| |
 |
| |
Illinois Village of Oak Park Issues Pro-Gay Games Proclamation
|
Badminton, Soccer and Tennis coming to near-west suburb
2006-03-10
The 500-word proclamation notes the positive economic impact of the Gay Games and makes special emphasis on the role diversity plays in Oak Park. Quoting from the Village's Diversity Statement, the proclamation reads in part, "The people of Oak Park choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a way of life ... Ours is a dynamic community that encourages the contributions of all citizens, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, economic status, political affiliation or any of the other distinguishing characteristics that all too often divide people in society."
The Village of Oak Park will host the Gay Games badminton competition as well as all preliminary rounds in soccer. It will share tennis competition with sites on Chicago’s lakefront and at Evanston’s Northwestern University. Badminton, Soccer and Tennis will take place at Oak Park/River Forest High School athletic facilities. A total of 30 sports will be featured at the Gay Games with competition also taking place in Chicago, Evanston and Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Bordering Chicago, Oak Park is one of just three Chicago suburbs that are connected to the city via the world-famous "El," Chicago’s light rail system that becomes the subway downtown. The community is perhaps best known for its Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. With 25 buildings designed by the world-famous architect, it is the largest concentration of his work anywhere. Special Gay Games Frank Lloyd Wright tours are already available for booking online.
Oak Park has a long history of being welcoming to its LGBT citizens and was one of the first Illinois communities to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In 1997 the Village of Oak Park elected Joanne Trapani to the Village Board, the first open lesbian official elected to office in Illinois and in 2001 the voters elected her as Village Board President. In 2003 the Oak Park voters elected Ray Johnson as the first openly gay male Trustee for the Village of Oak Park.
For more information about the Gay Games coming to Oak Park, see our West Village Map.
The proclamation was adopted unanimously at the February 6, 2006, meeting of the Village Board of Trustees.
PROCLAMATION
PROCLAMATION WELCOMING SEVENTH QUADRENNIAL GAY GAMES SPORTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL TO THE CHICAGOLAND AREA
WHEREAS, in 1982 Dr. Tom Waddell, a 1968 Olympic decathlete, founded the Gay Games Sports and Cultural Festival to showcase Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender sports, designing it as “an experiment in social unity; an experiment in education; and a vehicle for change” and
WHEREAS, from July 15 through 22, 2006, Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park will play host to the world and welcome thousands of athletes, spectators, and cultural participants as the Gay Games return to North America for the first time in 12 years; and
WHEREAS, the Games will feature 14,000 participants, competition in 30 sports, world-class athletes and artists, band and choral performances, nightly medal ceremonies, a week-long arts festival, and spectacular opening ceremonies at Soldier Field and closing ceremonies at Wrigley Field, showcasing entertainment, pageantry, and a parade of participants from more than 70 counties; and
WHEREAS, the Gay Games are open to anyone and were last held in Sydney, Australia in 2002 with 12,979 registered participants, 60,000 visitors, and a $80 million impact on the local economy; and
WHEREAS, the Gay Games VII are a tremendous opportunity to further promote our world class architecture, museums, restaurants and merchants through increased tourism in the Village of Oak Park, and
WHEREAS, the Village of Oak Park has a long tradition of valuing the differences among our citizens and fostering diversity in our community as established in the Village’s Diversity Statement, which reads in part, "The people of Oak Park choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a way of life ... Ours is a dynamic community that encourages the contributions of all citizens, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, economic status, political affiliation or any of the other distinguishing characteristics that all too often divide people in society. …"; and
WHEREAS, our community supports the ideals set forth by the Games and warmly receives their participants and spectators to a community that shares their spirit of sportsmanship and congeniality in an environment of zero tolerance for discrimination and hatred, and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, David G. Pope, President of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois and the Board of Trustees do hereby proclaim our welcome to the Seventh Quadrennial Gay Games Sports and Cultural Festival to the Village of Oak Park, recognize the efforts of their organizers, participants, spectators, and the Oak Park Host Committee, and we encourage all Oak Parkers to join in affirming the human dignity and anti-discrimination polices of the Village and wish a successful event for all, and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that a suitable copy of this proclamation be prepared and presented to the Chicago Games, Inc., the Gay Games VII host committee and the Oak Park host committee.
DATED this 6th day of February 2006.
David G. Pope – Village President
ATTEST
Sandra Sokol - Village Clerk
|
| |
|
|
