Gay athletes to get first ever Olympic 'Pride House' in 2010

[mr.x]

Gay athletes get 'safe space' at Olympics


By Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
May 8, 2009 10:01 PM

VANCOUVER — Canadian athletes at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will have Canada House. The Russians will have Russia House. The Dutch, Holland House.

And now, gay and lesbian athletes will have Pride House.

For the first time in Olympic history, gay athletes will have a unique place to relax, watch events and meet friends.

On Friday, a group called GayWhistler announced it will set up a special clubhouse in partnership with the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel.

The free facility will be open to homosexual athletes, their families, friends and fans. It will offer a lounge, television screens and meeting areas.

"It is really important to have a safe space for out athletes, coaches, fans and allies to come and hang out, share their stories, trade pins and have fun," said Dean Nelson, one of the organizers.

That may not sound like much, considering Whistler annually holds a WinterPride celebration and Vancouver has one of Canada's legendarily vibrant gay and lesbian communities.

But Pride House will help break down gender discrimination barriers that have long existed in the Olympics, according to Kevin Wamsley, an Olympic historian.

"For a traditionally conservative festival like the Olympic Games, I think this is significant," said Wamsley, a professor at the University of Western Ontario.

"The (International Olympic Committee) has been skirting around the issue of sexuality since it began."

Wamsley said the Olympics, built around the traditional societal model of strong men and feminine women, has not been a friendly place for homosexuals in the past.

"It has been an uncomfortable issue for the IOC since the 1920s. That's because sport is one of those forms of culture that has produced a gender binary for western and eastern civilizations," he said. "When you start to blur the lines of sexuality people in the past have got the hair on their neck up."

Nelson said he and several others started working to create Pride House about three years ago as an extension of efforts GayWhistler and others made to hold the North American Gay Games.

"There is a huge contingent of athletes out there, some of them are Olympic calibre. The Olympics is generally a pretty homophobic structure where being out is not really encouraged," he said. "We're hoping we can be a catalyst and change that perception, that you can be your authentic self."
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

http://www.vancouversun.com/Life/athletes+safe+space+Olympics/1578672/story.html




lol, out of 10,000 athletes in the last Summer Olympics there were a dozen "out" athletes. Just do the math yourself for 2,800 Winter Games athletes. It's gonna be pretty quiet in there...

[dreambrother808]

it's symbolically important, and it's not like out of 10 000 athletes there are only 12 who actually are gay... maybe this makes it more comfortable for the non-out athletes to cross that bridge. i guess the biggest hindrance is the desire for endorsement deals, which are sadly still very discriminatory in their awarding.

[metroXpress]

It's good to hear that they have a place to stay and meet new friends

[NetMapel]

I don't really see a need for this particular division. I mean, gay people does not require any special accommodation because they are just like all other people. Are they going to need a Black House, Asian House, Female House, Male House after this ? Olympics is about unity, not further division among people. They should be in the same house with the same athletes representing their country.

[sono65]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

I don't really see a need for this particular division. I mean, gay people does not require any special accommodation because they are just like all other people. Are they going to need a Black House, Asian House, Female House, Male House after this ? Olympics is about unity, not further division among people. They should be in the same house with the same athletes representing their country.

^^ Agreed. I think this is a bit of a waste and really hinders our approach to include people from all cultures/backgrounds/and sexual preference. Why do we need to separate them? They're normal people just like anyone else. We shouldn't have to draw attention to the fact that they're gay because it's just not a big deal. What are they expected to do there anyways? Chat about gay issues??? Watch queer eye for the straight guy??? Talk about taking a step backwards.

[Yume-sama]

This is something that could have been done 50 years ago... only it would have been by someone with different motives. I really don't see a need for it, either. Vancouver is one of the most open, accepting cities in the World. There is no reason to separate people, or make them "special" as the whole struggle for African Americans, Homosexuals, etc., was to be treated just like everyone else, which happens in Vancouver by far more than most other World cities.

[dreambrother808]

hahahahaha

in response to the last three posts, i love it when guys, most likely str8 and possibly white, are threatened by any small perceived exclusion, lol. as if anything that they aren't privy to or anything that attempts to validate other people's existences has something to do with them. the world isn't some perfect place where people don't have to worry about discrimination, kiddies. the only people who think that are those who don't have a bloody clue as to what it's really like. you don't know what it's like to work in places where there are gossip and jokes behind your back simply based upon the fact that you are or might be gay. you don't know what it's like to have those co-workers treat you with less respect than others. they may be smart enough to be indirect about it. after all, they know that direct discrimination can have negative consequences for themselves. somehow, that hidden, covert discrimination is almost worse because it is largely unprovable and therefore unstoppable. yes, these are all things that i have personally experienced in our oh-so-enlightened city. you don't know what it's like to grow up feeling like your existence is some kind of shameful aberration. you don't have a clue really, and until you do, please shut up.

[Yume-sama]

Well, I don't flat out DISAGREE with the idea, I just don't see much of a need for it.

And, perhaps, the issue with you has less to do with you being gay than the fact your attitude says anybody who isn't like you, or disagrees with you can just "shut up".

