Olympic Pride on show

A new queer-friendly initiative has been announced for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February and March 2010.
The LGBT Pride Pavilion’s goal is to help enhance the Olympic experience by including all people and celebrating diversity while creating a dialogue on homophobia and transphobia in sport.
The Pride Pavilion — also known as ‘Pride House’ — will represent the global LBGT community, while its sponsor, InterPride (The International Association of Pride Organisers), will represent Pride organisations worldwide. Organisers said the Pavilion will offer athletes and visitors a new perspective on the Olympics and Paralympics.
“This is a groundbreaking initiative and will enlighten the world with the human rights inequalities existing for millions of LGBT people around the world,” InterPride co-president Mark Chapman said.
The executive producer of Pride House, Dean Nelson, said he hoped the early success of the project would spur Olympic organisers to include the initiative at future Olympic Games.
“It is our hope that the London Organising Committee, along with the IOC, will continue to recognise the need for a welcoming space for LGBT athletes, participants and opportunities for Pride House to be a legacy we pass on to future Olympics,” Nelson said.
info: Visit www.pridehouse.ca