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by
Michael Walker
(As
published by http://baoom.com )
Eurogames (Zurich, Swizterland)
June 1 - 4, 2000
by
Michael Walker
(As
published by http://baoom.com )
From gay athletics to festivals
From June 1st through the 4th, more than 4,000 gay and lesbian athletes are
expected to gather in Zurich, Switzerland to participate in one of the world's
largest multi-sporting events of the year, EuroGames 2000. These games, which
are sponsored by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF), have
been a fixture to gay athletes since 1992 when the first games were held in Den
Haag and continued over the years in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hannover, and Paris.
These games are open to everyone who wants to participate, regardless of
their gender, age, race, or sexual preference, first choice for involvement is
given to European athletes. The spirit of the games encourages equal
representation for all. Half of the game slots have been reserved for women. In
addition, people with special needs (such as the deaf/hearing impaired,
blind/sight impaired, wheelchair users, or those on medications including people
living with HIV/AIDS, etc.) are participating in certain events such as ballroom
dancing, basketball, hand bikes, marathon, martial arts and tennis. "As a
minority group, we want to give a clear signal that we do not discriminate
against other marginalized groups. In fact, we want to show openness, the same
kind of openness we expect from others." say Cristina M. Vuilleumier and
Brigitte V. Audenblatten of the Special Needs Committee.
Sports events include just about every type of sport imaginable - all the way
from aerobics (team) to volleyball. The competitions will take place in
different sporting grounds as well as in public in the inner city. Visibility
and integration are important themes and, as such, an inline skating race
through the streets of downtown Zurich is being planned.
In addition to the sporting events, athletes and visitors will be able to
attend parties, performances and exhibitions, including special events for women
and lesbians, and active support is being encouraged to "Walk for Life".
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The parties after the
competition
The city of Zurich, which has been called a "little big gay city," joins with
Eurogames to offer gay athlete tourists an assortment of shops, bars, saunas,
parties, special events, and organizations (such as Gay Sport Zurich). The local
gay and lesbian community stands behind the EuroGames 2000 and is eager to offer
its participants a great party once the sport competitions are over.
At Helvetiaplatz, there will be one showground for the EuroGames, featuring
three party locations (one of which will be for women) along with a centrally
located Rainbow Square information center, meeting point, food and beverage
stands, fairground of the gay and lesbian community, and cultural events.
Satellite parties to satisfy every taste (with themes such as "show," "beach,"
"bubble bath," "leather") will be organized at gay establishments throughout the
city.
Other parties include a warm-up party the evening before the games
begin(Wednesday, May 31), start-up and opening parties on Thursday, June 1;
semi-finals and finals parties for women on June 2 and 3; and a cool-down
closing party on June 4. (You can get more information by contacting the Party
Committee at party@eurogames.ch)
Whether you're a participant or just viewing the games from the sidelines,
this event promises to be an unforgettable time for all. And for those
interested in planning for the future, EuroGames 2001 will be hosted in Hannover
and in Sydney, Australia in 2002.
EuroGames 2000 Zurich, Switzerland From June 1st through the 4th Official
site:
http://www.eurogames.ch/ (Defunct)
-- 30 --
Michael Walker is a billionaire living the guise
of a struggling freelance writer in Washington, DC. He is also the founder
and proprietor of
DREAMWalker Group.
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World Pride Roma 2000 (Rome, Italy)
July 1 - 9, 2000
Written for baoom.com
by
Michael Walker
Time OUT in Rome!
On July 1st, hundreds of thousands of gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender
people from around the world are expected to gather in Rome, Italy to begin a
celebration of life, sexuality, and identity. During the seven days that follow,
Rome will become the gay capital of Europe as gay and gay-friendly multitudes
descend on the city en masse for the first time in 2,000 years. Billed as World
Pride Roma 2000, the weeklong event begins with opening ceremonies at the
Giardini della Filarmonica and continues with a sensational program that will
include workshops, a human rights conference, and probably more parties than you
can count.
The events are still be planned, but we can tell this much: on Sunday, a
fashion show, "Uno Specchio per Narciso" in Piazza Venezia, will be followed by
a party at Muccassassina; on Monday, Gilbert Baker (creator of the Rainbow Flag)
will present an inaugural exhibit; on Tuesday there will be a premier film (“Are
You Greedy?”, theater performances, and an Independence Day party coordinated by Egon von Furstenberg.
An opening gala dinner is planned for Wednesday along with a dance
performance at Piazza Farnese (created by Patrick King). Thursday has another
film premiere; Friday promises an Italian mega concert – and later - a Leather
World Pride Party organized by the Leather Club of Rome. After the parade on
Saturday, there will be another concert featuring worldwide pop artists –
including Gloria Gaynor, Geri Halliwell, Marc Almond, Ru Paul, and The Village
People and a major disco party in Tor di Valle. Finally, things will wind down
on Sunday with an outdoor ice cream party at the gay beach "Capocotta".
The event, which has been recognized by Rome’s mayor, Francesco Rutelli,
coincides with the Great Jubilee festivities celebrating 2,000 years of
Christianity. Because of some protest from the Vatican, which disfavors
homosexuality, there has been speculation that the local government may ban the
pride march. However, gays who have already purchased airline tickets and hotel
reservations are expected to arrive by the thousands to show their support to
the international gay community.
Rome is considered one of the largest outdoor museums and offers many parks
and historical sites to the gay tourists. World Pride Roma has the city gearing
up for a constant stream of day and nighttime activities. In addition to the
planned activities, nightclubs are hosting concerts, discotheques are presenting
shows and cabarets, and the finale Pride March on Saturday, July 8th, is
expected to draw huge crowds (and curious non-gay observers, as well!). Roma is
the place to be in early July!
