Roger Brigham, former B.A.R. sports columnist and gay games legend, passed away in March 2025 at 71.
According to reports, the LGBTQ sports legend Roger Brigham was suffering from renal and cardiac issues.
The acclaimed journalist was the columnist for various publications, notably the Bay Area Reporter, where he covered LGBTQ and sports news for 15 years before retiring in 2022.
If only we all had an impact on the LGBTQ community like this trailblazing man, who died this week… https://t.co/3NViaChRuO
— Outsports (@outsports) March 7, 2025
Similarly, in 1982, he became the first openly gay sports editor at a metropolitan daily newspaper, the Anchorage Daily Mirror.
His work has appeared in more than 20 publications, and the legendary LGBTQ sports writer won 20+ national and local awards for writing, editing, and design.
Brighman was also inducted into the LGBT Sports Hall of Fame and the Wrestlers WithOut Borders Hall of Merit.
He contributed his efforts working on behalf of the Federation of Gay Games, which honored his legacy by appointing him an Honorary Lifetime Member.
He also became one of the only 15 recipients of the prestigious Tom Waddell Award, named after the founder of the Gay Games and awarded by the Federation of Gay Games.
The entire sports community is mourning the loss of legendary journalist Roger Brigham and paying tribute to him.
The late Roger Brigham is a legend in the world of gay wrestling
In addition to his reporting journey, Roger was an exceptional wrestler who wrestled at several Gay Games.
He served as the chair of Wrestlers WithOut Borders for over 22 years and was the wrestling coach of Mission SF High School for 18 years.
Similarly, he founded San Francisco Alliance Wrestling in 2007, where he served as the coach.
He was also the founder of the Equality Coaching Alliance, which was established in 2011.
Fellow wrestler and wrestling coach Carlin Yetts took to his Facebook page to pay tribute to the legendary wrestler.
He wrote,
“Your counseling through the years while I was a youth coach and guidance of my emotions paved the way for me to grow not as a coach but to be a better human, You showed me your vulnerable side, and when you confided in me, I returned with the same warmth and conform you did with me.”
Outsports
Roger Brigham will be remembered for his contributions to the field of journalism and the Gay Games.
He is survived by his longtime husband, Eduardor Guardarramas.
Talking about his husband, Eduardor Guardarramas has been working in the advertising field for over three decades.
Eduardor has been serving as the production and project manager and senior print manager of Insight Resource Group for over 13 years.
Prior to that, he worked as a senior Print Production manager at HeadQuarters Advertising for six years and as a Senior project manager at Maiden Lane for almost six years.
He began his career working as a senior print production manager of Carol H. Williams Advertising in May 1995 in Oakland, California.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Roger Brigham wrote a cookbook named Recipes for Life and Other Disasters.
- His 1987 series on Death and Disability in Football was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Specialized Reporting.
- Roger began his career in 1976 as a news reporter with the Times Record in Troy, New York.
- He earned his Bachelor of Arts and journalism degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1976. While in college, he was a member of the wrestling team.
