@gayhistorybuff: Ohio wanted their talent, their money and their medals. Ohio still refused to recognize their marriages. On August 9, 2014, Gay Games 9 opened in Cleveland and Akron. About 8,000 athletes and artists from more than 50 countries arrived for eight days of competition across 37 sports and cultural events. The Gay Games weren’t reserved for professionals. There were no qualifying standards, and participation was open to adults regardless of sexual orientation or athletic ability. During the opening ceremony, President Barack Obama appeared in a surprise video. He became the first sitting head of state to address a Gay Games opening and told athletes from hostile countries, “The United States stands with you and for your human rights.” The arena erupted. The contradiction remained. Ohio was celebrating LGBTQ athletes while its government still treated many of their families as legally inferior. Three days earlier, a federal appeals court had heard arguments over the state’s refusal to recognize lawful same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. For eight days, the people Ohio law treated as exceptions became the main event. #gay #cleveland #alphabetmafia #lgbtq

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Sunday 09 August 2026 23:01:13 GMT