Deutche Welle interview of Jamaican track athlete at Gay Games VIII

Deutsche Welle looked at the experience of a Jamaican athlete at Gay Games VIII:

Deutsche Welle spoke to a Gay Games track athlete from Jamaica, one of the most homophobic places on earth. He said despite criticism that the Gay Games segregate gay and lesbian athletes, the event is still important.

As the shot rang out in the stadium, three men took off in the first heat of the 200 meter qualifiers, age group 45 to 49, at the eighth quadrennial Gay Games in Cologne. Seconds after the start, James had already taken the lead and he eventually crossed the finish line well ahead of his opponents.

"He is our personal Usain Bolt in Cologne, 29.05 seconds," shouted the announcer to a cheering audience.

James, whose name has been changed to protect his anonymity, is from Jamaica, the sprinting capital of the world. He later told Deutsche Welle it was his fastest 200-meter time ever.

Athletes line up on track at Gay GamesTrack is a popular event at the games

James started doing track and field about 10 years ago when his cholesterol and blood pressure were causing health problems. Now well into his 40s, he said he likes the challenges track presents.

"You're always testing yourself, you're always trying to do better or trying to maintain the level that you're at," he said. "So it's a good way to measure your progress and your fitness and how well you're aging."

Keep reading HERE.

A Jamaican participant in Gay Games VIII tells her story

From OutburstUK:


Jamaica had a small team at the gay games recently in July of this year, the two man, two woman team traveled all the way to Cologne to appear in the opening ceremony where one female member appeared in the combined choir.
A male representative appeared in a track and field event while the other female member played in a football match as well.

Here is a first hand take in great colourful Jamaican colloquial terms on one of the participants experience at the Gay Games Cologne 2010.

"My journey started on Wednesday July 28th with my 6:10am flight from Jamaica to New York. (Dem seh mi haffi reach a di airport by 3:00am! Dem head tek dem?!?!?!? Mi neva reach ‘til 4:15am. Mid did waan sleep yah) Anyway, from New York the next leg of the journey was to Frankfurt which and then from Frankfurt via train to Cologne. (di train fast yuh si! 250+ kilometers per hour dem seh.)

Keep reading HERE.

FGG counsel offering support for fight against discriminatory laws in Jamaica

The Federation of Gay Games is pleased to benefit from legal counsel from the firm of Thompson Hine, and is proud that this firm is part of a new initiative to fight homophobic laws in Jamaica, as described in this press release from AIDS-Free World:

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Oct. 26 — At a press conference in Kingston today, Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson announced that his organization, AIDS-Free World, has presented a first-ever legal challenge to the country’s anti-gay laws. AIDS-Free World has filed a petition at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of two gay men whose names are being withheld to protect their safety. A legal team assembled by AIDS-Free World argues that by criminalizing homosexuality under its constitution, Jamaica is in violation of international human rights law.

[...]

Mr. Tomlinson is joined in representing the petitioners by Lord Anthony Gifford, noted counsel on a similar and successful case before the European Court of Human Rights, and a formidable legal team assembled by AIDS-Free World Legal Director Betsy Apple that includes pro bono attorneys from the US firm Thompson Hine and the Law Center at Nova Southeastern University.

Read in full HERE.