July 14, 2010 19 KAHRL from cover daily, about mostly,” Kahrl said. “I think we’ve benefited from each other. We’re to do the job. The fact that I am transgender just working professionals in this industry. I is no different from, say, the blind sportswriter think it’s helped each of us as far as positive who is at the park all of the time. It’s interest- reinforcement. ing on an abstract level, but not really relevant “Losing Christine Daniels was something of a to how well I write a game story or just cover wakeup call. baseball as a whole.” “One of the reasons we participated in the HBO thing was, it’s important to remind peo- Force Kahrl is a pro at the park, period. Be it Wrig- ple of the positive examples in part because team members ley Field or U.S. Cellular, when she reports from we take for granted that there are so many in Sweden. home games for the and Chicago unhappy examples of how trans folk are not Photo courtesy White Sox, respectively. accepted. The bigotry and difficulties that so of the Force Or earlier this season when she attended home baseball games of the New York Yankees, many of us confront, or have to deal with, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. those are very real. In the wake of yet another Stress-free and issue-free—that’s been Kah- unhappy story—Christine’s—I think it really rl’s baseball world. kind of brought home to me the obligation to “I have not run into the kinds of problems also out that not all of our stories end up unhappy. That being trans does not auto- In the championship game, for instance, Gri- that a lot of people would anticipate,” Kahrl WOMEN’S FOOTBALL matically involve an unhappy ending. We have safe connected with Rusty Sowers for a 31-yard said. “I think that’s reflective of the fact that achieved a lot in the last several decades, and touchdown to end the first half with a com- there’s more capacity for acceptance and good we will continue to achieve.” U.S. wins gold manding 51-point advantage. in American society than bad. That goes for the LGBT community and Major Team USA opened the tournament with a 63-0 “I’m just different from what I used to be in League Baseball as a whole, especially in Chi- in Sweden rout of Austria, and then destroyed Finland one aspect; but I’m still writing the same stuff By Ross Forman cago, where Laura Ricketts is now part of the 72-0. and still enjoying the same work.”

The U.S. won the inaugural International Fed- Grisafe helped Team USA open a 34-0 halftime eration of (IFAF) Women’s lead against Finland with a few TD tosses, in- World Championship in Sweden—and did so in cluding a 47-yarder to Desiree Weimann of the dominating fashion. South California Breakers. Grisafe also added a Chicago was well-represented overseas—by, quarterback sneak for a 47-point advantage with specifically, the of the Indepen- 5:55 still left to play in the third quarter. dent Women’s Football League (IWFL) and mem- wide receiver Rusty Sow- bers of the LGBT community. ers, a Force foe during the IWFL season, won The U.S. defeated Canada 66-0 at Zinkens- MVP honors against Finland as she tallied three damms IP Stadium on Saturday, July 3, for the touchdowns among the United States’ 11 visits gold. Team USA coach John Konecki is an as- to the end zone. sistant boys’ football coach at Crete-Monee High School during the fall and the head coach of the Force. Anthony Stone is a Force assistant Gay hockey assn. coach, and was the defensive coordinator for raises money Team USA. Christina Kahrl. Photo by Tracy Baim “Canada was an excellent team and we had to at Crew work hard to prepare and play against them. I By Ross Forman feel honored to have coached Team USA. It is a Kahrl talks baseball with the best of them. She ownership team/family of the Chicago Cubs. remarkable group of women,” Konecki said. Kevin Bryson was the grand-prize winner July talks to heterosexual fans at the park and at She was one of four Ricketts family members Jamie Menzyk of the Force was named the 1, when the Chicago Gay Hockey Association book signings. who sang “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” on championship game’s MVP with fierce blocking. (CGHA) held a fundraiser at Crew Bar on the Baseball is just her passion, and her profes- Opening Day at Wrigley Field. She was joined in Sweden by Force teammates north side. sion. “It is a wonderful opportunity for the LGBT Angie Bandstra, Keesha Brooks, Sami Grisafe, He skated away with an autographed Brent So- And this summer she’ll be with all the names community under the Ricketts family, and also Patricia Harper, Kim Marks, Jamie Menzyk and pel jersey. “It’s awesome,” of the game when she covers the annual Major for Wrigleyville and Lakeview, and so much Dawn Pederson. Force General Manager Linda Bryson said of the jersey. League Baseball All-Star Game in Anaheim, Ca- more,” Kahrl said. “I’m kind of hopeful that Bache also attended the tournament. However, Bryson said he’s giving it away—to lif., in July. the Cubs become an active social institution Finland won the bronze medal with a 26-18 a friend who collects such items. “Everyone is civil, polite and grown up; there within the community, and I think that’s where win over Germany. Sweden took fifth place with “It’ll make his day; he’ll go crazy,” said Bryson, is no rioting in the streets because there’s a the Ricketts [family] is going with the team. I a 20-18 final-day win over Austria. 