“Pride House” For Gay Athletes At 2010 Vancouver Olympic Game

Gay athletes at the 2010 Vancouver Games will have have a safe space to socialize together:

Canadian athletes at the 2010 Winter Games will have Canada House. Russians will have Russia House. The Dutch, Holland House. And now, gay and lesbian athletes will have Pride House. For the first time in Olympic history, gay and lesbian athletes will have a place to go to relax and watch events, and meet friends. On Friday, a group called Gay Whistler announced it will set up a special club house in partnership with the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel. The free facility will be open to homosexual athletes, their families, friends and fans. It will offer a lounge, television screens and meeting areas. “It is really important to have a safe space for out athletes, coaches, fans and allies to come and hang out, share their stories, trade pins and have fun,” said Dean Nelson, one of the organizers.

It’s a new world.