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Much Ado About Nothing?
Anonymous sources in Rome told the Associated Press that the Vatican is
pretty irritated by the fact that World Pride Roma 2000 comes during the year of
the Catholic’s Great Jubilee. However, Rome’s mayor, Francesco Rutelli, says
that the gay/bi/les/trans event should go on. “Rome has a millennium-old code of
welcome and respect that won't change in 2000," he told a city council meeting
on Holy Year issues this January.
The Vatican, which permits homosexuality but condemns homosexual acts, has
had no official comment on the Pride festivities. Some rumors purport that the
Pope tried to have the Pride event cancelled, but these are unfounded. Still,
it’s fairly likely that papal authorities will nix a hoped-for Pride walk
through Vatican City. Mayor Rutelli has done his best to act fairly to all
involved parties. As a supporter of the Great Jubilee, he saw to a major
citywide spruce-up in preparation of the Christian event and the arrival of
about 30 million pilgrims. On the other hand, and in apparent displeasure to the
Jubilee organizers, he allocated $180,000 to cover municipal costs for things
like security for World Pride Roma.
All in all, between the colorful costumes and revelry of the church pilgrims
and the good gay cheer of the World Pride hundred thousand (or more), Rome
should be a very, very festive place in July.
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Pride,
Politics, and Parties All Over the World!
Gay festivals are happening all over the globe – and some of them might just
be in your own backyard.
These celebrations of being gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender have
evolved from the early days of the so-called “gay liberation movement.” They
really began in New York City in 1969 when a group of gay folks finally stopped
taking guff from the local authorities and – well, fought back. That was the
Stonewall Rebellion and it’s the event from which all events – like World Pride
Roma 2000 – spring forth. Of course, that was a very political scenario – much
like the one brewing in Rome right now.
And even though Rome is THE place to be in July, Gay Pride events happen all
over the world (and the parties and festivals that spring up around them).
Here’s a list of some of them:
May 20: Cape Cod/Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA
May 20: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
May 20-21:
Long
Beach, CA, USA
May 28: Miami, Florida, USA
May 28-June 4: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
June 2:
Utica,
New York, USA
June 2 –4 (Gay Day at Disney World):
Orlando,
FL, USA
June 2-10: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
June 2-11:
Washington,
DC, USA
June 2-25:
Oldenburg,
GERMANY
June 3: Bordeaux, FRANCE
June 3 & 10:
Baltimore,
Maryland, USA
June 3:
Columbus,
Georgia, USA (Defunct)
June 3-4:
Santa
Cruz, California, USA
June 4:
Nyack,
New York, USA
June 4: Queens/Jackson
Heights, New York, USA
June 4: San Juan, PUERTO RICO
June 4-11:
Boston,
Massachusetts, USA
June 8 & 23 (parade) Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
June 9-11: Dresden, GERMANY
June 9-11: Helena, Montana, USA
June 9-11:
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, USA
June 10: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
June 10:
Brooklyn,
New York, USA
June 10 & July 15:
Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, USA
June 10:
Fulda,
GERMANY
June 10 : Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
June 10:
Nantes,
FRANCE
June 10:
San
Antonio, Texas, USA (Defunct)
June 10-11: Los
Angeles, California (West Hollywood), USA
June 10-11:
Salt
Lake City, Utah, USA
June 10-17: Edmonton, AL, CANADA
June 10-18:
Calgary, AL, CANADA
June 11:
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA
June 11:
Spokane,
Washington, USA (Defunct)
June 11:
West
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
June 11-17:
Providence,
Rhode Island, USA (Defunct)
June 11-18:
Hamburg,
GERMANY (Defunct)
June 12-18: Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
June 16: Haifa, ISRAEL
June 16-18:
Bakersfied,
California, USA (Defunct)
June 16-18:
Lansing,
Missouri, USA
http://michiganpride.org/
June 16-18: Wiesbaden,
GERMANY
June 16-24: Regina, SK, CANADA
June 17: Allentown,
Pennsylvania, USA
June 17: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
June 17:
Jacksonville,
Florida, USA
June 17:
Kitchener,
ON, CANADA (Defunct)
June 17:
Lille,
FRANCE
June 17: Mexico City, MEXICO
June 17:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (Defunct)
June 17:
Portland,
Maine, USA
June 17: Sacramento, California, USA
June 17:
Syracuse,
New York, USA
June 17:
Tallahassee,
Florida, USA
June 17: Tijuana, MEXICO
June 17:
Toulouse,
FRANCE
June 17-18: Portland, Oregon, USA
June 17-18: Vienna,
AUSTRIA
June 17-24:
Berlin,
GERMANY
June 17-25: Okanagan Valley, BC, CANADA
June 18-25:
New
York City, New York, USA
June 18-25:
Seattle,
Washington, USA
June 19-24: Brno,
CZECH REPUBLIC
June 19-25:
Toronto,
ON, CANADA
June 19-July 2:
London,
ENGLAND (Defunct)
June 23-25 :
Atlanta,
Georgia, USA
June 23-25: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
June 23-25:
World Pride Roma 2000
Rome, Italy
From July 1st through the 9th, 2000
Official site (defunct):
http://www.worldpride2000.com/
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-- 30 --
Michael Walker is a billionaire living the guise
of a struggling freelance writer in Washington, DC. He is also the founder
and proprietor of
DREAMWalker Group.
Return to Index of Writings by Michael Walker
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