Topic: Cleveland: 2014 Gay Games IX News & Discussion

[willyboy]

I just wanted to note that the Rock Hall seems to have been an important marketing tool in getting the Games here.  "My Games Rock" is the initial answer to "Why Cleveland?"
Of course, once they leave we hope they discover all of the charms of the city, and get the word out.  Until then, the city that rocks ain't such a bad reputation.

The investment the community put into the Rock Hall will be paid back 100 fold

Yes, without the Rock Hall the phrase might have been "Cleveland Eats" 

[cle2032]

what people??

I googled CLE 2014 just to read other articles and came across a blog.  3/4 where  pretty positive comments.  A few said no one would come to Cleveland, blah blah blah...

Oh well, not to dwell on this negative junk as this is an incredible opportunity for CLE!

[willyboy]

what people??

I googled CLE 2014 just to read other articles and came across a blog.  3/4 where  pretty positive comments.  A few said no one would come to Cleveland, blah blah blah...

Oh well, not to dwell on this negative junk as this is an incredible opportunity for CLE!

Yeah I was doing the same thing.  Lets just say, I did some posting of my own

[Clueless,Ohio]

Im pretty sure come time for the games, that the whole city will become gay.

Wow. Now that would be somethin'   

[MyTwoSense]

what people??

I googled CLE 2014 just to read other articles and came across a blog.  3/4 where  pretty positive comments.  A few said no one would come to Cleveland, blah blah blah...

Oh well, not to dwell on this negative junk as this is an incredible opportunity for CLE!

They said the same thing about other cities, but my question is why care?
 

They are certainly there, but Cleveland lacks a central or specific "gay ghetto" area that many cities have (where you would certainly see more gay flags).  I live in DC and thought as far as accepting areas, Cleveland actually seems more gay freindly in more areas than it seems in DC (which has a much bigger gay population and tends to be more ghettoized).  To me this is a good thing, but to a younger gay person that wants to be a part of that "everything gay all the time" thing, which frankly annoys me now, they wont find in Cleveland, and they tend to have to assimilate or are just part of the fabric in Clevelands funkier neighborhoods (which I havent found comparable in DC). 

I'm pretty sure come time for the games, that the whole city will become gay.       
         

As MayDay stated we have several areas of Gayness.  Hell there are gay flags and PLENTY of gays around Shaker Square, also Cleveland Hts. is super Gay friend. Drive down Monticello, the Coventry area, around Cain Park.  Those Queens are everywhere. 
 
I'm glad we don't have a super gay area, however, with this announcement the entrepreneurs will come out in force and I'm sure we'll see a concentration of gays and gay friendly establishments in either the west or east 20's.

[rockandroller]

Thank you Cleveland Synergy Foundation for your work on behalf of the city!!!

Rocknroller, is your friend still with the group? 

OMG!  Yes, I have to contact them, they were instrumental in this.

[MayDay]

From what I said...these are just observations.
They are observations that are OK for Cleveland to know about.

 

Thank god you came along to grace us with such brand new epiphanies? Apparently we've been living under rocks because lord knows we've never heard similar observations before.  

All I did was give feedback from the insider perspective as to why things are the way they are - and why things in Cleveland aren't the same as other cities, not a boosterish defense of why they're that way. See the difference? Are we not allowed to respond to outsiders' observations?

[willyboy]

From what I said...these are just observations.
They are observations that are OK for Cleveland to know about.

 

Thank god you came along to grace us with such brand new epiphanies? Apparently we've been living under rocks because lord knows we've never heard similar observations before.  

All I did was give feedback from the insider perspective as to why things are the way they are - and why things in Cleveland aren't the same as other cities, not a boosterish defense of why they're that way. See the difference? Are we not allowed to respond to outsiders' observations?

Yeah I was going to say something similar.  I wasnt really sure what that second post was supposed to mean, but the observation was likely somewhat accurate, but it is important to understand why this would be (which clueless didnt seem to understand), wheather you view it as a bad thing or not. 

