The homophobes who have
attacked Kraft, the City of Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley and
just about everyone else for their support of the 2006 Gay
Games now have the Walgreens drug store chain in their
sights for its $100,000 sponsorship of the event. Outsports
photos are being used by these same groups to show how
"offensive" the Gay Games are, but a complaint
from one subject in a photo forced his picture to be
removed.
Support from Walgreens and other
corporations of the Games has
angered the
American Family Assn., based in Mississippi, and the
Illinois Family Institute, which have taken to calling the
Chicago event the “homosexuality games." Walgreens has told
these groups to stick it.
"Each year, we raise millions of
dollars in our stores for research education and building
awareness for heart disease, diabetes and cancer," Michael
Polzin, a Walgreens spokesman, told the Chicago Tribune.
"This is one way of giving back to the community." The
company said its sponsorship is being used to raise
awareness about HIV and AIDS, citing its more than 20 years
of helping to treat HIV-positive patients.
"What Walgreens is saying is that this
$100,000 gift allows them to dispense HIV drugs at the Gay
Games and also to engage in AIDS awareness," Illinois Family
Institute head Peter LaBarbera told Agape Press (a
news service that claims it reports from the "Christian
perspective and a biblical worldview.")
"Now first of all, a lot of those AIDS
awareness programs are compromised because they promote
homosexuality.
"But even if they were effective, we think it's ridiculous
to say that you are stopping HIV but at the same time you're
celebrating homosexual behavior, which is one of the big
causes of AIDS. They can dispense HIV drugs, but they don't
have to give to an event which is just celebrating
homosexuality in the name of sport."
These attacks become just like
white noise after a while, though it is always wise to
confront them lest silence be construed as agreement. You
would think by now that these groups would have better
things to do than spread hate and intolerance. As Tracy Baim
wrote in the Windy City Times: If the IFI really cares about
families, their small organization should focus on family
issues such as education, child care, homeless youth,
domestic violence, divorce, poverty, unemployment, or a
hundred other issues that impact real Illinois families
every day." What fun is that when you can be attacking
the "homosexual lifestyle?" and trolling gay websites for
pictures of shirtless, athletic men (and likely downloading
some for private use later).
The AFA is now using
on its website four photos taken by Outsports at the
2002 Gay
Games in Sydney to show what "offensive acts" take
place there. (We had
previously reported on images from Chris Geary that
were also used.) These photos were used without permission
of Outsports and the AFA credits me with taking them (I took
one). Here are the pics they find so offensive (click for
larger view):
"Offensive?" The one of the two
wrestlers, boyfriends at the time, is totally cute, while the two runners
are celebrating winning a medal together. I think that any
straight guys reading this are turned on rather than off by
the hot lesbian action, and the couple napping is a tender
moment. This is best the AFA could do to scare their members
and raise money? You see more provocative stuff on
"Desperate Housewives" or MTV.
Update: On Oct. 27,
Kris
Landherr, the wrestler pictured in the red singlet,
wrote AFA and demanded that his photo be taken down. He
never received an official response, but the AFA no longer
has his picture up. Here is the text of the e-mail he sent
to AFA
It came to my attention last
night that the American Family Association has been
using a photo of myself as part of a call to boycott
Walgreens for their sponsorship of the 2006 Chicago Gay
Games. The photo appears on the top left of a series of
photos ... showing me and my ex-boyfriend sharing a kiss
after our respective wrestling medal wins at the 2002
Sydney Gay Games. Your organization has the audacity to
describe this picture as "extremely offensive" for which
I am appalled. This photo is completely tasteful and
with no erotic overtone in the least. Advertisements for
milk have more sexual innuendo but I don't think you
find those offensive.
Your defamation of the Gay Games and their sponsors is
reprehensible. The Games were formed to foster the
spirit of community throughout the world and not just
gay culture. The intent of the Federation of Gay Games
is to unite different cultures and communities to work
towards tolerance and understanding. It strikes me that
your organization prefers to live in fear of that which
you do not understand.
I should let you know there were heterosexual
competitors in the Sydney wrestling tournament as well
as other events and we expect more to be involved in the
2006 Games. These people did not see themselves as
competing with homosexuals. They were competing against
other athletes - period. These competitions have less to
do with sexual identity than they do one's identifying
with humanity and instilling humility. The Games also
help to promote healthy role models for younger people
instead of inflicting hateful stereotypes upon
impressionable souls.
It would not surprise me if you were also in copyright
violation for using these photos of gay athletes on your
web page. I am upset that you would use my likeness to
promote hatred and intolerance and insist that you
remove my image from your website. It is completely
unacceptable for you to take this liberty with likeness.
You should be ashamed though I am doubtful I would
receive am apology from your group. Kindly comply with
my request immediately.
The AFA also missed some from
our 2002 gallery that are just as "offensive."
Somebody was asleep at the switch.
Let
Walgreens know what you think of their support of
the Gay Games, and what you truly find offensive.
Wanted to share an e-mail I
received from Anthony Revels after he read this article:
Thanks so much for the article. It is still so sad to me,
that these people think we as gay American's have an agenda.
You know what my agenda is AFA? My agenda is to show America
that we should have no hate, to love one another, and treat
everyone equally. We as a gay and lesbian community need to
come together, to fight these groups, to show America that
we are human and not freaks. We are proud of who we are,
what we stand for, and we ARE going to be leaders in this
Nation. If we don't fight against this hate, then
they, AFA and other Christian Right Groups, will overcome
and beat us down. Thanks again. God Bless the USA!
Oct. 25,
2005
Updated Oct. 27
Previously:
'Offensive'
Gay Games images
Kraft attacked for Gay Games Support
Kraft Reiterates Support for Gay Games
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