Illinois town rejects Gay Games event

[Xeric]

Crystal Lake rejects Gay Games event

Amid voices of support and opposition Thursday night, the Crystal Lake Park District board rejected a proposal to hold a controversial rowing competition in town that will be part of this summer's Gay Games in Chicago.

snip

Tracy Baim, co-vice chairwoman of the Gay Games board of directors, said she was not surprised, adding: "It's upsetting that homophobia still lives."

snip

Park District Director Kirk Reimer said before Thursday's meeting that his office had been contacted two dozen or three dozen times about the event in Crystal Lake.

"More pro than con," he estimated.

But he called some of the correspondence "ugly." And that made him wonder if there would be problems at the rowing competition caused by people opposed to the Gay Games.

"Based on some of the e-mails and phone calls I've gotten, it could get ugly," he said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-060302gaygames,1,5337129.story?page=1&ctrack=1&cset=true&coll=chi-news-hed

So because a few bigots threaten violence they deny gay people the right to use the lake. Amazing.

[closeupready]

1. Am not surprised.

Homophobia in Illinois is not as bad as elsewhere, but outside Chicago, it can be bad enough. This is bad enough.

[Bjornsdotter]

2. Oh really

Well I live 15 miles from Crystal Lake....I think I'll stop in next week and give them a piece of my mind. :mad:

Cheers

[Xeric]

3. Contacts

I sent an email to the Mayor and City Council at [e-mail] - no response.
The park district www.crystallakeparks.org couldn't be bothered either.
The City website http://www.crystallake.org/ says "You're always welcome to Crystal Lake"
Apparently not.

[Bjornsdotter]

4. Let me know if you hear

...anything from them.

I will be able to let them know that my husband and I have just crossed CL off of our list. We were planning on opening a branch of our business there, now I can just hand back all of the listings we were looking at.

Oh well, I'm sure they won't care but it will make me feel good.

Cheers

[ajacobson]

5. If C.L. is anything like it was when I lived there

then I'm not surprised. Twenty years ago it was one of the least diverse places I knew of. Commuter suburb, very conservative.

Most people I knew in high school were eager to get the hell out of there.

[Duncan Grant]

6. "inappropriate and lewd behaviors" - Commissioner David Phelps

First, let me say, "Welcome to DU, Xeric!" Hope you'll enjoy posting here. :hi:

Secondly, I find that I'm working up a good rant regarding this development. What's up with the "inappropriate and lewd behaviors" hysteria so prevalent among these clinched-sphinctered xenophobes? Are they worried that an international gang of GLBT thugs will corrupt their fair lake in some sexually depraved rowing event? That's laughable. Really, the lengths these people will go to in order to rationalize their homophobia amazes me.

Well, I say this is the time to become even more visible. We should be conducting "inappropriate and lewd behavior" in the hundreds at the Crystal Lake Park District board meetings until the more 'conservative' members find the courage to confront their own ignorance.

Park District Director Kirk Reimer's acquiescence to "ugly" correspondence offers me NO comfort. I refuse to live my life in shame or fear. Let Gay Games organizers hire their own security for the event. I can guarantee GLBT people are quite capable handling "ugly". It would be inadvisable for anyone to threaten GLBT people at a Gay Games event. Comprende?

It seems to me that too many injustices against GLBT people are acceptable these days. There really needs to be a GLBT grassroots response to bullshit like this and if not now, then when? (/rant) JFC.

[kevinbgoode]

7. I agree....and the wingnuts know we can take care of ourselves.

I sent the city an email telling them they should remove the welcome statement from the city's web site. . .since it is obvious that it is a lie.

[cboy4]

8. I second your rant!

And yes, we are all very capable of handling ugly.

It would be foolish for any nut (are you listening Phelps?) to test us. :nuke: ;) :hi:

[pro_blue_guy]

9. Oy...........not surprised!

One of my very good gay friends here at Northern Illinois Univ is from Crystal Lake and he has told me how very very conservative that town is!