Overview
Originally formed at the 1990 Gay Games III in Vancouver, B.C., Canada - the first time martial arts were ever held at the Gay Games - the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Martial Artists (IAGLMA, formerly known as HiMA) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to outreach, inclusion and education for the gay, lesbian and supportive martial arts communities through the martial arts and self defense on local, national and international levels.
IAGLMA welcomes martial artists and all interested parties from around the world. Our membership currently includes:
- martial artists from Australia, Canada, China, England, France, Italy, Germany Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, United States and West Africa;
- practitioners of all styles - competitive and non-competitive (such as many styles of Aikido), mat and floor practitioners;
- martial artists of all abilities - including those with special needs;
- martial artists of all ages, ranks and levels of martial arts and self defense experience;
- schools and organizations committed to our goals and mission.
IAGLMA is committed to the ideal of multi-style educational martial arts and self defense seminars and multi-style tournaments. Our goals are to:
- provide a safe and inclusive environment for all lesbian, gay and supportive martial artists;
- ensure gender parity for women in all levels of the martial arts;
- ensure the inclusion of martial artists with special needs;
- provide multi-style seminars, tournaments and learning opportunities within the international martial artists community -- all styles, ranks, ages and abilities;
- continue our international outreach to include diversity of styles among our members and directors and to educate through the martial arts and self defense;
- work in partnership with traditional, local, national and international martial arts organizations to promote our ideals of inclusion, safety, respect, participation and attainment of personal best;
- work within and teach our lesbian and gay community worldwide to educate, empower and protect ourselves through local, national and international self defense seminars offered to the general public.
The Federation of Gay Games
IAGLMA served as a voting director of the Federation of Gay Games from 1994 to 2006.. IAGLMA now continues to serve actively as a full member of the Federation.
IAGLMA members Kathleen Webster served as Federation Copresident and is an Honorary Life Member, Teresa Galetti serves on the board as Cochair of Governance Committee, Darl Schaaff serves on the board as Cochair of the Site Selection Committee.
Wherever Gay Games is, IAGLMA will be there and the IAGLMA Rules will govern the martial arts events. Visit The Federation of Gay Games web site!
The IAGLMA Rules
To further our goals of inclusion for all martial artists, IAGLMA has revised international, standard semi-contact multi-style tournament competition rules to ensure gender parity and the inclusion of those with special needs in form, sparring and judging - unheard of until the Gay Games. The IAGLMA Rules promote inclusion and emphasize safety, fairness, professionalism and the attainment of one's personal best.
To date, the IAGLMA Rules have governed the martial arts events at:
- Gay Games IV in New York, NY, USA 1994 : EuroGames IV in Berlin, Germany 1996; IAGLMA's Get Ready for Gay Games V International Multi-Style Martial Arts Tournament and Martial Arts and Self Defense Seminars in Philadelphia, PA, USA in May 1997 Gay Games V in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in August 1998 , Gay Games VI Sydney, Australia 2002, Euro Games Munich 2004, Get Ready for Gay Games VII Tournament London, 2005,Gay Games VII Chicago, USA 2006, International Tournament Paris 2006, 07, 08.
- Numerous training tournaments and events in Sydney Australia, SF, USA, Munich, Germany, Paris, France.
and will govern the martial arts events for:
- Gay Games VIII Cologne, Germany
Self-Defense Division for Mat and Floor Stylists
IAGLMA has also instituted a self defense division in our multi-style tournaments which is open to all martial arts and self-defense practitioners, for example Aikido and Judo practitioners, as well as non-mat or floor stylists. The self defense competition is another means for all martial artists to come together to learn and compete. This division premiered at the 1994 Gay Games and has been well received in Europe, Australia and the US to date.
Learning/Preparation Tournament Workshops and Judges Certification Clinics
IAGLMA sponsors clinics so that all competitors can have the opportunity to practice under the IAGLMA Rules - and so that all black belts interested in judging can gain experience in a tournament setting and fulfill the requirements necessary to become an IAGLMA-certified referee. IAGLMA certification is required for black belts to judge in Gay Games VI, all IAGLMA events and future Gay Games.
If you would like to host an IAGLMA Learning/Preparation Tournament Workshop and Judges Certification Clinic, please contact Teresa Galetti for more information.
The Board of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors are directly involved in all aspects of management, planning and outreach on behalf of the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Martial Artists (IAGLMA). Since our formation in 1990, IAGLMA has been instrumental in the education, support and development of opportunities for Gay and Lesbian martial artists and our supporters through the martial arts and self defense. Our members have updated international multi-style semi-contact competition rules to ensure inclusion, gender parity, safety and the attainment of one's personal best and we have created awareness and heightened interest in the martial arts for Lesbian and Gay martial artists worldwide.
We welcome martial artists of all styles, abilities and ages from around the world. Our goals are to include the largest geographic and martial arts style representation, as well as gender parity, among our board members. Membership on this Board of Directors requires a commitment of energy and expertise so that - together - we may continue our commitment to education and outreach to all martial artists everywhere.
Board of Directors Application
For a Board of Directors Information Packet, please contact:
