IGLSA WELCOMES LESBIAN EMMY AWARD WINNING COMPOSER, & GAY PLAYGIRL CENTREFOLD, AS PATRONS.

The International Gay & Lesbian Snowsports Association (IGLSA) has announced that Emmy Award winning composer Laura Karpman, and Playgirl centrefold Scott Merritt, are its latest additions to its high profile patron membership.

IGLSA WELCOMES LESBIAN EMMY AWARD WINNING COMPOSER, & GAY PLAYGIRL CENTREFOLD, AS PATRONS.

The International Gay & Lesbian Snowsports Association (IGLSA) has announced that Emmy Award winning composer Laura Karpman, and Playgirl centrefold Scott Merritt, are its latest additions to its high profile patron membership.

Laura Karpman, a keen skier, and composer on Steven Spielbergs recent mini-series 'Taken, has joined the IGLSA as a patron to help the organisation lift its profile and inspire the organisations general membership. "The only two things I can do well are ski and compose music", jokes four-time Emmy award recipient Karpman.

Karpman, a native Californian, feels her two passions of skiing and composing are oddly related; "both involve intense concentration, a keen sense of rhythm, and a fundamental love of solitude".

Also joining the IGLSA is Scott Merritt, a top fashion model who was recently voted by the readers of 'Playgirl magazine to be their '30th Anniversary Man centrefold model. Merritt, who was not at the time openly gay, has since put to rest rumours about his sexuality in the gay press.

Merritt told gay and lesbian news magazine 'The Advocate, "I dont want to hide anymore, period... I'm gay. They [Playgirl] didnt ask me if I was straight, & I didnt lie".

A representative of 'Playgirl confirmed to 'The Advocate that they dont ask models questions relating to their sexuality.

Merritt, who was born and raised in Ontario Canada, first took up skiing and snow-shoeing during his teen age years.

The IGLSA, the only international Snowsports association of its kind, has introduced to the organisation Patrons from across the globe, including ski and snowboarding instructors, and former national Snowsports champions.

The IGLSA has had an online presence at www.gayskiers.org for the last six months, during which time the organisation has been inundated with thousands of enquiries regarding membership.

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NB: Pictures to accompany this release are available for downloading at http://home.clara.net/iglsa/press.htm

Enquiries to: Matt Hobbs, IGLSA -- Tel: +44 (0)7939 150 561.