Nov. 16, he'll attend a GLBT Chamber mixer at Creative Events of Dallas.

Nov. 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tewksbury attends a book signing for "Inside Out" at Crossroads Market Bookstore & Cafe, 3930 Cedar Springs Road.


READY! SET! HUT!

Whatever you do, don't call it powder puff.

The Dallas Rage, a women's tackle football team, is gearing up for the 2007 season. A member of the National Women's Football Association, the Rage holds tryouts for the 2007 season.

First tryout session is on Sunday afternoon at Pennington Field in Bedford, Texas. A second session is scheduled for Nov. 19 at Trinity View Park in Irving.

Advice for hopefuls: Wear cleats, if you have them. A pair of cross-trainers will work, too. Also bring workout clothes, proof of insurance and a $35 tryout fee. Participants should also pack drinking water and a towel.

Coaches don't expect you to be in "football shape." But before the season starts, you will be able to run mile after mile. Coaches are looking for heart and dedication. Everything else can be taught.

During tryouts, coaches concentrate on running and agility drills: no hitting and no pads that comes later. After running and agility, they see if you catch, kick and throw.

In 2005, lesbian team member Rachel Golston, pictured, led the National Women's Football Association in receptions. And that same year, her partner Twyla Smith lead the Rage in quarterback sacks and was named to the Women's Professional Football Association's all-star team.

Nov. 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pennington Field, 1501 Central Dr., Bedford, Texas. Nov. 19, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Trinity View Park, 2221 East State Highway 356, Irving. 817-335-2925. DallasRageFootball.com.

For information on the National Women's Football Association, visit WomensFootballAssociation.com.


HORMONE THERAPY

Beefcake photographer Joe Oppedisano just released "Testosterone," (Bruno Gmuender, $77), one of the most mouthwatering collections of raw masculinity.

From gay-swimmer tableaux to exhausted pugilists, athletic worship is just one of the coffee-table book's many themes. There's also plenty of leather, dirt, bathroom encounters, fight-club scenes and dimly lit stairwell sex.

A former fashion editor for W and Vanity Fair, Oppedisano has a razor-sharp eye. You might want to e-mail Santa and tell him what a nice jock-sniffer you've been.

Daniel A. Kusner




This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, November 10, 2006.