Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com>
Klage/Fwd: Participate! The Official Newsletter of the FGG. September 2020 Edition
Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com> 7. oktober 2020 kl. 20:58
Til: juridisk <juridisk@datatilsynet.no>
Kopi: contact@gaygames.org, elh@forbrukertilsynet.no, inger.lise.blyverket@forbrukerradet.no, fmovpost <fmovpost@fylkesmannen.no>
Hei,
dette er trakassering som følge av identitetstyveri, (virker det som).
(Jeg har ikke kontaktet disse).
Vennligst rydd opp!
Med hilsen
Erik Ribsskog
PS.
Jeg sender fortsatt om identitetstyveri til Datatilsynet, (siden at det ikke
virker helt klart, hvem andre jeg burde sende om dette til, synes
jeg).
---------- Forwarded message ---------
Fra: Federation of Gay Games <contact@gaygames.org>
Date: tir. 15. sep. 2020 kl. 19:56
Subject: Participate! The Official Newsletter of the FGG. September 2020 Edition
To: Erik Ribsskog <eribsskog@gmail.com>
Welcome to the September 2020 Edition of Participate!
Join us for Hong Kong 2022 - Gay Games 11!
Follow FGG on Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
Joanie Evans, co-president
Sean Fitzgerald, co-president
It seems strange to write that the world is seemingly in recovery while protests and natural disasters continue to occur.
Yet it also seems not strange at all.
The events we are living through, while extreme, the world has seen many times before. The changes that 2020 has brought have spurred revolution. People are united in their desire for change and many are using their platforms for good in ways they haven’t before: to educate and inform, to delight and support, to encourage and amuse; all while ensuring messages of unity, connectedness, respect and justice do not get lost. The FGG has been a provider of these messages for more than 30 years. Now more than ever, we must continue our mission to spread positivity, love, hope and inclusion. In this issue, we have inspiring stories, exciting announcements and more. We’d like to hear your stories of inspiration so that we can highlight that while the world does not stop turning, neither do we.
#FGG #gaygames. #gaygameshk2022 #lgbtq #love
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GGHK2022 Update
100K Crowdfunding Milestone for GGHK2022!
Generous donations have continued to pour in from a wide array of supporters helping us to surpass the USD100,000 milestone. With more than 2 years to go until the Games are staged, the crowdfunding helps to finance the extensive preparations that make the Gay Games come to life. You can see the current crowdfunding amount raised here as well as the Supporters page to find out more information on our generous donors.
Sporting Associations Support
Organizing a sport event of this size would not be possible without the support of both local sporting associations and clubs and over 50 global LGBTQ+ sports organizations. From helping to raise awareness about GGHK2022 to providing support with venues and logistics, and even directly helping to organize the sporting events at the Games, the backing from these organizations is vital to making GGHK2022 a success.
The current list of local supporters includes:
Badminton - Hong Kong Badminton Association
Bodybuilding - Hong Kong China Bodybuilding and Fitness Association
Dance Sports - Hong Kong DanceSport Association
Dodgeball - Hong Kong Dodgeball Association
Dragon Boat Racing - Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association
eSport - Asian Electronic Sports Federation / eSports Association Hong Kong
Football - The Hong Kong Football Association
Martial Arts - Hong Kong Taekwondo Association, Hong Kong Judo Association
Rowing - Hong Kong China Rowing Association
Rugby - Hong Kong Rugby Union
Tennis - Hong Kong Tennis Association
Triathlon -Hong Kong Triathlon Association
Sailing - Hong Kong Sailing Federation
Squash - Hong Kong Squash Association
Wrestling - Hong Kong Wrestling Federation.
Watch this space as we continue to build our local network.
Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Weibo * Youtube
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Arts & Culture Update - HK
There have been some exciting updates within the Arts & Culture team. We would like to welcome Steve Imrie as Choir Coordinator. He’s already been busy building relationships with a number of choir groups for participation. With that we are pleased to officially welcome the Hong Kong Gay Men's Chorus as one of our choir performances.
Hong Kong Gay Men's Chorus
The Hong Kong Arts Collective has expressed their interest in contributing to any exhibition needs that GGHK2022 has, and we’re hopeful of organizing something for local young LGBTQ+ artists.
