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Is D.C. too gay for the Gay Games?

Compelling bid falls short as Hong Kong lands 2022 event

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Gay Games, Muriel Bowser, gay news, Washington Blade

Mayor Muriel Bowser led the D.C. Gay Games bid delegation to Paris last week. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

I won a silver medal in rowing in Gay Games IX in Cleveland in 2014.  It was my Olympic experience from the Opening Ceremony procession of thousands LGBT athletes from around the world with full fanfare, thumping music and glitter, to the tough competition on the Cuyahoga River, to walking proudly though the Festival Village with my partner at my side and my silver medal around my neck. I rowed with DC Strokes, one of 34 LGBT sports clubs in the Washington, D.C. region that have about 7,000 members combined. Under the umbrella of Team DC, a 501(c)3 that promotes LGBT sports in the area, the D.C. region historically sends one of the largest contingents to the compete in the Gay Games.

I started writing this piece while flying back to Dulles, on a beautiful United Airlines Boeing 787 after making the case to bring the 2022 Gay Games to D.C. to the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) in 5 days of activities in Paris (Oct 26 – 30). The FGG is the sanctioning body for the Gay Games. D.C. was one of three finalist cities. Representatives of the other two, Guadalajara and Hong Kong were also in Paris. D.C. previously competed for Gay Games IX, which was awarded to Cleveland. This was Guadalajara’s and Hong Kong’s first attempt. Paris will host Gay Games X in 2018. The FGG selected Hong Kong to host Gay Games XI in 2022 at a press conference on Oct. 30.

According to Brent Minor, “We left it all on the field.”

Minor, the Gay Games DC 2022 Chairman, asked me to co-chair the bid committee to bring Gay Games XI to D.C. with Blade publisher Lynne Brown and Clark Ray in 2016. I said, “yes” without hesitation. Minor, a veteran of six Gay Games, former FGG male Co-President and Chair of the DC Gay Games IX Bid, possesses the knowledge, institutional memory, and drive to ably lead D.C.’s second bid team. He pulled out all the stops.

The D.C. 2022 bid book details our plan, budgets, sponsors, venues, cultural events, lodging, transportation, security, etc., in 300 pages of glorious detail based on our experience with the Gay Games IX bid and years of experience hosting large-scale sporting events under the advice of people like Paul Tagliabue, former NFL commissioner, Gay Games DC 2022 Honorary Co-chair. The bid book was submitted on Nov. 30, 2016. It is fact-based, complete and shows our math.

Our bid book, packed with facts and figures, touches the head.  Our 2022 final presentation, Inspire, touches the heart. Inspire is a beautifully imagined and produced multimedia and live presentation that captivated the FGG delegates, bringing many to tears. Briana Scurry, two-time Olympic gold medalist was greeted with thunderous applause and cheers repeatedly as she revealed then wore two gold medals as she told her story as an elite out lesbian athlete. Mayor Bowser, who led D.C.’s delegation, was cheered as she made D.C.’s pledge of $2 million in person to support Gay Games XI if the FGG selected D.C. Council member Jack Evans and Finance Committee Chair and Council member Brandon Todd also made the trip to demonstrate the City Council’s support of the D.C. bid. There was more applause and audible gasps and cheers as each of our Honorary Co-Chairs, Billie Jean King, Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General and Paul Tagliabue voiced their endorsements and support for the bid via video. Tagliabue, who “knows a thing or two about selecting cities for major sports events,” closed his remarks by proudly acknowledging his gay son and son-in-law. Chris Mosier, the first trans athlete to qualify for Team USA, took the podium and told his story about his transition, competing in the Cleveland Gay Games and qualifying for Team USA as a trans man to a hushed room. Mosier is living evidence of the power and importance of the Gay Games movement in nurturing and uplifting LGBT people.

