"The Road to Cologne": Marni Halasa

Here's an extract of a profile of a Gay Games VIII athlete. Read the full profile in Living in the Queer Times HERE:

My fondest memories of the Gay Games Chicago 2006: Running out onto Soldier Field with the rest of the competitors during Opening Ceremonies, screaming with excitement. The deafening standing ovation that a flamboyant overweight skater, a rank beginner, received after skating a clever routine to Donna Summer’s Mac Arthur Park. And the incredible team work that all the participants showed in making the competition a good experience for all. Those experiences and more made me realize that for as long as I can lace up my skates and throw on a costume, I will always attend the Gay Games.

So get ready world. Being the widely acknowledged exhibitionist that I am, don’t be surprised to see me skating 40 years from now, cane in hand, wearing wings and a gold lame thong. I exist to carry on the tradition of the performance addict and the Gay Games has always been high on my list. The Games has always been a terrific venue for performers. It is the venue where skaters come to strut their stuff, to take risks and showcase edgy creative work in front of the most welcoming audience they could ever have.