[sono65]

Woah Dreambrother, you gotta chill bro. Telling people they don't know or understand something when you don't personally know them is presumptuous, and telling them to shut up is totally uncalled for. Just because you have had a bad experience personally with certain people, doesn't speak for every gay person in Vancouver. Also, like Yume-sama said, I also don't disagree with the idea of having this place, but it seems counter to the whole "acceptance" thing.

[osirisboy]

interesting thread. the idea is ok, i dont fully agree or disagree with it. Although, I have never been a fan of promoting acceptance through segregation and seems a bit counter intuitive.

[flight_from_kamakura]

cool idea, especially when you think about how homophobic they are in all those nutso third world countries, and about the machismo in the sports world in general. that said, it'll totally be irrelevant in just a few years, when it's finally totally accepted almost everywhere that some folks are gay. which is both inevitable and cool, imo.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

cool idea, especially when you think about how homophobic they are in all those nutso third world countries, and about the machismo in the sports world in general. that said, it'll totally be irrelevant in just a few years, when it's finally totally accepted almost everywhere that some folks are gay. which is both inevitable and cool, imo.

well i wish i shared your optimism. you think it will be accepted "almost everywhere in a few years" hahaha thats funny.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

well i wish i shared your optimism. you think it will be accepted "almost everywhere in a few years" hahaha thats funny.

Everywhere it exists, anyways. But as you know, there are no homosexuals in places like Iran.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/world/middleeast/25iran.html

[zivan56]

dreambrother808:
You do realize that the organizer of this place is "white," right? Does that mean he is a hypocrite?
This form of discrimination is present in all peoples (and most religions)...just look at the response of the Indian community toward anything gay related for example (not singling them out here, there was a story about a guy being shunned and threatened by his own community because he was Indian and gay). I would have to say that Vancouver ranks very high on the tolerance scale, even compared to other cities in Canada. Is it perfect? No, but the only place that might be a bit friendlier would be San Francisco. However, as older generations retire, this will be less and less of an issue. In the end, I think its mostly immigrants from very religions communities who actually cause most of the problems.

I would say try going to places like some Asian countries and Eastern Europe and say you are gay...they would literally beat you to death without hesitation in lots of places.

Now, whining about this sort of thing on a forum relating to skyscraper will not help you. Why don't you talk to the manager about this? File a complain with the BC human rights tribunal?

Finally, I think this idea of a house is pretty stupid if they are just going to go there only interact with other gay athletes only. Then it will be like a gay ghetto essentially.

[dreambrother808]

well i think that if you are a gay athlete and this house is relevant to you, then you will appreciate it and understand. as for those who aren't and don't, who really cares. someone posted an article about the existence of this house and then we get people shooting down the idea when they have no way of knowing whether this is important or valid. homophobia in sports? whatsoever could i be talking about? *please note sarcasm of previous statements* seriously though, what planet do you live on?

and no zivan, i am not whining on this forum. the situation i was in is over now. however, yes my experience is relevant here. i am gay. i know what that means, what that feels like.

oh and yes yume-sama, i deserved all the homophobia i got, lol. thanks for that perspective.

nor was i trying to say that homophobia is rampant here in vancouver. however, all gay ppl have experienced it at some point in their lives. there is no doubt in my mind about that. to say that vancouver is beyond such issues is highly naive.

as for zivan focusing on the colour issue. i threw that in simply because i feel that str8 white men are the least likely to understand issues of discrimination in our culture. i am not trying to say that being white makes you more prejudicial worldwide. an indian man in north america may be homophobic but at the same time i'm sure he knows what it means to experience prejudice, himself, to a much greater degree than str8 white joe shmoe in alberta or wherever.

[zahav]

Originally Posted by sono65

^^ Agreed. I think this is a bit of a waste and really hinders our approach to include people from all cultures/backgrounds/and sexual preference. Why do we need to separate them? They're normal people just like anyone else. We shouldn't have to draw attention to the fact that they're gay because it's just not a big deal. What are they expected to do there anyways? Chat about gay issues??? Watch queer eye for the straight guy??? Talk about taking a step backwards.

i disagree, it isn't a way to "segregate" or in any means force gay people apart from the straight people... it is an open place for people to go IF they choose... i think it is a great thing, to give gay athletes the opportunity to meet and discuss common issues. If you are gay and an athlete, you may want to chat and discuss things with other gay people, instead of hanging around with potentially homophobic people. remember, not everywhere is as open as Vancouver, some of these athletes are coming from countries where homosexuality is looked down on; for them, their country's house may not have many supportive people, and they can go to the gay house if they want.

it's all about choice and opportunity, not segregation and division. sharing a house with your countrymen is division as well, why don't we abolish that too? If I had a choice between hanging out with other gay athletes from all over the world, or a small group of homophobes from my own country, i'd choose the gay house!

[dreambrother808]

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Everywhere it exists, anyways. But as you know, there are no homosexuals in places like Iran.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/world/middleeast/25iran.html

yes i know it exists everywhere but as far as it being accepted everywhere thats not going to happen in our life time especially in those loser countries where religion is the driving force.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

I don't really see a need for this particular division. I mean, gay people does not require any special accommodation because they are just like all other people. Are they going to need a Black House, Asian House, Female House, Male House after this ? Olympics is about unity, not further division among people. They should be in the same house with the same athletes representing their country.

they don't stay in the house - they go there and socialize