Brent Minor, Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, and Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride, expertly covered the DC Bid’s Experience, Affordability and Fun topics respectively, rounding out the 45-minute presentation. D.C. made its final presentation last, following Guadalajara and Hong Kong. Bid teams cannot attend the other presentations.   As Mayor Bowser concluded and asked for the FGG’s support for our bid, the room erupted with applause and cheers. A Honorary Life Member (HLM) stated that he’d seen every final presentation and the D.C. presentation is the best he had ever seen by far. We heard many such accolades  as the D.C. delegation left the auditorium on Saturday Oct. 28 and over the next two days. But something was missing. It was like nailing an audition or interview, being told enthusiastically, “you were great,” and realizing there is a “but” coming.

Indications that things were going sideways

All three delegations attended a joint and lengthy question-and-answer session on Sunday Oct. 29. Each delegation had to select two people to answer for their city. Mayor Bowser and Brent Minor provided thorough, concise answers that were responsive to the questions directed at D.C. Questions came only from the FGG delegates and were pre-written. A moderator selected the questions asked during the session. Hong Kong tended to pivot away from providing details on the Hong Kong games to talk to more about their aspirations for Asia. Guadalajara generally answered the questions with some gaps in detail and revealed their focus on Latin America.  Here are a couple of the questions and answers:

How would your city fund the games?

Guadalajara: Half would come from registration fees and the remainder from a business entity that to me sounded similar to a tourism-related business improvement district.

Hong Kong: Claimed to have $1 million in corporate funding and another $1 million “conditionally pledged,” but details were sketchy. From what we could glean, this $2 million was not mentioned in the Hong Kong presentation the previous day. In a separate question, a FGG delegate asked how “the private funding would work,” since Hong Kong has no government funding. The gist of the rambling reply was that Hong Kong will have very nice sponsorship packages.

Washington, D.C.: Minor: Our budget is strong and detailed in our bid book. We have the $2 million pledge from D.C. Fourteen major sponsors are on board now and have already contributed $200,000 to the bid (cash and in-kind). Each of the 34 LGBT sports clubs also contributed to the D.C. bid.

Bowser: Remember EMILY – Early Money is Like Yeast –  Early money from the city will enhance the committee’s ability to bring on more sponsors. EventsDC and the Sports and Entertainment Commission, which have independent income streams based on tourism revenue can also help. If D.C. is selected, the budget process starts in 2018. EventsDC and the Sports and Entertainment Commission can help cover interim budgets.

How does your city define diversity?

D.C.: Bowser: D.C. is a melting pot. Every color of the rainbow is represented. Diversity is central to our bid as you can see in our bid committee and presentation. Sports and culture break what divides us.

Guadalajara: Mexico is diverse. One hundred languages are spoken.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong is diverse. A melting pot. HK named the people supporting the HK bid that included people from Hong Kong, the U.S., Europe and former British colonies. No one from another Asian country was mentioned or present.

Describe your bid in 3 words.

Guadalajara: Color, Inspirational, Legacy

Hong Kong: Empowerment, Legacy, Light

Washington, D.C.: Participation, Inclusion, Personal Best

The big announcement

The winner was announced at a FGG press conference the focus of which was really Gay Games X which occurs in Paris in 2018. After what seemed to be an eternity, Bruno Julliard, First Deputy Mayor of Paris, announced Hong Kong the winner.

Mayor Bowser pulled the D.C. delegation to the side and expressed her thanks for everything the Gay Games D.C. 2022 team did to develop the bid and to represent D.C. on the world stage. Most of the D.C. delegation remained for the gala dinner in the sumptuous Paris City Hall; after all it was the sportsman-like thing to do. There was yet one more surprise that evening, however. A couple, part of the Hong Kong delegation, was called to the stage where they announced a €10,000 pledge to the Paris Gay Games to support the 2018 scholarship program.

So what happened?