In addition, AIDS Concern, a local HIV/AIDS non-profit and resource center is now a confirmed partner. They will be assisting with the NAMES Project Memorial ceremony.
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FGG Family Profiles
Meet the GGHK Team: Steve Imrie, Choir Coordinator
My name is Steve and my role at Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022 will be part of the Arts & Culture team with Shawn, as the Choir Co-ordinator for the performance events during the games and at the gala concert.
I have been a singer and drag performer here in HK for almost two years. Anyone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community knows about the Gay Games. The promotion work is fantastic. Dennis and his team have been a great supporter of performers here in HK and we have been very grateful for the support they have given us. I have close friends volunteering for the games and they enjoy the work they are doing with the team.
Although I am not a sporty kind of guy (I do love to swim, but go infrequently at the moment), I know the appeal of the games. My mum and sister went to the London Olympics and said it was one of the best experiences they ever had. I also had friends volunteer there and they loved it. I’m hoping that this Olympic spirit will rub off on HK for the Gay Games too.
Secondly, I know that the games (Olympics and Gay Games) offer more than just sport. The opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 games were amazing. Being part of the HKGG arts and performance team will offer me the opportunity to make our ceremonies as amazing. As Choir Co-ordinator I will have the ability to help make connections across Asia with LGBTQ+ choirs and those choirs that support the LGBTQ+ communities to create a fantastic choir concert and gala performance. Music and sport go hand in hand as they can help to move individuals and bring love into their lives. I am looking forward to being part of this performance movement.
In HK I am a part time English Language tutor, LGBTQ+ Happiness Life Coach and I’m also completing my Diploma in Counselling. I spend my free time, with my husband, meeting my gay bear friends for drinks and food, shopping, going to the cinema. I love to swim on my afternoon off. I am a winner of the Pink Season Drag Queen competition and I love performing as Stephanie Slack whenever I can.
Hong Kong excites me because of its energy - artistic, political and creative.
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Meet the GGHK Team: Yelin Qiu, Champions Coordinator
I was one of the inaugural members of Out In HK, an LGBTQ+ outdoor sports group founded by Dennis. When I left Hong Kong for my startup in Shanghai, I kept in touch with fellow members and the progress of the LGBTQ+ communities in Hong Kong. I was thrilled to hear about Hong Kong’s successful bid to host the Gay Games. The minute I moved back to Hong Kong, I wanted to get involved!
I believe, one day, there won’t be a distinction between Gay Games and The Olympics. Until that happens, there is a lot of work to do to empower LGBTQ+ communities around the world, through art, culture, law, as well as sports. Gay Games is shining a spotlight on sportsmanship and queerness, and Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 is then inserting these topics in the context of Asia, where LGBTQ+ issues are only beginning to find a wider audience in recent years. I think the historic significance of these Games cannot be overstated, and to be part of the team that helps contribute to these meaningful conversations and, perhaps, helping change real attitudes in the region, would be incredible.
To say I love hiking in Hong Kong is almost too much of a cliché, but the truth is, with the abundance of trails and sceneries, it’s hard to not like hiking in this city. Besides that, I also love the “Hunger Games” that my boyfriend regularly hosts, which is basically paintball/dodgeball with bow and (soft-tip) arrows. I’m also a proud dog dad.
Hong Kong excites me because it keeps me close to my roots in Mainland China, while also embracing the diverse cultures beyond Asia. There really is no other city like it.
Champions promote Gay Games 11 Hong Kong (GGHK) within their LGBTQ+/sports communities, city, country or region. Read more here to become a Champion yourself!
Meet the GGHK Team: Kate Geary, Squash Coordinator
I first got involved with the Gay Games many years ago as a volunteer for the Sydney Games in 2002. I was working in the marketing and events team (long before social media as we know it today) so I had the very hard task of going to parties and events around Sydney promoting the games. I was also very lucky to be the flag bearer for the Singaporean team during the opening ceremony, which was the most amazing experience. When I heard the games were going to be held in Hong Kong (20 years since my last experience) I really wanted to get involved and I’m very thankful to be a part of the team and can’t wait for the games in 2022.
I’m originally from Sydney but Hong Kong has been my home for the past 13 years and hopefully for many more to come. In my day job I am the head of People and Culture for an international architecture practice, working with a diverse mix of creatives from all over the world.
