Cyd Zeigler Jr
Encyclopedia
Cyd Zeigler Jr is a commentator and author in the field of sexuality and sports.
, and lived there through high school. He was a track & field athlete and led his high school track team in scoring three consecutive years. Zeigler graduated from Stanford University
(B.A., Communication, 1995), where he founded Theta Delta Chi
Fraternity, was on the Stanford Men's Ultimate (Frisbee) Team, and was a contributor to the Stanford Review newspaper.
He is a former sports editor for Genre Magazine
, former associate editor for the New York Blade, and has written for the New York Press
and Out Magazine. He has appeared on ESPN
, Fox Sports Radio
, as well as contributing to Sports Illustrated
, Logo
and the New York Times.
In 1999, Zeigler and Jim Buzinski founded Outsports.com. They co-authored "The Outsports Revolution: Truth & Myth in the World of Gay Sports."
Zeigler is credited with breaking the story of John Amaechi
coming out
of the closet in February 2007. Amaechi had contacted Zeigler months before, and Zeigler connected Amaechi with the publicist Howard Bragman
, who had assisted other gay athletes in coming out.
Zeigler presently lives in Los Angeles with his partner, Dan Pinar, a dentist. He previously lived in New York City where he was a research editor for a global financial services firm. He was previously a development executive for Disney Channel
, focusing on their movie and music franchises before leaving in 2001.
Biography
Zeigler (b. May 27, 1973) was born in Harwich, MassachusettsHarwich, Massachusetts
Harwich is a New England town on Cape Cod, in Barnstable County in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The town is a popular vacation spot, located near the Cape Cod National Seashore. Harwich's beaches are on "the Sound side" of Cape...
, and lived there through high school. He was a track & field athlete and led his high school track team in scoring three consecutive years. Zeigler graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(B.A., Communication, 1995), where he founded Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi
Theta Delta Chi is a social fraternity that was founded in 1847 at Union College. While nicknames differ from institution to institution, the most common nicknames for the fraternity are Theta Delt, Thete, TDX, and TDC. Theta Delta Chi brothers refer to their local organization as Charges rather...
Fraternity, was on the Stanford Men's Ultimate (Frisbee) Team, and was a contributor to the Stanford Review newspaper.
He is a former sports editor for Genre Magazine
Genre (magazine)
Genre magazine was a New York city-based monthly periodical written for gay men. It was owned by gay press publisher Window Media.-History:...
, former associate editor for the New York Blade, and has written for the New York Press
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
and Out Magazine. He has appeared on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
, as well as contributing to Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, Logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
and the New York Times.
In 1999, Zeigler and Jim Buzinski founded Outsports.com. They co-authored "The Outsports Revolution: Truth & Myth in the World of Gay Sports."
Zeigler is credited with breaking the story of John Amaechi
John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
of the closet in February 2007. Amaechi had contacted Zeigler months before, and Zeigler connected Amaechi with the publicist Howard Bragman
Howard Bragman
Howard Bragman is an American public relations practitioner, television pundit, writer and lecturer.- Career :Bragman was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and graduated with a B.A from the University of Michigan in 1978...
, who had assisted other gay athletes in coming out.
Zeigler presently lives in Los Angeles with his partner, Dan Pinar, a dentist. He previously lived in New York City where he was a research editor for a global financial services firm. He was previously a development executive for Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
, focusing on their movie and music franchises before leaving in 2001.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards | Outsports Outsports Outsports is a California-based media company whose largest holding is Outsports.com. The company was founded in 1999 by Cyd Zeigler, Jr. and Jim Buzinski. The Web site has served as a media watchdog, sports-entertainment provider and community builder since its founding.The Outsports Revolution ,... |
Excellence in New Media | Won |
| 2010 | GLAAD Media Awards GLAAD Media Awards The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives... |
Former College Football Captain was Openly Gay | Digital Journalism | Nominated |
| 2011 | NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards | Kye Allums: First transgender man playing women's basketball | Online Journalism | 3rd place |