FGG delegates vote via secret ballot so it is not known who votes for which city but more delegates voted for Hong Kong. An anti-U.S. sentiment caused in large part by the current resident in the White House and his travel bans exists within the FGG. There is also a very clear pro-Asia sentiment. Some FGG delegates want to use the games to “open Asia” which is a very laudable and ambitious goal. There are certainly millions LGBT people in Asia who don’t have the freedoms and protections that we have as residents of gay-friendly Washington, D.C. and as citizens of the United States. It took decades of fighting to earn the LGBT protections we have. We are still fighting to protect them. The White House is trying to ban trans airmen, soldiers and sailors from the military as its initial assault on LGBT rights

Will the FGG be effective in bringing change to Asia with the 2022 games? Who in Asia knows about the Gay Games? The Hong Kong bid team effectively used social media to support its bid. I asked one of the members from Hong Kong how they were going to use social media in China and other Asian nations where terms like “gay” and “LGBT” are censored. She mentioned virtual private networks or VPNs, which are used by people with the money, knowledge and access. The Hong Kong team cannot reach the masses using VPNs. FGG delegates are concerned about the American White House but will the Chinese government open its arms to the Gay Games?

I believe the FGG was touched by the D.C. bid. I believe that the FGG knows that D.C. would host an amazing Gay Games. But that didn’t matter. A majority of voting delegates aspire to take the games to Asia. So the answer to the question, “Is D.C. is too gay to host the gay games” is, Yes. What about your city?

 

Marvin Bowser is a lifestyle blogger and regular Blade contributor. He served as a co-chair of the D.C. Gay Games 2022 bid committee. Follow him on Instagram @FirstBroDC.

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Miscellaneous

What it means to be an active ally to your LGBTQ+ co-workers TEST

Five easy tips to help you avoid common risks

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Be sure to install baby gates if you have stairs in your home with young children. (Photo by Kasia Bialasiewicz/Bigstock)

Your home is more than just a place to eat and sleep; it’s your safe haven. As much as you might cherish your home, you should probably also recognize the potential hazards within its familiar walls. Accidents can happen in an instant, yet with a little foresight and some simple adjustments, you can transform your house into a safer haven. 

Accidents can happen anywhere, and with a few simple tweaks, you can lower risks in your space. Below you’ll find five tips for each room in your home to help prevent injuries, falls, and other mishaps. In short, home safety. 

This article was inspired by a shower in a rental we managed that began leaking through the kitchen ceiling below. If only the landlord had installed grab bars, right!? Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to fortify your bathroom, making it a place of relaxation without the fear of slips and falls. Then, we’ll venture into the room where the magic happens, where proper planning can ensure great nights and peaceful mornings. We’ll show you how to prevent accidents while you experiment becoming the next Gordon Ramsey. And we’ll include a few surprising solutions for those other rooms that hold their own unique hazards, offering solutions to safeguard against unexpected mishaps.

Bathroom Safety

Install Grab Bars: Adding grab bars near the shower and toilet can provide essential support for family members of all ages. Not only can they help with getting in and out, but they can help provide stability when washing. Make sure they are securely anchored to the wall.

Non-Slip Mats: Place non-slip mats inside the shower and bathtub to prevent slips. They’re a small investment that can save you from falls and head injuries.

Adjust Water Temperature:  Ensure your hot water is set to a safe temperature to avoid scalding. The hot water heater should be set to around 120°F (49°C)l, the middle setting on many water heater settings. 

Medicine Cabinet Locks: If you have young children, use childproof locks on your medicine cabinet to keep harmful substances out of reach.

Proper Lighting: Ensure there’s adequate lighting in the bathroom to avoid trips and falls during nighttime visits. Nightlights can be a simple and effective solution. 

Bedroom Safety

Clear Pathways: Keep pathways in the bedroom clutter free to prevent tripping. Ensure there’s enough space to move around comfortably, particularly getting around the bed.  Be aware where all furniture is when walking around to avoid stubbed toes, particularly at night.

Secure Rugs: If you have throw rugs, use rug grippers or double-sided tape to keep them from slipping. Loose rugs are a common trip hazard. 

Bed Rails: For anyone at risk of falling out of bed, consider installing bed rails to provide extra support and prevent falls.