My father was a professional squash player and owned a squash centre when I was young. I grew up surrounded by a love of the sport and it was a major part of my life.
When I moved to Hong Kong I immediately joined a squash club as a way to meet people and stay active. I’ve played many sports over the years from tennis, baseball, netball, touch football, rugby, cricket and I’ve just recently started playing hockey. I’ve even had the privilege of representing Hong Kong playing Gaelic football and Camogie at the Asian Games.
Through sports I have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and I can’t wait to meet many more when the games come to Hong Kong in 2022!
Hong Kong is such a diverse city, and it’s this diversity and energy that makes it so special and why I’ve made it my home. A lot of people think of Hong Kong just as high rise buildings and shopping centres, but there is so much more to it than that: you just need to get out there to find it!
Meet the GGHK Team: Rick Peterson, Partnership Development
I’m Rick Peterson from Seattle, USA. Today I’m helping global brands partner with Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022 as a member of the fundraising team, focused on global brand partnership development.
When I first came out as a gay man in the 1970s there were no organized opportunities to build community and friendships through sport. It just didn’t exist in the LGBTQ+ communities—anywhere in the world—outside a little bowling and softball. The advent of Gay Games in 1982 changed that forever.
I first became involved in Gay Games in 1984 when I co-founded both the Orca Swim Team and Team Seattle to build participation for Gay Games 2 in San Francisco 1986. Soon after, I was elected first co-president of the Federation of Gay Games in 1989, serving through Gay Games 3 in Vancouver 1990, Gay Games 4 in New York 1994, through awarding Gay Games 5 to Amsterdam for 1998, thus sending Gay Games beyond the shores of North America for the first time.
In 2017 as an honorary life member of the Federation of Gay Games, I cheered in the room as Gay Games 11 was awarded to Hong Kong 2022 marking a ground-breaking opportunity to bring the hope, inspiration and passion of Gay Games to Asia for the first time.
Through my career in advertising, I have a studied interest in marketing and brand development. I came up through the creative side of the business, initially as an award-winning writer and creative director, then eventually as co-founder and president of Hydrogen Advertising—a full-service independent ad agency based in Seattle focused on health & wellness, financial services and technology sectors.
I clearly see Gay Games as a huge storytelling opportunity and a powerful way for leadership brands to visibly and authentically engage with the global LGBTQ+ communities in ways that can also achieve important business goals.
Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022 will be an enormous and historic opportunity to durably improve the visibility and lives of LGBTQ+ people throughout Asia along with the communities they live in. It will change perceptions, open new doors and foster ongoing community enrichment through emerging LGBTQ+ sport teams and cultural groups in many communities throughout the Asia Pacific region long after the Gay Games Hong Kong flame is extinguished at closing ceremonies in 2022.
You can check out all volunteers on GGHK on the website here
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Culture and Ceremonies
Search, See & Remember! View all 48,000 AIDS Quilt panels online
The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an enormous memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes. Comprising 48,000 individual panels and weighing an estimated 54 tons, it is the largest piece of community folk art in the world as of 2020. Get more information here.
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GALA Choruses - Leadership Symposium
Symposium is a weekend of networking, seminars, discussions. workshops, and socializing for all chorus leaders. We usually hold Symposium in February, and we had been planning to gather in Atlanta next year, but with the pandemic pushing everything else further down the timeline, we will now hold a virtual Leadership Symposium from the 16th -18th of October, 2020.
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Legato Choirs - GENERAL MEETING 2020 INVITATION
Dear Legato Member Choir / Ensemble
We are pleased to invite you to the annual Legato delegates meeting.
Saturday, 10 October 2020 - online by Zoom
at 2 pm CEST (Central European Summer Time)
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International Development
Tackling LGBTQ-phobia in Sport
A new academic study suggests that the use of homophobic language is drastically reduced at sporting clubs which engage in pride games, new research has revealed, proving diversity-themed events can have a positive impact.
The research, led by Australia’s Monash University, is the first academic study to investigate if such themed games or rounds, which aim to address a range of social issues including homophobia, racism and respect for women, can help stop discriminatory behaviours in male sport.
