The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team recently hosted its first-ever Gay Day and asked Mark Tewksbury, Canadian Olympic gold-medal recipient (100-meter backstroke in Barcelona ’92) to join the festivities. The handsome, out athlete (who graced the cover of Time Magazine after his victory) made tracks to Toronto, met up with “Queer as Folk” pal Sharon Gless and reports on the Blue Jays innings and outings on this memorable day. – Ed Salvato, editor, OUT&ABOUT;

Gay Jays

My phone rings. It’s Cindy Hewitt, community director of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. The Jays are having their first ever “Gay Day,” she says. Would I like to be there? Hmm, let’s see. Balls, bats and Big League boys. Hardly something any self-respecting gay man could refuse. So I didn’t!
Click here for our just-updated guide to gay Canada.

Since winning the Olympics 12 years ago, I have found myself in the rarest of categories: gay sports celebrity. It’s ironic, because I throw like a girl, can’t skate and usually trip when I go to kick a ball. Thankfully I wouldn’t have to worry about any of this. Sharon Gless, the over-the-top PFLAG mom from Queer as Folk, would be throwing the first ceremonial pitch. I was offered the Vanna White supporting role of check presenter. Look out Toronto, here I come!