Nightstands with Drawers: Opt for nightstands with drawers to keep essential items.  This reduces the need to get out of bed at night, minimizing the risk of falls, as you race to grab what you need and not lose a moment’s rest.

Fire Safety: Install battery-operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms if there are none. Make sure to install them 36 inches away from an air vent or the edge of a ceiling fan.  Also six inches away from the joint between the wall and ceiling.  And test smoke detectors regularly.

Kitchen Safety

Non-Slip Flooring: Choose slip-resistant rugs in the kitchen, especially in areas where spills are common. Mats near the sink and stove can also help and you can often buy them fairly cheaply at Costco.

Childproof Cabinets: If you have little ones, use childproof latches on cabinets and drawers to prevent them from accessing potentially hazardous items.

Anti-tip brackets: Install an anti-tip bracket behind the range. These are often used when children are in the home. Although they are less likely to open the oven door and use it as a step stool to get to the stove-top, adults can also benefit from installing these. 

Adequate Lighting: Proper lighting is crucial in the kitchen to avoid accidents. Under-cabinet lighting can illuminate work areas effectively.

Secure Heavy Items: Ensure heavy pots and pans are stored at waist level to prevent straining or dropping them from high shelves.

Sharp Object Storage: Keep knives and other sharp objects in a secure drawer or block. And handle all sharp items with extreme care, even when washing and drying. These steps reduce the risk of accidental cuts.  

Other Safety Tips

Furniture Anchors: Secure heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, to the wall to prevent tip-overs, especially if you have young children.

Adequate Outlets: Check for damaged outlets and replace them promptly. Avoid overloading circuits with too many devices. Install placeholder plugs in outlets to prevent young curious fingers (or tongues?) from going inside an electrical outlet.

Stair Gates: If your home has stairs, install safety gates at the top and bottom to prevent falls, especially if you have toddlers or pets to keep them off of the stairs when you cannot monitor them.

Emergency Escape Plan: Develop and practice an emergency escape plan with your family, including a designated meeting place outside.

Carbon Monoxide Detector:  If your home burns any fossil fuels for heating or appliances, install carbon monoxide detectors in common areas of your home to detect this odorless gas. The D.C. building codes require this if you use a fireplace or if you have an attached garage. In essence, if there is any potential source of carbon monoxide in the home, be sure to install these detectors.

Remember, a safer home not only prevents accidents but also provides peace of mind for you and your family. Implement these simple tips to create a secure environment in every room of your house.

With these practical tips and a few adjustments, you can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and falls in your home. Enjoy peace of mind in your now much safer haven.

Scott Bloom is owner and senior property manager of Columbia Property Management.

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Celebrity News

Lizzo makes $50K donation to Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Singer is vocal LGBTQ ally

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Lizzo at the 65th Grammy Awards (Screenshot from the Grammy Awards)

When Lizzo sings “If I’m shinin,’ everybody gonna shine,” in her hit song, “Juice,” she means it. Proof of that came this week on Instagram when the LGBTQ ally announced the first winner of her annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign is the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Calif., dedicated to the protection and defense of Black transgender people. 

And she did so in song: “On the first day of Juneteenth, Lizzo gave to me,” she sang in her video, posted Tuesday, as she revealed her $50,000 gift to MPJI.

“That’s right, we know who Marsha P. Johnson is. We know what Marsha P. Johnson has done for the LGBTQ, emphasis on that ‘T,’ Q community,” said Lizzo to her 13.5 million followers. “Thank you so much to the people at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. You deserve this, and I hope this helps you so much as you help protect our Black trans family.” 

“What the Marsha P. Johnson Institute does is protects and defends the rights of Black transgender people. They do this by organizing community, advocating for the people, and creating an intentional healing community, developing transformative leadership and promoting collective power,” she said. 

“We are overjoyed for the shoutout from Lizzo today, the generosity of her sharing her platform and the recognition of MPJI and its work,” said Elle Moxley, MPJI’s executive director. “The resources from this campaign will ensure the protection and defense of Black transgender people continue at a time where it is so vitally needed. We are so grateful for the support of Lizzo and her fans.”