The study focused on the Australian Ice Hockey League and found players in teams that hold pride games use nearly 40% less homophobic language than those in teams that have not held games. A subsequent, larger study that included community cricket, netball, Australian rules football, field hockey, and roller derby reported nearly identical results.
“These findings are very unusual,” Erik Denison, the lead author of the study, said. “Most prejudice reduction interventions fail or have little impact on attitudes and very few have been shown to change behaviours.”
Slurs such as “fag” were found to be far less prevalent in the two semi-professional AIHL teams involved in pride initiatives than in the other six, after players self-reported for a period of two weeks.
“Holding pride games does not stop discriminatory behaviours but the games seem to mitigate the frequency of homophobic and sexist language used by players on teams that host the events,” Denison said.
“For pride games, our working theory is that communications around the game, getting players to wear a special uniform, putting rainbows up everywhere in a stadium, making announcements, meeting LGBTQ+ athletes creates a ‘window of cognitive opportunity’ to short-circuit this normally thoughtless language,” he said.1
New figures released by Kick It Out, the United Kingdom’s football equality and inclusion organization, show shocking increases in the levels of race hate and homophobic abuse, around football matches and across social media – in spite of the season being put on hold for several months due to Covid-19.
New figures released by Kick It Out, the United Kingdom’s football equality and inclusion organization, show shocking increases in the levels of race hate and homophobic abuse, around football matches and across social media – in spite of the season being put on hold for several months due to Covid-19.
Overall, in the professional game Kick It Out saw a 42% increase in reports of discrimination in total, up from 313 to 446. Kick It Out received 117 reports of abuse based on sexual orientation compared to 60 last season – up by 95%.2
Have you, your sports organization or another group in your area put on a “pride event” in sport that includes exposure for “mainstream” sports teams? The Federation of Gay Games would like to hear more about your experience. Or, are you interested in creating a pride/diversity sport event within “mainstream” sport environments in your city or country? We’d love to hear from you about that too.
Please email william.mcmanus@gaygames.net
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Latin American News
Peace for Development joins efforts to develop LGBTI sports program in Ecuador
The Peace for Development Foundation together with the LGBTI sports community in Ecuador (formerly known as Olimpiadas LGBTI Ecuador), joined efforts and designed the first LGBTI sports program called Abanicos Sports in order to generate safe, inclusive spaces in the fight against hate and discrimination in Ecuadorian sports, leading social transformation processes towards the reduction of inequalities and construction of a culture of peace.
The name is meant to preserve and commemorate Ecuadorian LGBTI history and those who fought for our rights.
In 1997, there was a police raid while a gay pageant contest was taking place in a local Bar in Cuenca, Ecuador, called “Abanicos Bar”, arresting 14 gay men with extreme violence. This was the start of the gay rights movement in Ecuador because a formal complaint was filed for the first time against the Police, generating supportive opinion from society. After, it paved the way to repeal of article 516 of the Ecuadorian Penal Code that penalized consensual homosexual sex between adult men that could carry prison from 4 to 8 years.
According to an INEC (National Institute of Statistics and Census) study in 2013, the LGBTI population, experience exclusion (60.8%), discrimination (55.8%), and violence (65.6%) in public spaces. “ It is therefore that we take on sport and its power to change the world and historically it has played an important role in all societies. We defend sport as a fundamental right and a powerful tool to strengthen social bonds and promote sustainable development, peace, well-being, solidarity, and respect,” said Abanicos Sports founder Roberto Santillan.
They aim to send through the program the first Ecuadorian delegation to the Gay Games in Hong Kong in 2022 and become a reference in their country and Latin America in the fight for equality and respect for diversity.
Santillan, a swimmer and triathlete, who was part of a delegation of Latin American LGBTQ+ sport leaders who attended an outreach program held in conjunction with the FGG AGA in Mexico in October 2019. The FGG is currently processing the Abanicos Sports application for full FGG Assembly membership.
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Growing Audience in Brazil
We’ve seen a big growth in engagement with Brazilians on our social media platforms. Brazil currently comprises the second largest national audience of the FGG Instagram page, at 14% of our global audience, second only to the USA (31%). On Facebook, Brazil is the sixth largest audience among our followers.
