On the road to the Gay Games

Ley's picture

By Ley on Monday, June 28, 2010 - 21:29

As the Gay Games draw ever closer, names of participating athletes are announced, and with them can come a challenging and often danger-ridden background.

We often write about the way in which people are forced to hide their sexuality due to the area in which they live, or the beliefs of their family, or sometimes even the place in which they work. For some of the athletes competing in this year's Gay Games, this is only too familiar.

In the home of this year's Football World Cup, The Chosen Few are South Africa's only openly lesbian football team, and few will be surprised to hear it if you consider the fact that on coming out, many women are beaten, raped or murdered, as well as being kicked out of education for fear of contaminating schools.

The 25 women who make up the squad collected the Bronze medal at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. Unfortunately since then they have suffered the loss of their striker, Eudy Simelane.

Being out for these women means that they are not safe where they live; one of the team members lives in the same neighbourhood as her attacker. The police still have to arrest him, and he continues to threaten the woman by telling her he knows where she lives. Through the constant fear, abuse, and injustice, the team stick together like family and call the pitch their home.

Another announced competitor is Paulette Meggoe, a cyclist from the USA. She grew up in the Bronx with her five brothers, which taught her to be a fierce competitor. This was initially in running at both local and regional meets where she was known for her “come-from-behind” wins, and later cycling.

Having previously competed in four Gay Games and collecting 3 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals, Paulette is the only black female cyclist to have competed in the Games. She would love to see more black females in the sport, and in the Gay Games as a whole.

In her profile, Paulette described her feelings towards the Gay Games as follows: “I want to thank the Gay Games for allowing us athletes to have a stage to showcase our talents. Because even though it’s not the mainstream traditional Olympics, it is for us, our glorified moment and it carries just as much prestige and pride.”

(5 votes)
Little G's picture
Oversimplifying it
Submitted by Little G on June 30, 2010 - 14:47.

Ley, I don't think you're pointing out the obvious, but rather oversimplifying it.

While I do think countries ought to help participating athletes, it's not always possible. Sometimes a country is too poor to help out its participants financially, other times it's plain politics. Or there are times where people's lives or safety are at stake.

I remember the Chicago Gay Games had the longest opening ceremony ever. I know I wasn't the only one bored to tears. (To this day I don't know who wrote those speeches, but the majority was just horrible and boring - and very American minded. I wouldn't have been surprised if a lot of non-American visitors didn't get those speeches.)

There was ONE athlete from Uganda who got a very warm welcome (short of a standing ovation) and three athletes from my mother country Indonesia. It was heartwarming to see how proud they were. While I didn't get to speak to the Indonesian athletes as I passed them on the street later on, the number participating should speak volumes. As does the lone Ugandan athlete. While he could be out and proud in Chicago, I'm pretty sure life is pretty much the opposite for him at home, where he risks life and limbs. (Uganda is still rooted in its homophobia.) I would not be surprised if the Ugandan athlete flew out to the US deeply closeted to the outside world.

Feel free to correct me, but I think in these cases the general mindset and attitudes towards queers of political leaders and the nation's peoples should change (for the better) first. Then, if finances allow, they could support participating athletes.

Having said that, I'd like to add that when it comes to the Olympics it's all about winning the gold medal, whereas with the Gay Games it's all about participation. That's a lightly different angle (less glory), and maybe a reason why countries don't feel as "obligated" to help out their athletes.