I'm here in the great state of California - you know, the one that managed to uphold Proposition 8, which bans the rights of same-sex couple to marry.  (And NO it wasn't African-Americans' fault that the legislation didn't pass - unfortunatley, the Prop 8 organizers took for granted some communities and failed to strategize their campaign effectively to combat the pro-Proposition 8 crowd).

In any event, I recently found out that Washington D.C. is in the running to host the 2014 Gay Games.  According to The Hoya, the purpose of Gay Games is to promote and empower gay athletes - and other talents, like musicians/artists.  Kelly Stevens, the Officer of Communications for the Federation of Gay Games said this:

"I would describe the Gay Games as a celebration of human rights through sport and culture."

I found this video on YouTube that serves as a preview for the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne.

Of course I couldn't avoid reading the comments posted below the video.  It was interesting to read what people thought about the video and about the idea of having a Gay Games.  While most agreed that the presentation of the video was cool, some chimmed in stating that it isn't necessary for a Gay Games to even exist.  Take for instance these exchanges:

"This is so amazingly [expletive] stupid. What would sexual orientation have to do with athletic ability? Why don't they just compete in the regular olympics?"

One commenter responded: "The best do. And win medals, too."  Good one!  Also note how this commenter used the word "regular" to describe the Olympics, as if the Gay Games would be irregular?  In what way, I wonder.  And what constitutes something that's regular, or what I interpret this commenter to mean, as 'normal'?  Interesting use of the English language, I'd say.

And this comment:

"I am gay but i can still play sports and not get a [expletive]. you think because your Gay you cant play sports with other."

[Note: Many thanks to YouTube users for all the great expletives - and making my job as a blogger that much more tedious!]

Now of course we have to take these comments with a grain of salt - especially considering we have no idea who these people are behind their computer screens (for all we know these comments could be manipulated just to make a point).

But what about the argument that questions the idea of having a separate games for Gay athletes  - as if to send a message that gay athletes can only feel a certain kind of empowerment when participating in a gay friendly environment.

I covered the Beijing Summer Olympics quite extensively on PlayCity and in doing so I learned about openly gay Olympians.  I also covered stories about gay athletes who struggle in various realms of organized sports.  Bottom line: it ain't easy.

I'm not sure what the answer is (or if there necessarily has to be a definitive answer).  One could also bring into the debate the idea of historically black colleges (HBCs) - but again, we'd probably run the risk of replicating the same argument currently going on in the news concerning the Civil Rights movement for African-Americans and gay rights.

The saga continues . . .

What do you think?? 

To me, the most vivid political protest during any public sporting event was Tommie Smith’s and John Carlos’ Black Power salute during the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics.  This iconic gesture of protest not only symbolized a defiance toward the surmounting controversies during the Mexico City Olympics, but it also stood for an entire decade of political and civil rights’ struggles in the U.S.

(Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty)

Now with the Beijing Olympics taking the world stage, some participating athletes are speaking out—not on the podium, but by distributing human rights “packs” (t-shirts, stickers, and badges).  Apparently some of these athletes who support the human rights “packs” might be in danger of compromising their Olympic dreams for protest.

All this begs the question: Should Olympic athletes risk getting involved with national/international human and civil rights protests?   

Some in the blogosphere say that politics and sports should never mix (yes, in a perfect utopia where water falls are made of chocolate fudge).  Of course, it would be great if we didn’t have such jinormous social injustices worldwide to confront—but the reality is, we do.  

Growing up, I always dreamed of running track and field and/or playing basketball for the U.S. Olympic team (and perhaps I could’ve if I didn’t peak as an athlete at the age of 17—oh well!).  I certainly understand the intense training and the life-style dedication involved when trying to even make an Olympic team.  I also understand why some athletes would rather stay away from any political controversies involved in the Games.

But even I can’t say for sure if (in that hypothetical land made of chocolate waterfalls) I wouldn’t sacrifice my Olympic dreams and hard work for protest.  I will say, however, for those suffering in Darfur and those suffering at the hands of the Tibetan government, the choice between freedom and sport is perhaps an easy one.