As one of Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year for 2019 and a 2023 Grammy winner, Lizzo is more than a pop star but an inspiration to millions of fans for her body-positive attitude, her self-confidence on stage and in her videos, her empowering music and her activism. She’s also the founder of her own clothing line, Yitty. In 2021, she made headlines when she publicly corrected a paparazzo for using “she/her” pronouns and misgendering Demi Levato.

As part of her campaign, now in its 4th year, Lizzo recognizes Black-led grassroots organizations and businesses and encourages her fans to join her in supporting each of the five organizations she highlights this week. Fans who take action by donating are  entered into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to see her perform at Fuji Rock in Japan later this year. 

This week’s other nonprofits receiving gifts are: Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Music, the University of Houston and Save Our Sisters United.

Find out more about Lizzo’s 4th annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign by clicking here.

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Celebrity News

Anne Heche dies after removal from life support

Actress dated Ellen DeGeneres in late 1990s

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(Screenshot/YouTube Inside Edition)

Actress Anne Heche died after she was removed from life support on Sunday, nearly two weeks after her Mini-Cooper crashed through a two-story house in Los Angeles’ Mar Vista neighborhood. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department believe she was intoxicated at the time.

She sustained a severe anoxic brain injury along with severe burns and was being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.

The 53-year-old actress who was a star of films like “Donnie Brasco,” the political satire “Wag the Dog” and the 1998 remake of “Psycho,” had been declared legally dead under California law on Friday, however, her family kept her alive long enough to be an organ donor.

In a statement Friday, the LAPD announced that: “As of today, there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case. Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case. When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration.” LAPD detectives had previously made public that investigators into the crash found narcotics in a blood sample taken from Heche.

The actress’s family released a statement on Friday:

“Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement added.

Heche was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009. The two had a son, Homer, together. She had another son, named Atlas, during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series “Men In Trees.”

Laffoon left a moving tribute on an Instagram reel in which he also gave an update on how their 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon is coping with the loss of his mother.

“I loved her and I miss her, and I’m always going to,” he said adding: “Homer is okay. He’s grieving, of course, and it’s rough. It’s really rough, as probably anybody can imagine. But he’s surrounded by family and he’s strong, and he’s gonna be okay.”

“Rest In Peace, Mom, I love you, Homer,” the actor’s 20-year-old son, Homer, said in a statement after Heche was declared legally dead on Friday.“ My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom,” read the statement. “After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom. Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you, Homer.”

Tupper, a Canadian actor who starred alongside Heche in “Men in Trees,” had a 13-year-old son, Atlas, with her. “Love you forever,” Tupper, 57, wrote on his Instagram post’s caption with a broken heart emoji, which shared an image of the actress from Men in Trees.

Between 1997 and 2000, Heche was also in a relationship with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

“This is a sad day,” DeGeneres posted on Twitter. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.” The year after her break-up with the comedian, in September 2001, Heche recounted in her memoir “Call Me Crazy,” about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.

KTLA’s entertainment reporter Sam Rubin noted that over the past two decades, Heche’s career pivoted several times. In 2017, she hosted a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Jason Ellis called “Love and Heche.”

In 2020, Heche made her way into the podcast world. She launched “Better Together” which she cohosted alongside Heather Duffy Boylston. The show was described as a way to celebrate friendship. 

She also worked in smaller films, on Broadway, and on TV shows. She recently had recurring roles on the network series “Chicago P.D.,” and “All Rise” and was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.”

People magazine reported that several of Heche’s acting projects are expected to be released posthumously.

These include “Girl in Room 13,” expected to be released on Lifetime in September, “What Remains,” scheduled to be released in 2023, and HBO Max TV series “The Idol,” created by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.

In her Instagram post from earlier this year Heche stands between her sons Atlas, 13 and Homer, 20.

From KTLA:

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