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 Cyndi Lauper performs at Gay Games VII.
Olympic athletes have been invited to participate in the next Gay Games, regardless of their sexuality.
The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) issued the invitation to the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, as the Beijing Olympics got underway last Friday.
FGG co-president Emy Ritt said the Gay Games “welcomes all sport and culture participants without regard to their sexual orientation, age or physical abilities”.
The FGG also saluted those openly gay athletes competing in the Olympics, urging LGBTIQ people to send ‘hero’ messages to support them.
The FGG identified eleven out athletes competing in the Olympics: Gay Games Ambassador Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling); Linda Bresonik (Germany, soccer); Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing); Vicky Galindo (USA, softball); Gro Hammerseng and Katja Nyberg (Norway, handball, and a lesbian couple); Natasha Kai (USA, soccer); Lauren Lappin (USA, softball); Victoria ‘Vickan’ Svensson (Sweden, soccer); and two Australians, Matthew Mitcham (diving) and Rennae Stubbs (tennis).
Stubbs, who came out in 2006, highlighted the impact out sportspeople can have in reducing homophobia in an interview in The Age.
“Everyone in the tennis world pretty much knows who’s gay and who’s not; the only reason I would like it spoken about publicly more is that I wish everybody would realise that, ‘See all those people you admire? Out of 10 of them, four are gay, and I just want you to know that your child can still idolise them.’”
Matthew Mitcham came out when he casually remarked during an interview with a Sydney Morning Herald journalist that he lived with his boyfriend.
The news made international headlines, with UK newspaper The Independent running the headline, ‘Gay diver breaks Australian sporting taboo’.
Mitcham acknowledges himself as a role model for younger gay people.
“Being in my position, it’s inevitable,” he told MCV earlier this year. “There’s not really much choice. If someone looks up to you then you’re a role model. And I’m happy with that.”
Olympic silver medalist, cyclist Michelle Ferris, who came out in MCV’s sister publication Cherrie this year, encourages all lesbian and gay Olympians to come out.
“Until we have full legal and societal equality, gays and lesbians, especially those with a public profile, should come out,” she said.
Caroline Symons, Senior Lecturer in Sports Administration at Victoria University, says that “homophobia can be challenged in the sporting context”.
“Out elite athletes can bring together straight and gay organizations and build bridges between the two. That’s what the Gay Games is about too,” she explained.
Of Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, who came out at the 1994 Gay Games, Symons said: “That was the big one, but there’s a lot more Olympians that are gay and lesbian who haven’t attended the Gay Games.”
The Gay Games were founded by former Olympian Tom Waddell, who represented the USA in decathlon at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
“He was passionate about what the Olympics originally stood for,” Symons said. “The Gay Games really represents the ideals of the Olympics.”
www.gaygames.com
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