Apparently ... we have cooties. And when you put gay cooties in water ... poof! It spreads over an entire suburb, and then they are infected with the gayness, and then they are doomed. DOOMED, I tell you!
I know! Who knew?
No one complained when the Crystal Lake Park District approved the Chicago Area Juniors Championships Regatta, an April event on Crystal Lake expected to draw as many as 600 people.
But the Gay Games proposal to have its rowing competition on Crystal Lake, bringing 125 to 150 people to the July 16 event, prompted residents to write letters and make anonymous calls opposing it, Crystal Lake Park District Director Kirk Reimer said.
"Some people are just very funny about it," Reimer said. "To me, this is just another event that will be on the lake."
The Crystal Lake Park District Board will consider the Gay Games application Thursday, Reimer said.
Kevin Boyer, co-vice-chairman of the Gay Games Chicago board, said some people used the event as an excuse to oppose the gay and lesbian community. "For some people I've heard that are opposed to this, it's about discrimination and stereotypes and opposition to the gay and lesbian community," Boyer said.
The Gay Games also are open to heterosexuals. Registration for events is ongoing at www.gaygameschicago.org....
Really, relentless mocking is pretty much the only reasonable reaction to this. Because, after all, what exactly do people think will happen in a lake? Apparently, some feel that we will have sex right there! on the lake! During the freakin' races! And then we will get the AIDS germs into the lake, and it will spread, and then the town will be DOOMED. DOOMED! Either that, or our amazing fabulosity will draw in husbands or wives (as appropriate, natch) or (GASP!) teenagers of appropriage sex, like spiders into a beautifully woven gold and silver lamé web, and they will be so hypnotized by our wondrous fabulosity that they will have sex with us right there! On the lake! and then the entire town will get the AIDS and it will DIE! RIGHT THERE! IMMEDIATELY! (Tragically, I'm not really exaggerating. That was the level of objection being raised by people during tonight's meeting.)
In tonight's meeting, Crystal Lake voted to deny the permit, specifically because they don't want them there freaky homosexuals in their town -- we're Not Their Kind, Darling -- putting them interestingly at odds with the state's antidiscrimination law, which states that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is illegal. At the least, I would think that the Gay Games corporation could sue for damages and win a default judgement -- the record is quite clear and unmistakeable. The issue is whether or not it would be worth it.
I'm guessing that the Games will, eventually, probably wind up either doing things on Lincoln Park Lagoon in the city, if they can, or maybe in Lake Michigan itself. They say they're looking at other communities, but I can't imagine that any of the bedroom suburbs are going to be much more welcoming than Crystal Lake. Perhaps Evanston or Naperville, if they have lakes big enough -- the towns are large enough that they might not be so twitchy about things.
Posted by iain at March 02, 2006 10:20 PMComments
When I 1st heard of the Gay Games in Crystal Lake I was excited. Now, I hear all if the negativity & it just can't be happening in a town I have always held so high. I grew up in Crystal Lake & I'm GAY !!! I went to your schools/church, played in your parks and yes even swam in your lake. Gays are no different than blacks or even women that had to fight for their rights. Hopefully it's just a matter of time for gays as well.There are much worse in cities than gays. We are people/humans after all. We ask for human rights, nothing more. There shouldn't be a difference between gay & straight marrige, just two commited people that are ready to take the next step. We work, pay taxes & raise our children just like straight people. I was raised by two straight parents & went to church every week. Statistically I believe it's only about 2% of children raised by gay parents turn out to be gay. Get off your high horses, step out of your bubbles & you can't deny that gays aren't much different than straight people. We are your police, firefighters, teachers, politicians & so much more. We deserve equal rights !!!
Posted by Lorie at July 2, 2006 04:03 PMHow sad. For the people who are so closed minded, closed hearted, and just plain ignorant to the fact that when you love someone, you love them....PERIOD. Love doesn't know color, race, OR gender!!!! BOTTOM LINE!!!
I hope at LEAST one of each and everyone one of your children are gay and have the sense to make sure you are aware of it!!! Sweet smell of justice... Don't you think?
