OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Outgames
Vancouver To Host 2011 OutGames
Here’s some good news for all the gay althetes out there. Vancouver has been selected as the host city for the 2011 North American Continental OutGames. Canada’s third-largest city, which is also is hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, will be well-equipped to accommodate the events and athletes with some brand-new facilities.
Canada’s no stranger to the OutGames. The first World OutGames were held in Montréal in 2006, and the first North American Continental OutGames were held in Calgary. Vancouver’s announcement means Canada will have played host to exactly half of all OutGames thus far, including those in which it’s ineligible to host (The Asia Pacific Continental OutGames). Just another plus to living in an officially homosexual country!
- Vancouver to host Outgames a year after Winter Olympics [Times Colonist]
- Outgames mix sport and diversity [24 Hours Vancouver]
Calgary Launches Gay Outgames
Well, they did it! The first-ever Continental Outgames was launched this week in Calgary, Alberta. The games are supposedly the largest gay-themed event ever held in the province of Alberta (the second-biggest being the time I accidentally bumped into another guy on the C-Train).
While I questioned the choice in venue before, it does go to show that Alberta isn’t all Ted Mortons, Fred Henrys, Rob Anders…ses, and Ralph Kleins. Happily, the games have been met with enthusiasm, and the coinciding human rights conference has brought some extra perspective to Cowtown. The games have even drawn some influential speakers: Judy Shepard gave a passionate speech about gay awareness, and comedian Lily Tomlin is scheduled to close the games on Saturday.
So, overall, I guess there wasn’t much to worry about! Or maybe those delightfully wacky, “non-hateful” protesters just haven’t finished their Thursday night homophobic sign crafting class. Either way: So far, so good!
In semi-related news, the amazingly tasteful and universally adored editors at Calgary’s Swerve Magazine have apparently commissioned some awesomely gay illustrations for their issue on the Outgames. I haven’t seen it in person myself, but professional framers are predicting that the cover picture may become more popular than Whistler’s Mother… Or, uh, so I’ve been told.
Well, have a great Wednesday, kids!
Continental Outgames Gets Unlikely Host
With the 1st World Outgames in Montréal set to be an amazing success, it’s time for the spinoffs! In fact, the 1st Contentental Outgames for North America are already set to be held in April next year! And the host city is…
Calgary, Alberta.
No, really. You know, the same province where bans on same-sex marriage are still being mulled over, where the provincial government nearly passed legislation making it legal for teachers to refuse to acknowledge that same-sex marriage exists, where the Premier promises to make it legal for marriage comissioners to refuse to file the provincial paperwork for gay couples, and the same city where Pride parade protesters caused a huge scene out of fear of contracting AIDS… That Calgary.
Of course, the game planners are aware of Calgary’s, uh, less-than-friendly reputation, but Executive Director Brad Bostock, thinks this won’t be a problem.
There are perceptions that Calgary may not be the most hospitable city to host this, but we’ve hosted the Western Cup. Next year will be our 25th anniversary.
I see… But, really, I think the games should go off without a hitch. After all, the best way to educate an irrationally anti-gay mind is to show the benefits of diversi—oh, who am I kidding; these wingnuts are going to protest day and night.
- Gay and lesbian Outgames coming to Calgary [CHQR News]
Athlete Weddings Galore
Well, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Numerous gay couples and athletes attending the 1st World Outgames in Montréal this month have chosen to wed while they’re here!
Canada is, of course, only one of four countries with equal marriage rights, and this gives Outgame participants the perfect opportunity to get a real wedding. (You know, none of that “civil union” nonsense.) In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some couples even seek refugee status from their home(ophobic) countries while here. (I hear it’s all the rage in India, after all.)
So, to all the soon-to-be-wedded couples, congratulations! I’m sure you’ll be very happy together with proper recognition! Uh, provided our new conservative government will issue you your visas…
- Wedding bells ring in the Outgames [Montreal Gazette]
Visa Delays for Out Games Participants
The 1st World Out Games for gay athletes, to be held in Montreal from July 26th to August 5th, has run into a teensy little problem. Nearly 250 of the foreign athletes to compete, it appears, still have not yet been granted visas by the federal government.
Immigration minister, Monte Solberg (who, incidentally, voted against the marriage equality bill last year), issued a statement through his office saying that they are not discriminating based on sexual orientation, and that many visa applications are still in the review process. In fact, it turns out that several of the athletes have criminal records causing the government to go into a lengthy review.
The problem with this? Many of these criminal records are for athletes who were persecuted in their respective countries for being homosexual.
Hmm… This doesn’t bode well, Monte. You might want to speed the review process along here. After all, there’s no fury quite like that of a gay man deprived of throwing his men’s-diving-watching party!
- Visa delays plague games for gays [CBC News]
