Fri. September 23, 2005
Chicago, IL -
Chicago Games, Inc. the host of the 2006 Chicago Gay Games, announced this week that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the USA's largest advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights, has become a global sponsor. Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place in Chicago July 15-22 2006.
"People say that the fight for equality is a marathon. The Gay Games brings that to life," said Joe Solmonese, HRC President. "Our goal is equality. Like any athlete knows, the harder you work, the closer you are to reaching your objective. As we look back at our progress since the 1994 New York Gay Games, we mark the return of the games to the United States with an even stronger commitment to the future fight. HRC is proud to play a partner role in helping the Gay Games change the world for the better."
"Our partnership with the 2006 Chicago Games will include cross-promotional opportunities, discounts for HRC members to participate as athletes and cultural performers, and cooperative events both in advance and during the Gay Games," said Cathy Nelson, HRC's Vice President for Development and Membership. HRC becomes a Bronze level global sponsor of the Gay Games. "We're very excited at this opportunity and encourage others to join us in welcoming the world to Chicago this July."
"We are extremely gratified by the support of the Human Rights Campaign for the Gay Games movement and the 2006 Chicago Gay Games," said Tracy Baim, Co-Vice Chair of the Chicago Games, Inc. Board of Directors. "Though our methods may differ, our goals are the same - a world free of bigotry where everyone can be safe at work, home and at play. Beyond sports, culture and social events, at its heart the Gay Games are an effort at social change. HRC will help us achieve that mission."
The Human Rights Campaign, the USA's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. HRC has close to 600,000 members - all committed to making this vision of equality a reality.
Founded in 1980, HRC effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support to fair-minded candidates, and works to educate the public on a wide array of topics affecting GLBT Americans, including relationship recognition, workplace, family, and health issues. The HRC Foundation - an HRC-affiliated organization - engages in research and provides public education and programming. For more information about the HRC, visit www.hrc.org.
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place July 15-22 2006. Over 12,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 15 July at Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of American-style football's Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be 22 July at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, located in the heart of Chicago's largest LGBT neighborhood.
For the first time ever, the Gay Games in Chicago will receive widespread television coverage on the Q Television Network. Early sponsors of Gay Games VII include PlanetOut/Gay.com; Walgreens, Q Television Network; Orbitz; Sydney New Mardi Gras; McKnight Kurland Baccelli; Human Rights Campaign; Mate, Genre, Pink and Girlfriends Magazines; Windy City Media Group and more than 80 business sponsors. ChicagoPride.com is a proud sponsor of the Gay Games in Chicago.
Registration for Gay Games VII is now open at www.GayGamesChicago.org (English), www.GayGamesChicago.org/es/ (Spanish), www.GayGamesChicago.org/fr/ (French), and www.GayGamesChicago.org/de/ (German).
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