Why the First Gay Olympics Was a Watershed Moment Sports | HISTORY

gay olympiakos

Two athlet recently g out has highlighted the arth of openly gay players the world of U.S. men's profsnal sports, often dubbed "the last closet" for s lack of LGBTQ reprentatn.

Contents:

WHY THE FIRST GAY OLYMPICS WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT SPORTS

Watch Panathaikos vs GAY (Olympiakos) volley - Alex on Dailymotn * gay olympiakos *

Sger Ta Turner was the ma draw at the openg ceremony San Francis for the first Gay Gam 1982, but cy supervisor Doris Ward may have received the biggt reactn om the crowd. “She said, ‘I’d like to ve you all to the first-ever Gay Olympics, ’” remembers Jim Hahn, one of roughly 1.

”But Gay Gam I, which ran om Augt 28-September 5, 1982, faced many challeng, cludg the U. Olympic Commtee's lawsu barrg the event om g the name "Gay Olympics.

You uld have an Olympics for anythg, ” says Shamey Cramer, a swimmer who -led Team Los Angel the first Gam, “but heaven forbid you should be gay or lbian.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OPENLY GAY OLYMPIANS

* gay olympiakos *

Succeed blockg the official e of the term "Olympic, " but the lawsu galvanized support for the Gam, pecially among the gay muny.

WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS

Participants the gural event today rell Gay Gam I as a watershed moment for gay athlet around the world. "When I walk to the [Gay Gam] openg ceremoni, " says Hahn, "I always get that sense of history g back.

Olympian Helps Organize Gay GamAthlet wave to the crowd at the 1994 Gay Gam New openg ceremony at the 1994 Gay Gam New skatg petors at the 1994 Gay Gam New closg ceremony for the 1994 Gay Gam New York was held at Yankee men's softball fal at the 1994 Gay Gam was held Central Gay Gam clu a body-buildg the 2002 Gay Gam Sydney, Atralia, nners ngratulate each other at the 5, 000-meter fal. Combs pete the dancport petn at the Gay Gam Chigo 2006.

AM I GAY?

Olympian, was one of the lead anizers of the first Gay Gam. Like many other LGBT athlet, Wadll wanted to make a siar, powerful statement wh an event for gay MORE: 8 Memorable Protts by Amerin Athlet “You were eher a drag queen or the leather muny—those were the stereotyp that were prented to the public at that time, ” says Rick Thoman, a track and field athlete who peted the first Gay Gam. “They never thought that we were able to be athletic and be gay at the same time.

”A number of gay and lbian sports leagu emerged the 1970s, as the LGBT muny gradually announced self to mastream society.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY OLYMPIAKOS

Why There Few Openly Gay Athlet In Men's Profsnal Sports : NPR .

TOP