Summer Olympics 2016 and Gay Games 2016

This year's Summer Olympics is perhaps the most openly LGBTQ, despite an undercurrent of homophobia. For example, a marriage proposal between two women occurred, Tom Daley brought his fiance Dustin Lance Black, and Chris Mosier (pictured below) became the first out transgender athlete on the U.S. men’s national team when he qualified in the sprint duathlon earlier this year.  
 

Still, though the path to full acceptance based on merit is still rocky at times, one must remember that it was just thirty years ago the main venue for LGBTQ athletes to compete was not the mainstream Olympics, but the Gay Games, held in San Francisco. Guest M.C. Rita Mae Brown introduced the event, which featured 3,482 athletes from 17 countries, 37 states, 261 cities, in 17 sports. Some of the competitions included women's power lifting, long distance running, women's softball, men's baseball, swimming, track, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, racquetball, basketball, golf, and tennis. 

The founder and president of the Gay Games, Dr. Tom Waddell, gave a speech about the games the Procession of the Arts. The mayor of San Francisco at the time, Dianne Feinstein, offered her support to this groundbreaking event. 

  

Too often the Summer Olympics for many gay men (stereotyped as not exactly sports-oriented), has been more of a “ogle at bulges” fest (OK, I am so “guilty” of this!) than a celebration of athletic achievement in the face of often very difficult obstacles (more so for many openly LGBTQ athletes). 

I say rejoice in the beautiful bodies (oh, that Tongan flagbearer, currently the hit of Instagram) and the progress of LGBTQ equality, but also remember, in this case, that it's what you can do is ultimately the both the reason for and the spirit of this event, not who you are or aren't.