[Clueless,Ohio]

I'm glad we don't have a super gay area, however, with this announcement the entrepreneurs will come out in force and I'm sure we'll see a concentration of gays and gay friendly establishments in either the west or east 20's.

I'm guessing the entrepreneurial stuff will happen too.
And that is great for the city of Cleveland.
 

[Clueless,Ohio]

From what I said...these are just observations.
They are observations that are OK for Cleveland to know about.

 

Thank god you came along to grace us with such brand new epiphanies? Apparently we've been living under rocks because lord knows we've never heard similar observations before.  

All I did was give feedback from the insider perspective as to why things are the way they are - and why things in Cleveland aren't the same as other cities, not a boosterish defense of why they're that way. See the difference? Are we not allowed to respond to outsiders' observations?

Yeah I was going to say something similar.  I wasnt really sure what that second post was supposed to mean, but the observation was likely somewhat accurate, but it is important to understand why this would be (which apply named clueless didnt seem to understand), wheather you view it as a bad thing or not. 

My posts were obviously misinterpreted.
And you guys got into name-calling etc. I really don't see where I was negative.
Maybe you "read" things differently than I was "speaking" things , I don't know... with a different inflection or something.

***The usage of the smiley with the rolly eyes was meant as a humorous thing. It was meant to show someone looking up , for instance , at flag flying or whatever. It was not used as a "rolling your eyes" kind of thing. Which has negative connotations and which I've been told is what this smiley is usually used for.
I was using it for humor , much like my 3rd post.

Man I hope no one from out-of-town says anything bad when they're here for the Games.

[willyboy]

Point taken.  I removed the "name calling" before I even saw your post (although your name is clueless?)
Yes your post with the rolly eyes was not very clear, especially in regard to the explanations given.

[doctabroccoli]

People on Cleveland.com are now complaining the comments section was closed yesterday for the article.  Wah, wah, freakin', wah.  You all did it to yourselves!  I got a good laugh.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/09/gay_games_swine_flu_antique_ca.html

[MuRrAy HiLL]

From BostonEdge:

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=96990

[MyTwoSense]

From BostonEdge:

[url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=96990]http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=96990[/url]

 

’I think Cleveland will stun everyone in the universe.’
 

 

Boston’s message was "We’re Boston" and Washington’s message was "We’re D.C."

Cleveland’s message was, "We’re not."

 
Love it!!         

[Cincinnatus]

What do you guys think about this ... Over on SSC some folks have made some comments regarding the Gay Games and a few posters (some are gay) said that they think this is a discriminatory event. Not so much that it's discriminating, but what if there were a Christian Games, Black Games, White Games, etc .... how would the general public react?

What are your thoughts? I think it's a valid point.

[MyTwoSense]

What do you guys think about this ... Over on SSC some folks have made some comments regarding the Gay Games and a few posters (some are gay) said that they think this is a discriminatory event. Not so much that it's discriminating, but what if there were a Christian Games, Black Games, White Games, etc .... how would the general public react?

What are your thoughts? I think it's a valid point.

That it has nothing to do with the gay games in Cleveland.

[willyboy]

What do you guys think about this ... Over on SSC some folks have made some comments regarding the Gay Games and a few posters (some are gay) said that they think this is a discriminatory event. Not so much that it's discriminating, but what if there were a Christian Games, Black Games, White Games, etc .... how would the general public react?

What are your thoughts? I think it's a valid point.

Well the gay games are open to everyone, not just gays.   And we already have the everything Black and to some degree everything latin (and neither are open to whites) so bad example.  (We also have the special olympics and senior and childrens games)

[MyTwoSense]

What do you guys think about this ... Over on SSC some folks have made some comments regarding the Gay Games and a few posters (some are gay) said that they think this is a discriminatory event. Not so much that it's discriminating, but what if there were a Christian Games, Black Games, White Games, etc .... how would the general public react?

What are your thoughts? I think it's a valid point.

