By: David Brown
My husband and I had the opportunity to visit Belgium for the 2013 World Outgames (WOGA) this summer. We love visiting cities specifically during special events because it’s a chance to see the city in a unique way. During these big events, cities will go all out to make sure the influx of travelers feel welcomed and enjoy their stay. There are added items on the to-do list that involve more than just typical historic sightseeing, which offer a glimpse of a different perspective of city. In addition to this, traveling for special events can often take you to a place that may not have originally been at the top of your travel list.
When I heard the 2013 World Outgames were in Belgium, I thought, “Fantastic. I’ve always wanted to visit Brussels.” As I learned the specific details of the event location, my follow-up thought was, “Antwerp, where’s that?”
Yes, like any foolish American tourist in Europe, my European geography is a bit lacking. Thankfully, a visit to Belgium during the World Outgames was going to change that. While Brussels has long been on my travel list, Antwerp wasn’t even in my head. But that’s exactly why I love to travel for events because it enlightens me to new destinations. I really didn’t have any expectations of Antwerp except that I had to have Belgian fries, or frituur as it’s known locally, and a Belgian waffle.
My husband and I went as guests of the Flanders Tourism Board and had an incredible time seeing the city and partaking in its events over the weekend, including the games and Antwerp’s gay pride. Though I have heard of the Outgames before, I had never given much thought to their purpose. We already have the Olympics after all. Why should I care about the seemingly “gay version”?
It’s no secret that the sports world is historically dominated by straight culture. In an attempt to change this, the Gay and Lesbian Sports Association (GLISA), which organizes the Outgames, promotes the LGBT community’s involvement in sports and athletic competition, celebrates diverse cultures, and works toward furthering human rights universally. This type of event is especially important today in a world where athletes are still forced to remain closeted because of anti-gay mentalities of sports culture, for example the NFL; anti-gay laws that have always been historically present within countries, for example Sudan; and newly conceived anti-gay laws that are continuing to be implemented, read: Russia. Considering this, the significance and importance of an event like the Outgames needs no further explanation.
Now, political gay rights mumbo jumbo aside, traveling abroad for the Outgames is also just a hell of a good time! Naturally, gay-friendly cities are chosen for this event so it’s going to be a place worth visiting, whether you knew it or not. We found Antwerp to be incredibly gay-friendly with a vibrant gay nightlife. If the number of rainbow flags that a city can boast is any indication of its LGBT inclusion on a gay-friendly scale, Antwerp would have been on the maximum end by far. Not only did we enjoy the local gay bars, the Outgames had its own official parties with great headlining musical acts like the Swedish pop star Loreen, winner of the 2012 Eurovision song contest.
Held in 2006, the first World Outgames took place in Montreal. Then in 2009 they were in Copenhagen. The next World Outgames will take place in Miami Beach in 2017 but if you can’t wait until then there are also the Continental Outgames taking place on the intervening years of WOGA. The next Asia Pacific Outgames will be held next year in Darwin, Australia. These destinations will make for a perfect gay holiday getaway. So if you are deciding where to take your next big trip, consider traveling to the host city during the Outgames to support the event, discover a gay-friendly destination and participate in loads of entertaining activities put on especially for gay travelers.
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