Note: Earlier this year a team from Sao Paulo began the bidding process for hosting Gay Games XII in 2026, the first ever bid from the South American continent. Unfortunately the team had to pull out of the process due to the incredible pressures on resources due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Video Content
We’re interested in hearing from you and learning more about your story. We’d like to feature short videos (1-2 minutes) about your individual or team experience of playing sport or participating in cultural activities. Talk about your experience in sport in your country (individuals or teams), your experience of attending the Gay Games - or your ambition to attend the next Gay Games.
For further information, email william.mcmanus@gaygames.net
Meet Our Volunteers
Welcome aboard new individual member Austin Manning! Last month, as Austin celebrated his one year volunteering on the Culture & Ceremonies Committee, his application for individual membership to the FGG was approved by our Board Directors. Thank you Austin for sharing your time and talents with the FGG!
Can you tell us a little about who you are, where you live, what sport/culture activity you participate in?
I’m Austin from Austin, Texas, USA. I am a life-long soccer player and a recent member of the Culture & Ceremonies Committee with the FGG. In my ‘day job’, I am a theatrical Technical Director and Production Manager with experience in the design, planning, and execution of live events in all of their exciting forms.
Can you tell us about your first Gay Games experience?
Gay Games 10 in Paris was my first time participating in the Games as an athlete. I will never forget arriving at the Jean Bouin stadium for the Opening Ceremonies and the eventual entry of all the participants to the stadium field. I saw thousands of folks just like me, and simultaneously nothing like me, all gathered to celebrate the very qualities that made us unique and supporting each other in our ensuing endeavors towards personal achievement. The crowd was lively and overwhelming, yet welcoming and engaging; there were new friends, reunions with those that had traveled great distances (shout out to Vancouver!), and a palpable buzz that said ‘We Are Here!’ From that point forward, the week in Paris was full of new and exciting experiences.
The tournament itself was a sublime experience with all the ups and downs it entailed. Most of these athletes from around the world I saw only for an hour or so but those intense minutes on the field made clear the universality in all of us as well as the importance and opportunity that lies within Gay Games events.The teamwork, the common cause, and the genuine support we had for one another will stay with me the rest of my days!
What was your highlight of GGX: Paris 2018?
There were so many incredible moments in my GGX Paris 2018 experience. From rest day Gelato at Montmartre to the centuries old Bell Tower waking me up every morning; the pomp and circumstance of the ceremonies to the casual connectivity of the nightly soirees; the opportunity to see others excelling in their craft and chosen pastime to our own wild tournament ride in soccer, the Paris 2018 experience truly kept giving and giving. These are memories I will keep close at heart for years to come.
What attracted you to volunteer for the Federation of Gay Games?
I have always been drawn to organizations and people that make community building a clear and well supported goal. As I reflected on my time in Paris and the amazing opportunity it presented, I had to ask, ‘How can I support this important Mission?’ Simply put, the FGG had me at ‘Inclusion’.
Why do you think this volunteer opportunity is a good match for you?
I was never a text-book “joiner,” but I seem to find myself engaged with the leadership of causes and organizations I feel strongly aligned with. From experience with LGBTQ+ camping programs to university development boards, adult recreation leagues to social organizations, I have leveraged my career experience to the benefit of the organizations and missions I am involved with. When the opportunity to join the FGG Culture & Ceremonies Committee presented itself, it was a no-brainer. Our committee is tasked with organizing and showcasing performances, live events, art installations or full marching band exhibitions. With my production management experience in the technical planning and logistics for events such as those and my passion for supporting the Arts in all its many forms, the C&C felt like the right team to join!
What is it like to volunteer with the Federation?
Volunteering with the Federation is an exceptional experience. In my year or so with the C&C Committee, I’ve met passionate, empathetic individuals engaged in work they truly believe in. It is rare, in my experience, to work with an organization that embeds its foundational principles and Mission so innately in every fiber of its committees, staff, and volunteers. As such, my time with the Federation and the work I have done has been rewarding beyond expectations.
What do you really enjoy about volunteering with the Federation?
There’s nothing better than meeting new and inspiring people in your pursuits and, in that regard, my time volunteering with the FGG has exceeded its reputation. Our Committee is comprised of leaders from their respective fields and organizations committed to carrying out the Mission of the Federation while curating the most engaging and exciting events for their constituents. I am continually in awe of their unique contributions, history with the FGG and Games, and the body of work their respective organizations achieve for their communities. To top it all off, the array of disciplines represented by our membership constantly expands my knowledge base and appreciation for the countless forms of artistic and performative expression they represent.
