Gay Games Chicago!- Page 2

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:27am

I never said the games was to extremes - you are picking and choosing here.

I said sometimes pride can be taken to extremes.

I just don't understand the point. Do we have African American Games that exclude all people not African American?

I suppose I just don't understand. Maybe I'm too young. Who knows. But if gay people want so badly to be accepted, they should stop alienating themselves.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:29am

How old are you?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:33am

I will be 21 next month.

It would be a huge cop-out to just say "You're young and ignorant!" I think I am a very intelligent young person, and I don't need to be talked down to.

I have not said anything bad or mean or personal or nasty so far, yet you are getting incredibly defensive. I don't understand why.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:42am

No, you're not too young. You ought to get it by now.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:46am

You're awfully self-righteous here, my friend.

I'm sorry, but I do not understand the reasoning behind having an exclusively gay "olympics." I don't. I'm sorry. I think there are many that will agree with me - if not out in the open, then atleast via PM.

I'm not saying i disagree with it, or that it shouldn't happen - but that I don't understand why.

Nothing frustrates me more than people who define themselves by being gay, and who strive to become "a professional gay." What the hell?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:46am

I understand where you're coming from Munk-- I don't get a lot of this stuff. I'm not the least bit atheletic, so this seems really weird to me, but people seem to like it, so be it. There was a lot of controversy over the rowing event being held abut 5 miles from where I live and one guy on TV defended it last night in a way that made sense to me. He said "Last week there was a Corvette club meeting dowtown. Who cares about Corvettes? They are just a car! You see 'em in the KMart parking lot! Why make a big deal over Corvettes? But, you know, you get all those Corvettes together and all those Corvette owners swapping stories and showing off, it's pretty amazing. That's what this is like. You take time to consider the variety in the world, the differences that make us special. And we get together and have a good time."

Incidentally, since I had written about the controversy because the "gays are coming to Crystal Lake" here's the wrap up: there was a protest area set up and there was never more than a couple people in it. Police estimate that there were only "Five or Six' protesterors. No arrests were made, people seemed to have a good time and it was all over the news how beautiful and welcoming Crystal Lake was. One resident in nearby Bull Valley invited all the atheletes who participated to a Pig Roast at his home. Tolerance lives in Small towm America!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:50am

Thank you Joe, that makes a whole lot of sense to me.

See Pal Joey?

I still don't agree with all of the tactics of the gay community - but (ahem, Pal Joey) - I never said gays were wrong for having a gay games, or you were wrong for supporting it. If you wouldn't get so righteous, you'd get a little farther.

But, you know, you get all those Corvettes together and all those Corvette owners swapping stories and showing off, it's pretty amazing.

Yeah, we all know what will be swapped at the Gay games....

I couldn't resist.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:51am

Munk as one of the suburban housewives protested in her letter to the editor: "They're going to get gay in the Lake!!"

And boy, did they ever!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:54am

Well, that's a whole other topic.

People whoring themselves out will never make sense to me.



(Unless it's for money.)

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:09pm

The most conservative religious organizations aren't nearly as homophobic as the offical world (professional or amateur) of team sports, including the International Olympic Comittee.

That'why there is a Gay Games.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:49pm

Thank you for taking the time to write that out, as it makes much sense now.

My PETA analogy wasn't meant to suggest that Gay act in an outwardly agressive matter towards people who don't agree with them - but the analogy was just meant to show the averse reactions to their actions.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:00pm

The small group of protestors outside the Opening Ceremonies was pretty pathetic.

One queen ran up to them shrieking, "Oh my god! BIGOTS! I just looooove BIGOTS! Look at them--they're so CUUUUTE! Honey, take a picture of me with the bigots!"

Everyone laughed, and the poor protestors didn't know what to do--so they POSED! The cops just stood there laughing as well, until the picture was taken. They they asked the guys to move along.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:21pm

I finally got LOGO last week and though they mention their coverage of the Gay Games during commercial breaks, good luck finding it. There is one short video clip on their website and the website mentions guaranteed coverage of the games, but if you look on their schedule, there is nothing. I guess you just have to cross your fingers and hope you can stumble upon a 5-minute clips sometime during the day.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:29pm

That's a shame--you would think LOGO would leap at the chance to give NBCesque coverage to the games--it's inexpensive to produce and great ratings. AND, people flipping channels would stop and watch. And maybe learn something.

I think another reason the Gay Games and Gay Rodeos are great is because they break down stereotypes that gays are sissies, etc.

We have a long way to go before we needn't proclaim our being gay and proud. It's very easy to think all is just dandy when you live in NYC--that is until you do come face to face with gay bashing ala Kevin Aviance.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:31pm

I emailed LOGO about this issue because they keep repeating over and over that they have EXTENSIVE coverage of the games. They sure are hiding it well.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:39pm

Jerby - inexpensive to produce?

Live sports coverage is one of the most expensive television productions there can be.

Hence, the climbing costs of TV rights, passed along to the consumer in the form of higher costs of tickets and so on...

A cable network with relatively small distribution, and low national ratings would have a hard time justifying the expense of complete coverage. Even if they are owned and backed by Viacom...

It takes years to grow an audience for television events.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:39 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:42pm

Oh--sorry. I thought reality TV was cheaper. I mean assuming the deals are inexpensive between the event and the studio, you would think it would be cheaper than producing a drama or sitcom.

Edit: I meant INexpensive.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:42 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:44pm

Reality TV is cheaper, relative to scripted programming.

But remote coverage of live events has always been costly.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:52pm

Well, that stinks!

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 1:55pm

Also you guys - OutTV was supposed to cover the games exclusively. They got into a huge bidding war, and won. Now the expense and bad management has made the company go belly up - and LOGO did not have enough time to step in and take over like they wanted to.

If you are interested in knowing more about the games - pick up the book on Tom Waddell who founded the games. It is called Gay Olympian and is truly inspiring. Sara Lowenstein (his ex wife) is an aquaintance of mine - and she has recently helped with a new documentary called "Take the Torch" which also follows the history of the games, and is currently making the film festival circuit. Sara and Tom are also featured in the documentary Common Threads - as Tom was one of the first losses of AIDS.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 01:55 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:10pm

Here is the reply I received from LOGO:

"Logo is planning on covering the Gay Games with a CBS News on Logo half hour special on August 27th at 9pm. In addition, we are also airing numerous CBS News on Logo briefs live from the Gay Games. Keep checking the Gay Games page on our website http://www.logoonline.com/shows/events/gay_games/2006/ for up to date programming news and information."

A whole HALF HOUR! Wow.

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 02:10 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:43pm

First it should be pointed out that the games are not exclusive. Anyone may participate. ANYONE...

Secondly, I feel the main reason for having the games is to prove to the entire world that not ALL of us throw like girls...

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:53pm

Acceptance will only occur on the outside if the torch holders of the community stop trying to be so different.

Meh. This is the same kind of argument that gets brought up around Pride time. "All those drag queens give us a bad name." Do you really believe if all the gay people of the world just shut up and toed (towed? I never know) the straight line that all discrimination and homophobia would just magically disappear?

I don't understand why so many gays get all wiggy when they are reminded that yes, we are different from straight people. And equality shouldn't have to mean assimilation.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 2:58pm

"Secondly, I feel the main reason for having the games is to prove to the entire world that not ALL of us throw like girls..."


*knocks Sueleen over with a well-thrown pie*

Updated On: 7/17/06 at 02:58 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 3:05pm

Oh, Addy, you know full well you were barefoot and pregnant when you made that pie!