The Gay Games Scholarship Program

For some Gay Games participants, the key question is not where or when the Games are, but how can I afford to go? To answer this question for Gay Games VIII in Cologne (and future Games), the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG) supervises the Federation of Gay Games Scholarship Program.

The Federation's plan builds on successful scholarship programs at the past three Gay Games in Amsterdam, Sydney and Chicago. Those host organizations identified regions of the world and demographics that were under-represented at the Games, developed outreach networks to inform the LGBT communities in those regions, and dedicated funds and in-kind services to bring new participants to the Gay Games.

"Assisting participants with travel, housing, registration, and daily meal expenses is vital if the Gay Games is to serve an international community," explains Paul Oostenbrug, an FGG director and one of the authors of the Federation Scholarship Program plan. "The Federation recognizes the need of its constituents; and the Federation is drawing on its capabilities to bring together resources that can address the need."

In November 2004, at its annual meeting in Cologne, Germany, the FGG set a goal of offering at least 50 scholarships to Gay Games VII. The FGG and Chicago Games Inc. collaborated for Gay Games VII to offer more than 200 scholarships to individuals from 18 countries. Approximately US$45,000 was raised by the Federation, including US$9,850 from the Roy M. Coe Scholarship Fund. Applications for scholarships for Gay Games VII in Cologne will be accepted closer to the date of those Games.

"In Columbia, it is very hard to get in touch with someone that understands you. At the Gay Games, it's more than I expected . . so nice to finally meet people who are like me, who understand me, and are interested in me." Sandra Villalobos, football

" We will be looking to funding organizations, corporate giving, Gay Games teams, and individuals to raise money for Gay Games VIII scholarships. It is important that people realize anyone can donate money and in-kind services-especially airline miles-to help us reach our scholarship goals."

Distributing scholarships is not new to the Federation. Working with the Sydney 2002's scholarship program, the Federation awarded scholarships of approximately US$14,000 from the Roy M. Coe Scholarship Fund, an endowed legacy from Roy M. Coe (San Francisco, U.S.) that the FGG received in 1995. The awards for travel expenses assisted 19 athletic and cultural participants to attend the Games. The countries these participants represented included Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Namibia, Colombia, Australia, and the US. Several countries had never before had Gay Games participants.

"I had the opportunity to meet most all of the Coe Scholarship recipients in Sydney," recalled Jeffry Pike, a Coe Fund director, and another of the authors of the Federation Scholarship Program plan. "Remembering the delight and gratitude expressed by each person overwhelms me even today.

"In India, we face hostility everywhere. I didn't know anything about the world [beyond India], but still I came to the Gay Games. You are never going to see a coming together of gay brothers and lesbian sisters as at the Gay Games." Guruprasad Gadgil, Open Stage

And to see how they have been changed by their Gay Games experience both confirms Roy's vision for the Coe Fund and is an inspiration to help the Federation create a comprehensive scholarship program."

The long term goals set forth for the Gay Games Scholarship Program include: to increase the number of scholarships available to participants of each Games; to identify both complimentary and alternate target areas from those of each Games host organization; to continually grow a world-wide network of contacts and organizations that extend the Gay Games outreach — and provide support for applicants as they go through the application process; and to ensure continuity of giving from Gay Games to Gay Games.

Part of the Gay Games Scholarship Program's expansion will come from a coordinated effort with Games Cologne GmbH, the host of Gay Games VIII in July and August, 2010. Representatives from both organizations are discussing ways to design and administer the scholarship program for Gay Games VIII. Working with Games Cologne and its outreach networks will mean that more people in more places will learn about the Gay Games and the availability of scholarship support.