What do you think will change about the Gay Games in the next 5 to 10 years?
I’m so early in my experience with the Games, both as a participant and volunteer that it is hard for me to predict what changes are to come! In general, I think the world, and by proxy the Games, will incorporate significantly more digital participation in the years to come. Our global experience in 2020 has thus far been challenging, but one of the great takeaways has been the development and integration of digitally based communication tools. Whether we embrace the digital interconnectedness to improve our collaborative planning in new ways or our Games experience for athletes, I do see the developments of the last 6 months informing every organization’s path forward. Personally, I would love to see the FGG and its committees capitalize on digital platforms to grow our audience and non-participant involvement. With live-streaming and web-based content sharing, the shift of consumers to digital media consumption, coupled with a concerted effort by the FGG in showcasing Games events online, could improve the accessibility of the Games experience and expand the reach of our mission and exhibition.
What would you say to someone who is thinking of volunteering for the FGG?
I would ask them about their first Games experience. I’d ask them to relive those moments of acceptance, pride, joy, anticipation, achievement, resilience, and connection. I’d ask them to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the unique and special opportunity the Games represent for our global LGBTQ+ communities and to reflect on how they could support making these events a reality. Then, I’d say ‘JUST DO IT, FRIEND!’
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Are you inspired by Austin's story? Would you like to volunteer with the Federation of Gay Games?
We are currently looking for people with skills in Marketing, Graphic Design skills, and User Experience to join us and help get our message out to the widest possible audiences.
New FGG Marketing Committee Forming - Seeking Members
The Federation of Gay Games is expanding its Committee structure with the creation of a Marketing Committee. Interested people should apply. With just more than two years before Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong, there is going to be plenty of work to do, both internally and directly with our partners in Hong Kong. This should be an exciting time to join this new Committee. Topics this new Marketing Committee will address include:
Liaison with other FGG Committee
Working directly with the Hong Kong host organization
Managing FGG trademarks
40th anniversary issues
FGG-branded merchandise
Overall FGG branding
FGG-branded signage
FGG corporate gifts
Managing the Gay Games photo and video archives
Managing and updating Gay Games history pages on website
Ideal candidates will have some marketing experience, whether with a nonprofit or not. But, this is not a requirement. Having a strong interest in furthering the mission of the Gay Games movement is also an important qualification.
Please contact hrtaskforce@gaygames.net for more information.
Graphic Designers: Can you spend a couple of hours a month helping the Federation with its marketing efforts? If so we would like to hear from you. Please contact hrtaskforce@gaygames.net for more information.
UX/UI Designer
The Federation of Gay Games is looking for volunteers to renew our website. Everything has to be started from the ground, including thinking about targets, goals, look & feel… following FGG Mission and Values. UX/UI designers will be a great help to start on this project and also anyone with a digital background. If you’ve an artistic eye for design, developing projects and want to help build FGG future on the web, contact us! hrtaskforce@gaygames.net for more information.
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Diversity and Inclusion
A series of interviews with supporters, members and fellow activists.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Dalma Paimann. I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, about two hours drive from Stuttgart. My father is German and my mother is Venezuelan. I have lived in Germany, Venezuela, Malaysia, United States, and now – since I was twelve years old – Mexico. I think of myself a citizen of the world but Mexican in many ways. In 2010, when I was 18 years old, I went to a culinary school in Germany run in a Michelin starred restaurant. I soon discovered that that was not me and returned to Mexico to begin studying for a BA in tourism. Eating is my favourite hobby and I will never say no to Sour Patches - I’m addicted. I truly dislike hypocrisy, dislike it even more when having to give into it.
Do you practice a sport or participate in a cultural activity?
My only sport at the moment is Yoga. I consider myself in beginner-intermediate stage, as there are many positions I’m still not comfortable doing. Post COVID, I look forward to going to classes where I can be given proper instruction. Hiking has been a new activity I have recently discovered I enjoy very much, I can’t wait to get back on a mountain and take in the fresh air and incredible
Are you a part of an LGBTQ+ organization/association/group/team in your region? Has this activity helped or supported you in any way? What are other ways you participate in your community?
