Between Borders X Glasgow Gazelles
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Between Borders X Glasgow Gazelles
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Sport
Words By: Luc Hinson
Artwork: Emily Pearman
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In Continuation of our series on sport, and how it impacts peoples lives off the court we sat down with Coach Lesley of the Glasgow Gazelles to discuss the all female and gender non-binary basketball collective. Lesley talked us through the origin of the collective, and its' journey north from Hackney , the unique richness of Glasgow and the importance of equal pay in sports. Read the full interview below, and if you're in Glasgow or Hackney, drop the Gazelles a message and get involved.
BB: Why did you set up Glasgow Gazelles?
GG: Basketball has always been a big passion of mine. Despite growing up in the west coast of Scotland where there aren’t really any outdoor basketball courts. In 2014 I moved to London and in 2016 I bought my first basketball in probably 20 years. I started messing around with flatmates then gradually started practising myself and eventually challenging whoever was at the court (mainly men) to games of HORSE or 1 on 1 in London Fields park. Eventually, I accidentally came across Hackney Gazelles. Not realising they were a full team and just excited to see other woman playing basketball and just in general people roughly my height I approached them for a 2 on 2.
After that I barely missed a single Gazelles session, playing with them twice weekly and practising in between. I made the decision to return to Glasgow in 2017 and dreaded the thought of not having basketball as an outlet. It was a no brainer for me to start a Glasgow contingent of Gazelles. Especially as when I approached Bwalya (who originally started the Gazelles collective) she championed the idea with such enthusiasm and support, as did the other Gazelles, that it became less of a question or should I? And more of when? I liked the idea of bridging the gap between Glasgow and London. I think the UK as a whole has a lot to still learn from the diversity that exists in London. (Coach Lesley)
BB: tell us a bit about Glasgow, what’s the city like?
GG: In three words it would be welcoming, authentic and humble. Inhabitants of Glasgow rival Canadians in terms of their friendliness. If you don't believe me try introducing yourself to a stranger on a night out. They'll likely take you to a party, split the taxi home and invite you to their wedding! Authentic in different ways. In the sense, the city has a growing international pull but still feels very authentically Scottish. Also, people love to celebrate one another here but will quickly call you on your bullshit if your efforts are deemed ingenuine. And lastly humble because Glasgow is predominantly a working-class city, who's environmental landscape never seems to dramatically change. The city and in particular south of the city are evolving fairly rapidly; coffee shops, paddle yoga, artist studios, makers markets, queer bookstores may be springing up but on a classic grey day in Glasgow the backdrop remains consistently gritty and in spite of this even the hardest person you know is pleasant beyond normality. Some of the best people you've yet to meet live in Glasgow.
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"I believe there is a massive opportunity here for a sport with no religious or bigoted ties to attract our youth and to dramatically diversify and expand what sport means to Scotland."
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BB: Would you describe Glasgow as an integrated city, or does the shadow of its' sectarian past still loom over to this day?
GG: In short yes it most definitely still exists. Growing up an avid football fan, in support of an old firm team sectarianism was normalised. This culture combined with sexism has certainly deterred me from pursuing as keen an interest in football into adulthood. Although realistically I know basketball has a long way to go in rivalling football in Glasgow as the predominant sport. However I believe there is a massive opportunity here for a sport with no religious or bigoted ties to attract our youth and to dramatically diversify and expand what sport means to Scotland.
BB: Outside of physical exercise, what does basketball provide you with?
GG: The Glasgow Gazelles basketball collective allows us to meet people with a similar passion for community and sport, but diverse experiences, interests, and perspectives--it provides us with opportunities to create and build friendships outside of our academic and professional communities. By joining the collective, many of us are trying out a new activity or new skills, reminding ourselves and our peers that it is never too late to learn something new or connect with an old passion. Within a supportive and non-intimidating environment, this allows all members to build self-esteem and positive personal development. It gives the Glasgow team an instant community in London and vice versa in which they can drop in to when they’re travelling. Overwhelmingly the team have fed back that it has endless benefits to their mental health.
Q: Who were your sporting icons growing up ?
GG:
• The late nineties/ early noughties Celtic superstar, Henrik Larrson.
• The legend that is, Michael Jordan.
• Venus and Serena Williams. Mainly because they were the only consistently televised female sporting icons that I saw at the time.
BB: What is it about sport that makes it so effective at bringing people together?
GG: Like anything else, depending on how it’s run and who runs it, sport can be as effective in dividing people as it is in bringing people together. But Glasgow Gazelles treats the difference of its members (whether that be physical ability, skill, or experience) as a strength, using weekly games as a space in which to forge new friendships and learn from one another. From different ball-handling skills to left-hand layups, it is about building a communal environment that supports each individual to develop their game. Being able to play and practice with different people every session - with a vibrant and diverse skill set - means every meetup brings new game challenges, opportunity for advice and learning in both one-on-one and team situations. The fluidity of sharing techniques and life experience is empowering to individuals, as well as bringing people together in numbers.
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"From different ball-handling skills to left-hand layups, it is about building a communal environment that supports each individual to develop their game"
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Q: how can the patriarchal narrative found across sport be challenged in the 21st century?
GG: The relationship between visibility and equality for any marginalised group is tricky. These two things don't equal each other, though it's clear that in professional women's sport there is a link between visibility and pay. In terms of how to best challenge patriarchy within that sphere, this can perhaps be done most efficiently by seeking a basis for equal minimum pay, which in turn can only be achieved by reporting the facts of pay disparities between men and women as widely as possible and using those facts as a ballast from which to lobby the companies and owners of professional teams. Such conversations are the bedrock of feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down, for example.
In terms of recreational sport, forming a group with clear desires for a supportive and equitable game is key to developing and enjoying alternatives to patriarchy on the court or on the field. Toronto's queer basketball group SQWISH has a Community Agreement, for example, that outlines positive gaming that "dismantles machismo, checking yourself and others for aggressive, hostile or dominating behaviour". Similarly, at the heart of Glasgow Gazelles in the Womanifesto, which explicitly states our game is "a safe space for female-identifying and non-binary persons, and that we do not tolerate intimidating and aggressive behaviour".
BB: What do you hope the rest of 2018 brings for the Gazelles?
GG: With our numbers increasing and diversifying consistently through the first half of the year, we hope that the rest of 2018 will allow us to continue to develop our individual game and skill level as a team. We’ll be looking to invite guest coaches to keep the inspiration fresh and for funding to buy better equipment and be able to book out a set space and time during winter. There may also be a basketball retreat in the pipelines! And we will certainly continue to take up space around the city. Overall to further explore the potential opportunities for our unique and talented community, both on and off the court.
Check the Gazelles out on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/glasgowgazelles/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/hackneygazelles/?hl=en
Happy Hooping!
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CONTEMPORARY CONVERSATIONS
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