Gay Games VII, Chicago - “Where the World Meets”

Opening Ceremony – July 15, 2006 – Soldier Field

Beginning with a powerful, newly conceived presentation of our Athletes and Participants in Procession and unfolding into the night; Opening Ceremonies of Gay Games VII was an intricate, theatrical tapestry that evoked memory, stirred feeling and elicited gasps and cheers as the story was told.

World Premiere’s of Original Music and Song, written especially for the occasion and performed by world-class talent along with appearances, presentations and performances by community and cultural icons, men and women who have led and inspired, sharing of themselves in manners heretofore unseen by such large audiences.

After the Procession, interwoven among compelling speech and oratory, was a four-act narrative; a story resonated with each person in the stadium on different, personal levels at different times throughout the performance. It is a story of both individual and community; one that we all know…choreographed by four of the country’s best.

Act I – “Exclusion”
That moment when we discover that the world may not be the Oyster we might have thought it was, while growing up. The moment of discovery that “I’m different…am I the only one…?” enters our consciousness and changes our lives. The beginning or our search for Like Others, hoping to find more like ourselves and afraid of that possibility, at the same moment. Separateness, confusion, bewilderment, disorientation… Exclusion.

Act II – “Oppression”
The formalization of Exclusion. This piece explores the levels of oppression and degrees of freedom under which people live, throughout the world and in the U.S. A dark and angry piece incorporating allusions to gay-bashing, suicide, homophobia, subtle and overt discrimination and the struggle to be who one is in the face of security- and life-threatening oppression. We persevere…

Act III – “Expression”
The power of coming out, of standing up for oneself, with Pride. Powerful, musical illustration of the strength that comes from the discovery of community and the celebration of that community. A call for others to take the stand, to come out of the closet and join and support the rest of us in the broad light of day. There is a community awaiting each; to welcome, to embrace, to nurture and to CELEBRATE.

Act IV – “Ignition”
A maelstrom of percussion and flame; of lithe bodies, leaping and flying through the air… Releasing the combined power of all of us in the stadium, of all the energy, courage, determination and discipline it has taken to bring each of us to the stadium and launching it into the sky, into the universe, to light the world with our beacon; and to launch this week into the stratosphere of experience for all.

Closing Ceremony – July 22, 2006 – Wrigley Field

Closing Ceremonies was a Celebration to bring this week to a Close on a high and happy plane. Think Cleopatra’s entrance to Rome.

Wrigley Field was the site for Celebration and recapping of a week that had changed the lives of all in attendance. Our company of nearly 400 dancers backed up Diva after Diva, Icon and Legend, amongst performances by Cyndi Lauper, Kristine W, Ari Gold, hundreds of cheerleaders and the largest phalanx of Gay and Lesbian Marching Band ever assembled on one field…

The utopian Procession of Athletes and Participants showcased the thousands who had met and medaled in this global phenomenon of sport and culture as they opened the show. This, followed by a thunderous, ceremonial sparking of the flame to preside over these ceremonies, set the tone for an afternoon of exuberant celebration as we prepared to say farewell and take this experience into our hearts and back to our homes.

A rich and powerful program, populated by stars of culture and community along with a panoply of exciting, rising talent, sang, laughed and offered acknowledgement to all who had made and experienced this wonderful week.

The Federation flag was formally passed on to Cologne in official preparation for the 2010 Gay Games, as Chicago pulled out all the stops to be sure that everyone departed this stadium with plans to meet, again, in Cologne in 2010.