Blame it on quarantine, pure coincidence or a “meant to be” situation but 2020 has presented a lot of challenges and has brought insight to my life, I won’t lie, it was tough at times. As a result, I can see my goals with much more clarity and I’m working on seeing them through.
I am currently working on several projects that push forward the visibility of our community in my locality. I am part of a team that looks to organise and promote sporting activities, championships and other events. La Federación Mexicana Deportiva de la Diversidad (FMDD) is a non-profit organization that encourages integration, acceptance and respect through sports. I want to keep working to pursue the ability for the Federación to create a welcoming environment for all across Mexico, and from that creating lasting change within and across our communities in my country. It will take a bit of time but we will get there.
Being involved with the Federación and meeting and working with many people in LGBTQ+ organisations has helped me to recognise and understand my own sexuality. For me, that process was like walking down a hallway towards a door that I knew was there but have never opened.
Have you participated in a Gay Games before? If so, which? Tell us about your experience.
I have not yet been able to attend a Gay Games, but I look forward to being at the next GG!
Did you have previous knowledge of the FGG? If so, tell us about your connection to us.
I was introduced to the FGG in July 2016, my first month on the job, for the 10th Gay Games 2022 bid. Then when I had the opportunity to go to Sydney to give our first candidate city presentation, it was as if I was meant to be there. I wasn’t supposed to go, my manager was planned to go but she had not received her VISA to enter Australia. Two days before the flight she turns to me and asks me to apply for the VISA and I got accepted within a minute. Since that moment, working with the FGG became a goal for me.
The team and I put our hearts into the 2022 bid, and it was heart-breaking to not win. But out of this came the incredible opportunity to plan for the future. Many alliances and projects have since then formed and we have seen a better path. We will continue to bid for upcoming the Gay Games.
Has the FGG and/or Gay Games influenced your life in anyway? Please elaborate. Are you still participating in FGG and/or GG?
Since being on the bid team the first time, I started to understand certain issues in my life. It had taken me some time to fully process the death of my uncle after he passed away due to AIDS. It was in Sydney when it all hit me, and at that time I waved the LGBTQ+ flag in his honour. Recently, I discovered some of my motivation has been in part to honour my dear uncle but in reality it was my own truth. There is no need for labels: love is love, in any shape or form.
Will you attend the 11th Gay Games in Hong Kong?
I look forward to attending the next Gay Games, especially in a city new to the FGG. Swimming will be the first sport I sign up for. I plan to train and possibly be able to do another activity as well. Anyone up for being my trainer? I might need a push.
What is next for you?
I would like to learn more about the law and politics in Mexico, learn about the tools that can support the Federación, educate myself to be able to educate others, train the many people who run various sports facilities on LGBTQ+ visibility, beginning in my city and province and replicating that across Mexico as a whole. This work will be my teacher which will help further shape my career and future. I hope to again be a part of the FGG and be able to support better from within.
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International Breakthrough for Dancesport
The International Federation of Same Sex Dancesport Associations (IFSSDA) finalized a set of rules applicable to all internationally sanctioned events, such as its World Championships, designated for Dancesport at each quadrennial Gay Games, and the World Dancesport Pride Cup, which was to be held this year in Orlando, but has been postponed to next year, due to the Pandemic.
For the Gay Games, this is an important step, because from now on Dancesport will have the same binding set of rules. Dancesport was first added to the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam, for which the Dutch organizers developed a brief set of rules, since rules from mainstream organizations didn’t address aspects of same-sex dancing, such as clothing or switching lead within a dance. These rules were adopted with slight changes for the Games of 2002 in Sydney (different dances in the lower categories) and 2006 in Chicago. Thereafter, set of rules from the then newly formed continental organizations, ESSDA (European Same-Sex Dance Association) and NASSPDA (North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association), governed the Dancesport competitions at the Games based on which continent hosted, such as the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne as well as the 2018 in Paris by ESSDA’s rules and the 2014 in Cleveland/Akron by NASSPDA’s rules. And if Country Western Dance categories were offered, as in Cologne and Cleveland/Akron, the rules of IAGLCWDC (International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs) were applied. So differing set of rules were employed for Dancesport at each previous Gay Games. Therefore, starting with the 2022 Games in Hong Kong, Dancesport will now have a unified standard enforced at all following Gay Games.
