When the CEO of TO2015—the organizing committee for the 2015 Pan Am/ParaPan Am Games—offers you a role in one of the largest multi-sport events ever to take place on Canadian soil, it’s not something you take lightly. Even so, as Ian Troop made his overture to LGBT activists and community representatives at the opening of a brainstorming session at Chorus Quay on September 13, I wasn’t too surprised, given that a major plank of TO2015’s mission is “to engage local communities to embrace the games as their own.” Still, I think it’s important to recognize the symbolism of having a straight, white, male, ex-jock stand up and publicly commit to making the 2015 Games a games for all GTA residents—and as much a celebration of our diversity, arts, and culture as it will be a celebration of athletics.
Of course, symbolism and good intentions are one thing; follow-through is quite another. That’s where we come in. OutSport Toronto Chair Shawn Sheridan and I were joined at the brainstorming session by representatives of organizations such as Black CAP, PFLAG, Pride Toronto, the 519 Community Centre, GLISA, Egale Canada, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport (CAAWS), the City of Toronto, and the Province of Ontario—all of which have a stake in seeing that the 2015 Games live up to their community enhancing potential. The September 13 session opened a dialogue with the LGBT community and elicited some wonderful initial ideas, from using the games as a vehicle to link sport and community health, to establishing LGBT positive space programs and a Pride House, to partnering with schools for outreach and to inspire youth through sport. It was also an invitation to take a leadership role, and to be the LGBT subject matter experts for a major international event that will highlight not only Toronto’s diversity, but also its tolerance, its inclusiveness, its commitment to human rights, and its community spirit. Â
September 13 was a great start, but it was just the first of many discussions that will have to happen before any ideas come to fruition. Another brainstorming session will be held in late November to discuss how we organize and move forward; I’ll report again after that meeting. The 2015 Games represent the ideal opportunity for OutSport Toronto and its member organizations to showcase their activities and talent, encourage participation in sport within the LGBT community, and connect with other sports communities across the GTA and the Americas. Along with our community partners, it will be up to us to take advantage of that opportunity to ensure the 2015 Games live up to their promise of being the games for all of us.
