The Battle for the Gay Games Heats Up

categories: LGBT Sports, State LGBT News

Published July 13, 2009 @ 01:29PM PT

Gay Games

We've known for a while now that three U.S. cities are duking it out for the right to host the 2014 Gay Games. We've got Boston and Washington, D.C. on the east coast, and Cleveland, Ohio in the midwest competing for the right to host what's become the largest LGBT athletic gathering in the world.

This month, Cleveland is stepping up its game for its surprise bid to host the games. First they nail down a major corporate sponsor, Continental Airlines, to help them lure the games. And now the city is planning a major festival at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame to help draw support, while committee members from the Gay Games tour through the city in late July.

Of course, there's also the battle of the logos going on between the three cities. And hey, while we hate to admit it, branding is important. The logos are below, and judging on these alone, I'd say it's a tie between Boston and Cleveland, with Washington, D.C. coming in a distant third (hey, no offense to our friends inside the Beltway). Take a look and see....

Cleveland:

Cleveland Gay Games

Boston:

Washington, D.C:

Share this Post

Comments (12)

You know, not to knock Boston or DC, I would really like to see Cleveland to win the bid. Why? Because Ohio is going to be one of the more difficult states to overcome the bigotry against the LGBT community. It is one of the 5 remaining states that do not allow transgendered individuals to change gender on their birth certificates.

Gender change on birth certificates is not my primary reason though, it is to grant the LGBT community much needed exposure in that *difficult to win over* state. This event would put the LGBT community on the economic map as it would clearly give Ohio's economy a much needed boost (at least it needs a boost now - yes all states need a boost at this point, but Ohio is a state that could really use it - much like Michigan.) If the people see the LGBT community as assisting in their economy, they will more likely to be supportive of the community.

It brings about the old cliché, "money talks."

Posted by Dave Hershey on 07/13/2009 @ 01:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Yeah, but yet again, I can also see there then being a need for a lot of police officers to keep back rioters. At least at the Pride in Philly there are only 6 rioters... and even that almost got messy after one ex-gay rioter yelled at a lesbian couple who brought their child to Pride. You just don't tell parents that they're failures and sending the child to hell.

Posted by Amber Bauer on 07/13/2009 @ 05:22PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 2 people like this comment. Like
Should queers go to states with poor LGBT laws to show that we exist or should we boycott states that do not protect us? Carrott or stick? Should Boston and DC be rewarded for having pro-LGBT politics?

Posted by Greg Goldgof on 07/13/2009 @ 08:52PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 2 people like this comment. Like
Amber and Greg, I agree with both of your points. My thought at this point is "kill 'em with kindness." I understand the potential for "rioting" and I also understand the "reward" issue. What I'm looking at is what would further the rights of LGBT Americans. As I said, money talks. If Ohio can see the benefit of having the Games in their state, they will see a greater benefit in supporting the LGBT community. It is just my personal thoughts. We have to face reality. If a state doesn't see the economic benefits they are going to lag WAY behind in furthering our rights.

For me, it would be difficult to get to any of the three venues as I live in San Diego, so it doesn't really matter that much to me as far as attending the event.

Anyway, it is just a thought.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 07/13/2009 @ 10:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Dave
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Cleveland should definitely be the city for the 2014 Gay Games because their doing a lot. With Continental Airlines and with the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Hame's support, their will be success at the 2014 Gay Games. Though Cleveland's logo may not be as impressive as Boston's, Cleveland lies outside the liberal state of Massachusetts and liberal Washington, D.C., though I'm a liberal Democrat, the ascept of LGBT culture should be taken into the more moderate heartland.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 07/13/2009 @ 05:10PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Edwin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I'm hoping it will be in Boston, if it's in Cleaveland it'll be a bit difficult for me to get there. :P

Go Boston!! <333

Posted by Amber Bauer on 07/13/2009 @ 05:19PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Amber
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Cleveland Rocks!

Posted by James Stone on 07/13/2009 @ 06:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by James
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I'm from Cleveland, and I have to agree with the first poster...we're in pretty bad economic straits right now, so this would really do a lot to change people's attitudes by bringing in some much needed cash and media attention.

As for "rioters"...while I'm sure a few nutjobs might turn out, the majority of Clevelanders have better things to do...if anything, most protesters that would potentially show up will probably be from other areas of the state.

Cleveland has a fairly significant (though often low-key) LGBT community, and I think this would go a long way towards letting people in the midwest see that this isn't some kind of "coastal" thing that they have no connection to. I think if more people in Ohio (minus the strongly religious conservatives, who will stand firm no matter what) understood the economic impact of our constant refusal to support LGBT rights on a statewide level, they would change their minds the way a lot of people (including Strickland) are changing their minds about slot machines in the wake of the budget shortfall.

But, if we don't get it, I support Boston as my second choice because that logo is better than DC's... :).

Posted by Stephanie Greenlaw on 07/14/2009 @ 07:07AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Stephanie
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Oh, even the DC-ers hate the logo. Bloody boring and generic. It's exactly what I expected from the city that doesn't care if you're gay as long as you don't *act* gay. (Why yes, I am a bitter transplant.)

I'd actually like Cleveland, but not to show the straight population that granting gay rights is fiscally intelligent. I prefer to do it for the local GLBT population, midwest gays don't get the same level of support as those of us on the coasts.

Posted by Tobias Fangor on 07/14/2009 @ 08:27AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Good point mr. fangor.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/15/2009 @ 02:22PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Tobias
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
You know folks...This is the first time Ive EVER heard of the gay games...Which I'll assume are kinda like the olympic games...Right ?

Anyways...I was thinking that it would be nice if heterosexual supporters of gay rights like myself actually knew where to go to find out about stuff like this in order to have more oppurtunities to show our support.

Having said that...Im partial to boston but only because that was where my dad and my grandmother were born.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/15/2009 @ 02:21PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Thomas
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
There are actually two versions of "gay olympics". The Gay Games and the Outgames (which are actually this year). The Gay Games are older (founded in the 80s), but there was a fight over the 2006 location so the Outgames were formed. Wiki has pretty good articles on both events.

Posted by Tobias Fangor on 07/15/2009 @ 09:14PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Tobias
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.