But there is more: These new rules from IFSSDA confirm that the quadrennially held Gay Games are also Dancesport‘s World Championship! The Dancesport community has always considered this to be the case, but the agreement between the founding members of IFSSDA, ESSDA, IAGLCWDC and NASSPDA, to officially conisder the Gay Games its World Championships, first applied to the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland/Akron, is now set in writing through these rules and therefore applicable to all subsequent Gay Games.
We want to thank our member organizations, ESSDA and NASSPDA (and IAGLCWDC as well), who are the current members of IFFSDA (www.ifssda.org), for taking this important step and the effort that went into making it happen. This shows a commitment to the Gay Games, which is outstanding (and maybe a model for other associations…..) See the following excerpt from IFSSDA’s new set of rules, which exemplifies this:
"A standing agreement between these founding organizations has authorized the event of Dancesport at the quadrennial Gay Games to be IFSSDA’s World Championships. These rules shall govern this event in addition to the existing FGG’s (Federation of Gay Games) Red Book for Dancesport and any other future international event sanctioned by IFSSDA along with any other overarching set of rules.“
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Steering Committee HK - Inside
We want to inform everyone about the FGG-Hong Kong joint Steering Committee (SC).
The FGG created the joint Steering Committee to work with the current host directly. The SC has existed since GG9 Cleveland/Akron, and has been successful in managing issues and challenges that arise between the host and the FGG. For the Hong Kong Gay Games, the Steering Committee has six members of the FGG (Joanie, Kimberly, David, Mike and Armin from the FGG Board plus Rob Smitherman) and six from the Hong Kong board.
For Gay Games Hong Kong, we have broadened our cooperative approach by creating subcommittees. Each subcommittee has Hong Kong board members and volunteers, as well as FGG representatives. The list of current subcommittees is:
Fundraising
Marketing: PR & Comms, Outreach, Creative
Sports
Arts & Culture
Ceremonies
Finance/Legal
Tech
People & Organisation
Scholarship
Additionally, since Sept. 2019, we have met on a monthly basis (minimum) with HK to discuss Hong Kong’s political, social and health situation. This subcommittee also deals with establishing contingency plans with HK. This group is called Hong Kong Workgroup
All the other SubC’s are meeting on a regular basis. In the last fiscal year, we had 124 calls with HK (SC, SubC’s, individual calls) and additional 13 calls with the Hong Kong workgroup.
Latest news from HK is that there is a “New” Sports Director: Jackie Vierow, formerly Project Manager Sports (July 2020). Jackie has been promoted to this position and is replacing Sabrina Young, so Sabrina can focus on her Co-Chair role.
HK is working very closely with FGG on Development. We have set up different approaches with great success. Btw: If you want to support HK and you need a nice Shirt or a wonderful bathing towel for the summer …. Go to the HK2022 Shop: https://gghk2022.com/en/the-store/
Due to the Covid 19 worldwide pandemic, we decided to schedule the opening of registration in early 2021. To get more information about who is planning to go to HK in 2022, there will be a pre-registration, starting in Autumn this year. Please watch for more information!
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Calling All Gay Games Pin Collectors!
When you attend the Gay Games, does your name badge end up looking like the one in this photo? If so, you’ll be very interested to know that during Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong, the first-ever exhibition of Gay Games pin collections will be presented in the Festival Village. This will be an exciting opportunity for you to showcase your hard work in collecting your Gay Games pins over the years. Even if yours are sitting in a box somewhere, you’ve got more than two years to find those pins and organize them in some kind of a presentation format.
More details about this Gay Games pin collection exhibition will be announced in future issues of this newsletter. Meanwhile, start looking around for your pins and see all the memories they bring back to you. These are the memories you’ll want to share in Hong Kong in 2022.
CREDIT
Photo: JeanFrancois Vansnick
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Since the first Gay Games in 1982, the Federation of Gay Games mission promotes equality in and through sport and culture and ensures that the Gay Games, the world’s largest sports and culture festival open to all, take place every four years under the founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, and Personal BestTM.
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