falling in love Louise Capone OK. This is a bit different but true. i am a straight woman who knew nothing about basketball but became the team manager of the Gold and now Silver medal Long Beach California Gay Men's basketball team. I organized, fund-raised, found a coach for, and learned a lot about basketball. I went to Amsterdam with the team, met a very nice straight referee, fell in love, and now I have a screenplay in the works. Talk about outreach! I may never know what its like to be gay but I do know how it feels to be a part of a great community and to take part in an experience I will never forget. 1994 Robert Picture it: New York, 1994, a hot and humid place if there ever was one! I was part of Team L.A. and I remember waiting in the que for the Opening Ceremonies a very long time, but once we got moving it was a wonderful experience. Some of my fondest memories from the Games were from that evening, just joking around with my team mates. It was a great week of competing, meeting new people from around the world and simply being a part of history. We shared in so many lives, laughing, playing and, of course, being petty and shallow too... It's a shame it had to be over so soon. Closing Ceremonies was a wonderful time as well and it was a huge surprise walking into a packed stadium full of other screaming queers. I had just come out of the closet in 1993 so you can imagine what an awesome sight that was. Remembering my GGII experience Kathy L. I found this website and I just had to share my experience walking out into Kezar Stadium in 1986 with the bodybuilding contingent. I was newly out and newly relocated to SF. As we walked out into the stadium, thousands smiled and cheered for us. I felt so overwhelmed. it was like I had walked into a huge embrace of love, acceptance and encouragement. It was truely a moment I shall never forget....

Many past participants in the Gay Games have found them to be a rewarding and life-changing experience, one which has opened their vision, brought them into contact with kindred spirits, and inspired them to do their best in sports and in life.

If you have participated in one or more Gay Games in the past, you know what we mean. We hope you'll join us in Chicago in 2006 to share in the magic once more.

But whether you will be there in body or not, we hope you will share some of the Gay Games spirit with your fellow athletes by telling us your story. If you have a favorite experience from a past Gay Games you'd like to share, please share it with us. You've changed your life — now help change another life!

Click here to email us your story to share with others.