St. Louis readies for Equality Games this spring

by Team Saint Louis
Special to The Gayly   

St. Louis, MO - In April 2014, the St. Louis Equality Games LLC, a subsidiary of Team Saint Louis, Inc., was officially awarded the 2016 North America Continental Out Games to be held in St. Louis, MO. The 2016 Games will be known as the “Equality Games” and is being held in partnership with the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County as well as the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission and the St. Louis Sports Commission.

Three to five thousand lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied participants from across North America are expected to meet in St. Louis for this dynamic event, to be held May 27 - June 4, 2016 at venues in and around the Metro area.

The Equality Games will include a multi-event sports competition, on-going cultural celebrations and a three-day human rights conference. The mission of the Equality Games is to create an experience through a multi-event sporting competition, human rights conference and cultural celebrations that will honor diversity, celebrate athletic accomplishment, facilitate learning, and inspire action, with a ton of fun sprinkled across the entire week.

The Equality Games Board of Directors believes that shared ideas grow in strength. Organizers say it is their hope that as attendees participate in various seminars, workshops, sporting events and fun, they will undoubtedly foster or strengthen a sense of community and belonging which then will inspire positive change within their own communities.

To start your week, Opening Ceremonies (at America's Center) will include a parade of participants, music, special guests and welcome addresses.

End of week brings Closing Ceremonies and congratulations of participants and medalists in a final celebration.

Also featured throughout the week will be the OutGames Village located at Union Station in the downtown corridor. The Village will provide a natural gathering space for the athletes and participants to relax post-competition. This venue will provide an entertainment stage, the central results point, medal ceremonies venue, and a great social environment.

Continuing the reputation of conferences on the state of Human Rights for LGBTQIA people around the globe, this event will present a conference addressing pressing social issues specific and current to the LGBTQIA community in North America. An evaluation of the 2011 Vancouver and 2013 Antwerp conferences will inform the committee by providing lessons learned and best practices to further improve upon this event.

The Human Rights Conference at the 2016 North America OutGames will be held May 31 – June 2, 2016 and will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and events that are associated with national, regional and local human rights organizations and/or are recognized as pioneers of particular topics of interest. The venue for the Conference will be held primarily at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.

Over 20 sporting events will be held around the Gateway City. St. Louis will be the first U.S. city to host the North America OutGames. Previous OutGames host cities include Calgary and Vancouver.

The Equality Games website (www.NAOutGames2016.org) provides detailed information, including Equality Games venues, the sporting competition calendar, Human Rights Conference and various cultural event details. Registration has begun for the sporting competitions and the Human Rights Conference as well as a call for papers, speaker proposals, and volunteer sign-up.

Schedule

10K Run (5/31) - Forest Park

5K Run (6/2) - Tower Grove Park

Billiards (6/1-6/3) - Pink Galleon Billiards and Games

Bowling (5/31-6/3) - Tropicana Lanes

Cycling (5/31-6/2) - Carondelet Park

Dance Sport (6/1-6/3) - Moolah Shrine

Darts (5/30-61) - Site Pending

Flag Football (6/1-6/2) - Cricket Field

Golf (5/31-6/1) - Glen Echo Country Club

Half Marathon (6/4) - Forest Park

Full Marathon (6/4) - Forest Park

Indoor Volleyball (5/29-5/31) - Center St. Louis

Rugby (6/2-6/3) - Cricket Field

Sand Volleyball (6/1-6/3) - Wave Taco

Softball (5/29-6/3) Aviation Softball Fields, Forest Park

Sport Climbing (5/31) - Upper Limits Rock Gym

Bouldering (6/2) - Upper Limits Rock Gym

Swimming (5/29-6/3) - Site Pending

Tennis (5/31-6/3) - Dwight Davis Tennis Center, Forest Park

Track & Field (5/31-6/3) - Site Pending

The Gayly - 12/22/2015 @ 1:43 p.m. CST