Well the gay games are open to everyone, not just gays.   And we already have the everything Black and to some degree everything latin (and neither are open to whites) so bad example.  (We also have the special olympics and senior and childrens games)

I was going to say that at the Chicago games, there were a number of Olympians - straight and gay - who competed.

As stated at the GG in Chicago, there are some Olympic sports that the top three performers are gay.  This led to world class non gay participants to register for the games so that they could compete against the best.

Even in pride events themselves, there are black and latin pride event separate from the main pride events in most major cities.

[rockandroller]

I mean, we have Black History Month, is that discriminatory?  It's just an argument to try to give people who are bigots a platform to justify their complaints, but that platform is made of jello.

[CBC]

I mean, we have Black History Month, is that discriminatory?  It's just an argument to try to give people who are bigots a platform to justify their complaints, but that platform is made of jello.

Good one Rn'R'r.

This great news for Cleveland. Things are starting to get rolling again around here again. And the fact that we beat out Dc and Boston make it all the sweeter. Kudos to all of those who worked hard to get this.

[punch]

Don't forget the Latin Grammys, as if you could

[MyTwoSense]

Don't forget the Latin Grammys, as if you could

Not even close since allmost all music is genre specific.  In addition, the latin grammy's is more of NON US event.  So add the CMA's to it as well.
 
If you wanted to use an example, (gasp) Hispanic heritage month.
 
But I must ask.  What does any of this have to do with the Cleveland winning the gay games?? ??

[Florida Guy]

What kind of impact (aside from the publicity, an economic draw of the events themselves) do you think this will have?  I'm pretty sure most of the downtown hotels could use some "refreshing" ... is it realistic to expect these events (gay games in particular) will bring in more retail to downtown?

   

• Downtown and Gay Popular neighborhoods will benefit.
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Curiosity visits
• Gays coming out and being proud to Clevelanders
• Bars, Club will most likely be able to market this for the next 6 years
• Hotels, neighborhoods, restaurants and other establishments will market to the LGBT community like you've never seen before.
• In conjunction with the revival in downtown, now the city has an additional carrot to hold in front of retailers and hotel developers.  We have the MM, the Senior games and Gay games.  Along with regularly scheduled events.  We'll  need new hotels ASAP
• LGBT TV and movies will start to showcase the city (ie LOGO)

There are a number of things that will happen, but not one will mean a thing if the attitudes of yesteryear prevail.
The list

It is already happening. Yesterday a friend (former Clevelander) came up to me at the gym with a proud look and smile on his face and asked me if I had heard the news. This is coming from someone who has not spoken too fondly of his hometown in the past.

[MyTwoSense]

What kind of impact (aside from the publicity, an economic draw of the events themselves) do you think this will have?  I'm pretty sure most of the downtown hotels could use some "refreshing" ... is it realistic to expect these events (gay games in particular) will bring in more retail to downtown?

     

• Downtown and Gay Popular neighborhoods will benefit.
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Curiosity visits
• Gays coming out and being proud to Clevelanders
• Bars, Club will most likely be able to market this for the next 6 years
• Hotels, neighborhoods, restaurants and other establishments will market to the LGBT community like you've never seen before.
• In conjunction with the revival in downtown, now the city has an additional carrot to hold in front of retailers and hotel developers.  We have the MM, the Senior games and Gay games.  Along with regularly scheduled events.  We'll  need new hotels ASAP
• LGBT TV and movies will start to showcase the city (ie LOGO)

There are a number of things that will happen, but not one will mean a thing if the attitudes of yesteryear prevail.
The list

It is already happening. Yesterday a friend (former Clevelander) came up to me at the gym with a proud look and smile on his face and asked me if I had heard the news. This is coming from someone who has not spoken too fondly of his hometown in the past.

A gay man in a gym.  Shocking!  LOL  Well the ground work has got to start somewhere.

[Loretto]

If those folks are misinterpreting/unaware of/ignoring the rules for eligibility I could see where they'd be coming from with the discrimination part.  However, for me personally I view the Gay Games more like an ethnic festival.  Something along the lines of Cinco de Mayo or St Patrick's day, where people that have no real connection to the event celebrate it anyway.

