The Sexist » Gay Games

Fenty Promises “Most Sucessful Gay Games In History”

Amanda Hess — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:09:53 +0000

Chicago's Gay Games 2006: Shit, this looks awesome.

D.C. has submitted its formal, 237-page bid to host the 2014 Gay Games, the Washington Blade reports. The District will compete with Boston and Cleveland for the honors of putting on this gay Olympics of sorts.

The bid included a letter from Mayor Adrian Fenty declaring: “Please know that the District of Columbia stands with you as a full partner in this bid. We will work with you to provide the resources necessary to ensure the most successful games in history.”

The bid outlined specific details about the District's plans for official ceremonies, games, and social events, including beach volleyball "alongside the Potomac River in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial," a "gay gospel concert," and a film festival hosted by LGBT film organization Reel Affirmations.

The bid also outlines plans to reach out to younger competitors with "exhibition sports like skateboarding, ultimate Frisbee and rock climbing”; female athletes with a "women’s sports symposium"; and children of same-sex couples with "a day at the National Zoo and kite flying on the Mall."

The D.C. Gay Games Bid Committee also plans to attempt one feat never performed at previous Gay Games: profitability. According to the Blade, "The budget and financial management section of the bid notes that past Games were financially unsuccessful, with the host city benefiting as the organizing committee was left in the red."

UPDATE: Kevin Boyer, Federation of Gay Games spokesperson, writes in with a correction: "While it is true that some past Gay Games have ended in the red, the 2006 Gay Games broke even. (The 1982 and 1986 Gay Games also ended in the black)."

Photo by Der Etienne

Gay Games Update: D.C. Still Could Get Gay Games!

Amanda Hess — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:29:09 +0000

Metro Weekly has an update on Washington, D.C.'s bid for the 2014 Gay Games. According to the paper, "D.C.'s bid, which included a requisite $1,000 fee, came from the Metropolitan Washington Gaymes Inc., a nonprofit 501c3 set up specifically for the Gay Games bid." Brent Minor, president of GLBT sporting organization Team DC, attended the Federation of Gay Games meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, last month, where he was elected co-president of the organization's Board of Directors. ''Washington, D.C., has a strong, committed, diverse organizing committee that is experienced in running international gay, sport tournaments," he said of D.C.'s chances. "Our clubs have hosted every major gay, sport tournament that there is. I think that bodes well for our city.''

D.C. Could Get Gay Games!

Amanda Hess — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:56:31 +0000

D.C. is one of the final four cities that will vie to host the 2014 Gay Games, the 9th quadrennial competition that was created to "foster and augment the self-respect of lesbians and gay men throughout the world."

D.C. will compete with Boston (ugh), Miami (booo), and Cleveland (sucks) to host these gay Olympics of sorts. Steel yourself, D.C.: The selection process is a long one. We'll have to wait until October of next year to find out which of the cities (ooh! pick us!) will get the honor.