40, who lives in Chicago’s Edgewater neighbor- transgender sportswriter in town,” said Kahrl. think that’s going to be good for Chicago as a “It was amazing to win the gold medal. It was hood. “I easily could be someone you’re related to, whole, especially the North Side and the LGBT very emotional. We played an awesome team The CGHA fundraiser was a benefit for Sopel’s someone you have a random conversation community, because there are a lot of gay, les- and it feels great to be in this moment,” said personal charity, Angels Get Their Wings. with, someone living in your condo building; bian, transgender and bisexual baseball fans. I Sharon Vasquez of the , whom Sopel, who won the 2010 with the I just happen to be a sportswriter.” think the Cubs should be reaching out to the the Force defeated this past May in Chicago. Chicago Blackhawks and has since been traded She attended the annual baseball winter LGBT community as much as they reach out to The U.S. now hold all IFAF tackle football to the , rode with his wife, meetings in December and met several baseball anyone.” world titles with the USA Football Women’s Na- Kelly, on the CGHA float in the annual Chicago executives for the first time. tional Team joining their male counterparts, who Gay Pride Parade June 27. Again, no issues. More about Christina Kahrl: won the senior crown in 2007 against Japan, “We’re honored to be associated with Kelly So, does that mean baseball is ready for an —Dating: “After transitioning, I dated men and the juniors (aged 19 and under), who beat and Brent Sopel, and the Angels Get Their Wings openly gay active player? exclusively for several years, then [played] for Canada to lift the 2009 IFAF Junior World Cham- charity,” said CGHA team president Andrew So- Hmmm, eventually, she said. Within 20 years, both teams. Now women [only], and I’m dating pionship. botka. “This fundraiser was just the first of many mainly because it’s already happening at the Charley Wannamaker, who moved to Chicago “The experience in Sweden was amazing,” initiatives that the CGHA will be doing to help high school and college level. last fall.” Bandstra said. “The chemistry between 45 wom- Sopel and his charity. It’s the least we can do af- “I’m looking forward to the day when it just —It’s a fact: Before the 2009 season, she en from 22 different teams could not have been ter the enormous, ground-breaking move Sopel doesn’t matter that there are out gay athletes asked the BWAA if they had any concerns or any better. made by volunteering to join the CGHA in the in the major sports, and there basically is no hesitations, knowing she is transgender. She “The girls from the Force landed in Austin, Chicago Gay Pride Parade.” closet because, well, no one really cares,” Kahrl was told they support her 100 percent. [Texas] on Saturday night, [June 26], and we Added Bryson: “It really was a historic parade said. “The bottom line is, all everyone really —On the real Christina Kahrl: “The real had team meetings into the evening. Sunday this year. Between Sopel, the Stanley Cup, the cares about is, whether or not that [gay] ath- Christina Kahrl is someone who is very inter- morning, the 45 individuals came together as [Chicago] Cubs also having a float and more, it lete helped them win the game. ested in family and love, loves cooking, loves one and we became 45 strong. I have never felt really was an exciting time in Chicago history.” “So will it happen? Yes, eventually, “and I living in Rogers Park, loves walking her dog a bond between a team like this before. We had The CGHA has a full day of hockey scheduled think the capacity for society at large to ac- at beach, watches the sunrise, enjoys hanging two-a-day [practices] in Austin for five days, for Saturday, July 17, in north suburban North- cept [him] is stronger than most people antici- out at The Glenwood, does volunteer work on which was very intense. brook. The team will host a practice/scrimmage pate.” behalf of the LGBT community.” “While we were in Sweden, we overcame a lot that is open to the public, starting at 1 p.m., at After all, they accept Kahrl, in her sorority of —Final thought: “I love being in Chicago of adversity, but we knew that if we stayed to- the North Shore Ice Arena, 2111 Founders. two. and all that Chicago has to offer—not just the gether we would never be defeated. We left no The practice is followed by a potluck BBQ at Kahrl and Bobbie Dittmeier of MLB.com are baseball. It is the best of all American cities. doubt that we were the best in the world. Our nearby Techny Park, at 3-5 p.m. the lone out transgender sportswriters cover- Accepting communities, a great cultural scene, mission statement was: One team, One mission. The CGHA returns to the North Shore Ice Arena ing the national pastime. The late Christine incredible restaurants and so much more.” “On Saturday, [July 3,] our mission was com- at 5:30 p.m. for a game between its Chicago Daniels of the Los Angeles Times was a trans Read much more about Christina Kahrl, in- pleted. Mission gold.” Blackwolves team and the Black Magic. writer who committed suicide last November. cluding what it was like growing up, online Quarterback Grisafe did for Team USA what she For more information on the CGHA, visit www. The three were profiled this spring on HBO. at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. regularly does for the Force: generate offense. chicagogayhockey.org. “Bobbie and I are very close; we IM almost