The Gay Games ceremony held in Cleveland in 2014. File/Courtesy of the Federation of Gay Games

Once every four years, in the world's largest human rights movement wrapped as an sports event, gay athletes become the majority, instead of the minority.

On August 4 to 12, about 15,000 athletes from all over the world will travel to Paris for the Gay Games.

"The Gay Games is the 10th edition of an event created in 1982 to combat discrimination and give an Olympic-like experience for everyone," Manuel Picaud, co-president of Paris organizing committee (Paris 2018), said in an exclusive interview. 

Originally founded as the Gay Olympics by Olympic decathlete Tom Wadell, the competition was changed to the Gay Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) contested the title over rights. 

Since its inaugural edition in San Francisco, the organizers have been promoting full inclusion at the events. Thirty-six sports and 14 cultural activities are open to all who wish to participate, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, age, race or physical ability.

"Our [Gay Games 10] motto is 'All equal.' Paris 2018 defends a world, especially in sport, where prejudices don't exist," Picaud said. "At Gay Games no one is excluded, young or old, champions or amateurs, fit or with special needs, transsexual, straight, gay or lesbian," he added.

While international competitions is usually an opportunity to bring recognition and fame, many Gay Games entrants keep their identities a secret for fear of persecution in their homeland. 

Among the 80 countries expected to take part, many come from countries such as Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where being gay remains taboo and illegal. 

This year, the Philippines has 4 entrants: Jan Gabriel and his partner will be competing in the same sex dancesport, while the 2 others whose identities remain confidential will compete in the road race and badminton categories.

The first known Filipino Gay Games entrant participated in the marathon in 1998 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The highest number of Filipino attendees recorded was in 2002 in Sydney, Australia with more than 70 participants. 

While the Philippines is thought to be one of the more liberal ASEAN countries, when it comes to LGBT tolerance, recognition and protection of LGBT remains elusive. The country remains a bastion of Catholicism with the conservative church dogma dominating the local politics leaving the LGBT party struggling for influence.

The Anti-Discrimination Bill, which aims to criminalize discrimination against members of the LGBT community in settings such as workplaces, schools and public areas, has been languishing to be passed into law for 17 years. 

"Most Filipinos have a very shallow concept of what it means to be gay. Gays are often portrayed as the comedic 'parlor' stereotype by the media. The whole spectrum of 'gayness' isn't represented. There are so many different ways of being gay and the LGBT kids should be aware of all the types of gay role models they could aspire to become," explained Gabriel, Gay Games DanceSport Philippines representative and same-sex dancesport advocate.

Same-sex partnership has prohibited Gabriel and his partner from competing in mainstream competitions both locally and internationally.

"The status of LGBTs in the world of the arts is somewhat a paradox. Despite the gay-dominant environment, some dances can be very constricting in terms of expressing one's gender identity. You can be gay outside of the dance floor but on the floor you have to be a man," Gabriel said. 

"It can be oppressive especially if you identify as somewhere in the middle of being a man and a woman."

While it is written in the rules of dancesport, a pair must consist of one male and one female athlete, with whoever wears the pants taking the lead. In the Gay Games, any form of partnership on or off the dance floor is accepted. Pairs could dance openly, compete for medals and not think about the politics of mainstream dancesport. 

"Participating in the Gay Games means supporting our values of diversity, respect, equality, solidarity and sharing." Picaud explained. 

"That is why we created a rule so that all entrants can choose their gender to compete and made sure that the international federation of dancesport, figure-skating, etc., tolerate the same-sex partnerships."

According to the organizing committee, Paris2018 will begin with a conference promoting the ideology that sports is for everyone. 

The Gay Games will be a unique opportunity for those less-than-gay-friendly countries to be themselves and take part in the gay community.

"The Gay Games has changed the lives of thousands of people." Picaud said. "These persons will have an incredible experience. We are going help empower them with a special program." 

The Paris organizing committee's goal is to empower participants from 80 countries and send a message of sharing and solidarity.

"Empowerment is the heart of Gay Games since its creation. We would like to emphasize during those Gay Games our national motto — liberty, equality and fraternity" Picaud said, adding that the Games are widely supported by private and government institutions. 

"Paris is the perfect city to celebrate diversity and respect."

The Games have been held in San Francisco, Vancouver, New York City, Amsterdam, Sydney, Chicago, Cologne and Ohio but, according to Picaud and the Paris 2018 committee, the level support for the Games in France is unprecedented.

"We are proud that our country is behind this event." Picaud said. 

Besides government support, LGBT organizations across Paris, 36 national sports federations, various students organizations and NGOs advocating racism have gathered to support the Games. 

Paris 2018 is the perfect refuge for those participants who are not comfortable, or worse unaccepted, in their own home. 

"France is a country of human rights. Our message focuses on how sports should be open to all and respect diversity. We are activists for a better world where everyone has his/her place," Picaud said. 

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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