John Amaechi

Judith Arndt

Billy Bean

Amanda Bearse

Tom Bianchi

Melissa Etheridge

Rudy Galindo

Bruce Hayes

James Hormel

Sir Elton John

Billie Jean King

David Kopay

Judith Light

Greg Louganis

Chris Morgan

Leigh-Ann Naidoo

Petra Rößner

Esera Tuaolo

Ji Wallace

Melissa Etheridge

Residence: Los Angeles, California, USA

Profession: Rock star

At a glance: Melissa has won an Oscar, two Grammy Awards, and has received more than a dozen Grammy nominations during a remarkable two decade career that includes 9 albums, a catalogue of more than 100 songs, and hundreds of sold-out concerts ... 2007 has been another big year for her with the release of her album "The Awakening," an appearance at the U.S. portion of the Live Earth concerts, and serving as the host of the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate debate on gay issues on the Logo television network ... Best known for international radio hits such as "Bring Me Some Water," "I'm The Only One," "I Want to Come Over," "Come To My Window," and "Yes I Am," her social conscience anthem "I Need to Wake Up (Theme from 'An Inconvenient Truth')" earned her a new place in history when it won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song ... Melissa came out as a lesbian at a 1993 inaugural party for U.S. President Bill Clinton ... She has devotedly worked on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights by performing at events such as the March on Washington, the Human Rights Campaign's "Equality Rocks" concerts, speaking out against efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit lesbian and gay marriage, and lending her support to countless fundraisers ... Her successful personal battle against breast cancer in 2004 has brought worldwide attention to efforts to combat the disease ... She stopped in Chicago for playdates on her 2006 tour during the week of Gay Games VII ... Melissa's website: www.melissaetheridge.com.

Quotable: "As a musician, I have seen how powerfully the arts can break down the barriers that divide us. The Gay Games bring people together around sports and culture, inspiring us to build a world without bigotry. I support the Gay Games because it is a joyful international celebration of diversity, individuality, and equality. 'Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best' isn't just the Gay Games credo — it is a vision of the future that focuses attention on our joint humanity. That's the future that I want for myself and my children and I'm happy to lend my enthusiastic support to the legacy of the Gay Games."