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Outgames 2009: a colourful fight for Human Rights
Copenhagen hosts "Gay Olympics" and co-publishes catalogue on LGBT best practices
Copenhagen: 2009 capital of human advancement?
The Danish Institute for Human Rights has just released a catalogue of best practices to be applied in the struggle for world wide LGBT rights, highlighting positive examples in countries across the globe. The release of the catalogue has been timed with a sister event: the 2009 Outgames.
In 2009, simply saying the name of the Danish capital has become synonymous with environment and the impact on the future of humanity, if not at least, the future of our planet.
Indeed the big UN meet in Copenhagen next December will see world leaders decide on key environmental issues that will determine the path the world will take in combating climate change in the 21st century.
Yet unbeknown to many, last Friday, July 24, saw the launch of the 2009 edition of the Outgames, this year also hosted by Copenhagen.
The “Gay Olympics”, as they have also been referred to, are a celebration of gay sport and culture with a focus on human rights in homophobic countries.
They have promoted themselves under the flag of enticing “sports” competitions with triathlon and handball – but also bridge and line dancing . Over 5000 participants from a host of cities, including Tel Aviv and Mexico City, have been taking over public spaces throughout Copenhagen to showcase artists and performers. On the World Outgames logo the motto reads “serious sports, serious culture, totally serious fun.”
At the centre of the colourful programme is a distinctly human rights core though, which is the reasoning behind the launch of the “Copenhagen Catalogue of Good Practices.”
This aspect has been put into an even more important light with recent reports of violence in Copenhagen of locals on Outgame participants.
The catalogue, divided into 9 chapters, following themes such as culture and media, family and business, points to the positive examples even unexpected countries have shown, such as Kenya, where homosexuality is still outlawed.
Link to catalogue
Link to Outgames 2009 official website
