Gay Games 9 - Cleveland, OH

[dannyboynyc]

Gay Games 9 has been in Cleveland, OH this week. Compared to cities where past Gay Games have been held - San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Vancouver, Sydney - selecting Cleveland for GG9 was a bit of a surprise.

 

I was born and raised in Cleveland and moved to NYC in 1987. I've watched the downward slide of Cleveland, and now ongoing improvement from afar.

 

Having the Gay Games in Cleveland brought LGBT participants from all over the world here. (I've heard estimates of participants anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000; with other visitors, the number is up to 20,000 people coming to Cleveland.) The Games took place in Cleveland and Akron. The participants with whom I spoke were very impressed with Cleveland - commenting on the friendliness, cleanliness and general open attitude of residents. Local news stations have been covering the Gay Games - spreading the message that lots of LGBT people are here.

 

The Federation of Gay Games took a risk selecting Cleveland for this year's Games. The results were very positive. In addition to hosting many sporting events, Gay Games 9 has spread the message of diversity and inclusion in northeast Ohio.

 

Dan

[Diverdan]

Dan,

Great to hear. Thanks for posting.

DD

[Steven_Draker]

http://gaygames.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jasonadellrainbow1.jpg

 

http://www.clevescene.com/imager/22-photos-of-the-cleveland-gay-games-9-ope/b/slideshow/4352698/e87e/a-2.jpg

 

http://www.advocate.com/sites/advocate.com/files/imce/uploadedimages/boo/2014ClevelandGG11.jpg

 

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2014/08/Screen-Shot-2014-08-14-at-1.54.50-PM-670x446.png

[Steven_Draker]

http://www.homorazzi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/gay-games-2014.jpg

 

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e8cbcebc31fb3569a05caf38f4dad4f6d2f39016/c=1-0-560-420&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/WKYC/WKYC/2014/05/29/1401358207000-Gay-Games-diver.jpg

 

http://www.gg9cle.com/img/PhotoGallery/d4c448ca-9158-4e9a-9a5c-1a6a39b6a49d.jpg

 

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/assets/2014/08/Gay-Games-1.jpg

 

Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/gay-games-2014_n_5672107.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices

[Steven_Draker]

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2014/08/Screen-Shot-2014-08-14-at-1.54.34-PM-670x446.png

 

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2014/08/Screen-Shot-2014-08-14-at-1.49.42-PM-670x445.png

 

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2014/08/Screen-Shot-2014-08-14-at-1.52.32-PM-670x442.png

 

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2014/08/Screen-Shot-2014-08-14-at-1.54.17-PM-670x444.png

 

Queerty article: http://www.queerty.com/photos-19-more-reasons-to-root-for-the-gay-games-20140815

[dannyboynyc]

I went to the Gay Games 9 Closing Ceremonies last night. I was truly amazed at all the positive energy. The major sponsor of GG9 was the Cleveland Foundation. The Foundation created an LGBT fund for GG9. The fund will continue to support LGBT initiatives in Cleveland. The Akron community foundation is doing the same thing.

 

After the ceremony and entertainment, I went to dinner with another volunteer. After dinner, walking back to our cars, a couple of women walked up and gave us big hugs. (We both were wearing volunteer t-shirts.) That was SO amazing!

 

GG9 was a huge success and is has spread the message of inclusion to northeast Ohio. This is bound to push Ohio from being a purple to a blue state.

[Steven_Draker]

I fondly remember my very first Gay Games (GGV) in Amsterdam in 1998.

 

I was so innocent, young and shy then. I just couldn't comprehend the amazing outpouring affection and love people were spreading around on the streets.

 

It was a blast.

[+ Axiom2001]

The Gay Games, formerly known as the Gay Olympics, began in 1982 in San Francisco by the late Dr. Tom Waddell. I went to the opening and closing ceremonies, two events that I shall forever remember. Tina Turner was one of the highlights of the closing ceremonies!