The 2014 Gay Games Opening Ceremony will include stars such as Lance Bass, Broadway actress Andrea McArdle and the Pointer Sisters.
“I’m very excited to have such a great lineup of artists joining our cast of more than 400 performers,” says Opening Ceremony Producer Patrick Roberge. “The Opening Ceremony will be a grand celebration that will set the tone for a fantastic Games.”
Lance Bass, a singer, dancer, actor, producer and radio host known for his ‘N Sync roots, also appeared on “Dancing with the Stars" as well as wrote a New York Times bestseller Out of Sync. His activism earned his a Human Rights Campaign Visibility Role award. He can also be found on “Dirty Pop with Lance Bass” on OutQ on Sirius XM.
Andrea McArdle portrayed the original Annie on Broadway which earned her a Tony nomination. She also appeared in other musicals such as “Evita,” “Cabaret,” “Gypsy,” “Grease” and “Les Miserables.” In partnership with Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, McArdle will join the Gay Games Chorus in a celebration of music from Broadway.
Pointer Sisters, an R&B recording girl group from Oakland performed at the closing of the Olympics and now will help open the Gay games.“With such great hits like, ‘Jump’ and ‘I’m So Excited,’ these singers will leave participants and spectators truly excited for all of Games Week,” said Michelle DeLozier, co-chair of the Culture Committee overseeing the Opening Ceremony.
“The Opening Ceremony will be an experience like none other. We’re thrilled to have such great celebrity talent joining us to celebrate the thousands of athletes and artists participating in the Games” said Opening Ceremony Co-Chair Bill Guentzler.
The Gay Games is an international sporting and cultural event held every four years since 1982. This year the games presented by the Cleveland Foundation will take place August 9-16, 2014, in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. As many as10, 000 people from more than 60 countries are expected in participate in 35 sporting events. The games offer a sense of inclusiveness as they are open to anyone 18 years or older. Around 10% of participants each year are non-LGBT.
The Gay Games is an excellent way of embracing the LGBT community while competing in a variety of sporting events. It is also a great way to embrace LGBT athletes following the Winter Olympic Games help in Sochi where LGBT individuals face criminal charges.The Gay Games has even purchased an ad to run in Ohio during the Olympic Games. If you want to view a sporting event that not only includes, but celebrates people of all sexual orientations and gender identiteis, both on and off the field, then check out the video below, and share it with your friends.
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