[MyTwoSense]

If those folks are misinterpreting/unaware of/ignoring the rules for eligibility I could see where they'd be coming from with the discrimination part.  However, for me personally I view the Gay Games more like an ethnic festival.  Something along the lines of Cinco de Mayo or St Patrick's day, where people that have no real connection to the event celebrate it anyway.

Thats a great way to explain it!

[Cincinnatus]

I mean, we have Black History Month, is that discriminatory?  It's just an argument to try to give people who are bigots a platform to justify their complaints, but that platform is made of jello.

Remember what I said ... some posters that sighed at the idea were also gay themselves, so I doubt they're bigots.

So you guys honestly think a "White Games" would go over well?

[Florida Guy]

White Games wouldn't go over well and shouldn't. We are talking about minority groups which white people aren't. I don't see the problem.

[Cincinnatus]

White Games wouldn't go over well and shouldn't. We are talking about minority groups which white people aren't. I don't see the problem.

So what you're saying, is that it's ok to name an event after a group because they are the minority versus naming after a group that represents the majority? How so?

Also, does minority mean: Black, Hispanic, Gay, or does it mean population differing from the majority in characteristics -which obviously changes depending on what part of the country you're in?

[punch]

The gays are hosting the events, and they are open to all.
If you want to grab a bunch if white people together and put together what amounts to a mini Olympics and call it the White Games, go for it!

[metrocity]

From the official website of the gay games...

it is a fundamental principle of the Federation of Gay Games that all activities conducted under its auspices shall be inclusive in nature and that no individual shall be excluded from participating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political belief(s), athletic/artistic ability, physical challenge, age, or health status.

saying it discriminates or is exclusionary of anyone is moot point...

http://www.gaygames.com/en/federation/purpose.htm

End of discussion??  Probably not!

[Cincinnatus]

The gays are hosting the events, and they are open to all.
If you want to grab a bunch if white people together and put together what amounts to a mini Olympics and call it the White Games, go for it!

If you read my original post, this was a common question among a few posters over at SSC. I didn't even think about this point until I read the post ... which by the way, was also seconded by someone that happened to be gay. Your comment is directed towards the wrong person. Personally, I think it's a valid question and I'm just playing devil's advocate here ... this is something that I've been thinking about for the past few years.

Christian® University, United Negro College Fund, The Gay Games, Confederacy Heritage, etc, etc ....

[CBC]

Replace White with Irish, Italian, German, etc. and I don't think that people would bat an eye. Even the majority can be subdivided into minority groups. I think it would have to do with the perception that events exists that are all inclusive and if you try to create an event to exclude the minority then it is bigoted, etc, however if you create an event to  exclude the majority (meaning here not of whatever minority is sponsoring the event) that's OK.

I guess another way to put it is it that most people find it is OK to celebrate what you are  Gay, Christain, Irish, etc.Whatever makes you unique.Along those same lines is not OK to celebrate  what you are not, which is inferred by the "White Games" meaning not Black, Hispanic, etc.

I gave explaining this rational a shot. Let the flames begin. I am ready.

[8ShadesofGray]

I love Chris Maag's work ...

Forget Chicago: Cleveland Gets the Gay Games
By Christopher Maag, Time Magazine
Thursday, Oct. 01, 2009

Let Chicago and President Obama compete for the Olympics. Cleveland — yes, Cleveland! — just won the Gay Games. Citing the city's world-class athletic facilities, hotels and public transportation, the Gay Games Federation announced that Cleveland will host the games in 2014. An abundance of enthusiasm, some Midwestern pluck and a boisterous night on Lake Erie didn't hurt ...

More at http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1927211,00.html.

[rockandroller]

BTW, my Mom talked to her neighbors, who were part of the committee heading up the efforts to bring the games here. They are still in Germany and are exhausted. They have traveled all over the world in the efforts to bring these games here, S. Africa, Europe, all across America, etc.  I'm so happy for them.