Gay Games overcame the final hurdle for usage of Crystal Lake’s rowing facilities on April 11, when the Village of Lakewood voted 3-1 in favor of holding the event.
This was the final step in order for Gay Games to hold a July 16 regatta in Crystal Lake, but the journey was far from easy for Gay Games organizers. The simple request to hold a rowing competition caused much controversy in the far northwest suburb. Support for Gay Games was matched with protest and angry letters to the editor in local media.
On April 4, Crystal Lake’s City Council approved the event with a 6-1 vote. The anticlimatic meeting was refreshing compared to the previous month’s hoopla. Last month, the Crystal Lake Park District denied Gay Games’ request due to a tie vote. Board President Jerry Sullivan was absent from the meeting, but expressed a desire to vote on the issue upon his return. The board reconsidered on March 7 after a lengthy and heated public debate, voting 3-2 in favor of Gay Games.
Gay Games will be held July 15-22 in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.