Gay Games Get Underway in Cologne, Germany

Today, the German city of Cologne begins hosting LGBT athletes from more than 70 countries for eighth quadrennial Gay Games. An estimated 10,000 gay and lesbian athletes from across the globe are expected to show and participate in the international event.

Events include, but aren’t limited to football, transgender ballroom dancing and cheerleading. A cultural program will also be part of the event including art exhibitions, choir concerts and film screenings.

Unfortunately, some of the participant athletes have taken on false identities as they fear persecution upon their return home to less gay-friendly nations.

According to Thorsten Moeck, a member of the organizational committee:

“We want to demonstrate that the exclusion of gays and lesbians, especially in the sporting world, has to end. Among the represented countries are plenty in which it’s still an absolute taboo to out yourself.”

While a large percentage of participants are from Germany and the U.S.A., Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Zimbabwe are also countries being represented at the event.

The first Gay Games were held in San Francisco in 1982 and as the Olympics, they take place every four years. The founding father of the event was the openly gay decathlete Tom Waddell, who died of Aids in 1987.

The 2014 games are scheduled to be held in Cleveland, Ohio