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May 16, 2012
Olympics have ‘failed’ on gay visibility, say critics

Concerns that LGBT contribution will be ‘invisible’ at 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London

London’s Olympics are a ‘missed opportunity’ and a ‘failure’ for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender visibility, say campaigners.

And an investigation by Gay Star News indicates a lack of clarity by London’s Olympic bosses about diversity, with no stated plans to give LGBT people a visible presence at the games.

May 16, 2012
Will gay people be ‘invisible’ in London’s 2012 Olympics?

GSN investigates what London’s Olympic organizers have done to involve LGBT people, give them a presence at the games and leave a legacy for gay sport

‘Hard to spot and easy to miss,’ that’s veteran activist Peter Tatchell’s take on the LGBT presence at the London Olympics.

If he’s right, it’ll be a sad irony. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people seem to have been integral to winning the games for London (diversity was a key part of the bid to the International Olympic Committee) and gay individuals and businesses will also play a big role in delivering the games.

May 11, 2012
Joint gay games dream fades

Plans to hold joint Gay Games and World Outgames in 2018 suspended after organizers fail to reach an agreement

Hopes of two rival gay sporting events coming together for a collosal Olympics style tournament have been dashed after both sides failed to reach an agreement.

The Gay Games and World Outgames, two of the world's biggest gay sporting contests, were due to hold a joint event in 2018.

Representatives of the boards of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) and the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA) met in Montreal, Canada, last week (5 - 6 May) to discuss the possibility of holding one global gay tournament every four years.

April 3, 2012
British Airways dove takes flight for Olympics

Gay designer Pascal Anson from Brighton, southern England sees his work take to the skies as part of British Airway's Olympic celebrations

We will not pretend that we are the greatest fans of British Airways, but when gay designer Pascal Anson won the competition to design a BA plane's livery it's difficult not to get excited.

Yesterday the plane, a giant golden dove, took off on its first commercial flight - to Copenhagen. This is the first of a flock of nine 'dove' planes that British Airways have commissioned to celebrate the 2012 Olympics - all bearing Pascal's unique design.

April 2, 2012
HomoLAB 39

This week Baylen throws his back out, Amy causes a Twitter storm, and Lucio discovers his true calling as a nurse. 

HomoLAB are back at the British Film Institute for the finale of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, talking to programmer Brian Robinson and film maker Charles Lum about how this year's festival went.

Also gay music video marriage proposal, gay dolphins, and why this year's Olympics will be the gayest ever!

April 1, 2012
Olympics adds gay pink ring to flag

International Olympic Committee will unveil new flag at London closing ceremony for Russia and Brazil games to push LGBT sport

UPDATE: This was our 2012 April Fool's Day story. Whether we fooled you or not, we hope you enjoyed it.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to alter the Olympic flag for four years in a global drive to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.

Gay Star News can exclusively reveal today (1 April) that a pink ring will be added to the Olympic flag to symbolize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex sportspeople.

April 1, 2012
Olympics adds gay pink ring to flag

International Olympic Committee will unveil new flag at London closing ceremony for Russia and Brazil games to push LGBT sport

UPDATE: This was our 2012 April Fool's Day story. Whether we fooled you or not, we hope you enjoyed it.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to alter the Olympic flag for four years in a global drive to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.

Gay Star News can exclusively reveal today (1 April) that a pink ring will be added to the Olympic flag to symbolize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex sportspeople.

March 30, 2012
BBC sports’ Clare Balding prepares for gayest Olympics

BBC sports presenter Balding helps leading gay charity Stonewall raise £393,000 at annual Equality Dinner fundraiser

Openly lesbian ex-jockey and BBC sports presenter Clare Balding told guests at the Stonewall Equality Dinner that this year’s Olympics will be the most gay-friendly ever.

She was the guest speaker at the annual fundraiser for Britain’s leading lesbian, gay and bisexual campaign organization, held at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane last night (29 March).

She told guests: ‘I firmly believe these London Olympics and Paralympics will be the most gay friendly ever.’

March 20, 2012
Nepal will host Asia's first gay Olympics

LGBT sportspeople will compete in track and field, volleyball, football, martial arts and tennis in Kathmandu in September

The national stadium is booked, top class athletes have been drafted in as coaches and referees and the date is set for Nepal to host Asia’s first gay Olympics this September, the organisers announced yesterday.

January 27, 2012
Johnny Weir is on comeback trail

Skating champ says new husband supportive of his latest Olympic bid

Johnny Weir placed sixth in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is determined to improve upon that result when the next Olympics take place in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

Much has happened to the skating star since the last Olympics: He publicly came out as a gay man on the pages of his autobiography released in 2011; He became the star of his own reality show; and on New Year's Eve, he married Victor Voronov in New York City.

January 16, 2012
My secret Olympics dance audition

The GSN contributor who was shocked to be invited to audition as a dancer for the London Olympic opening ceremony

When the opportunity came up to volunteer for the 2012 Olympic games, I signed up. And when the chance came up to buy tickets for both the Olympics and ParaOlympics, I applied for the maximum. But I only vaguely remember volunteering to be a part of the opening ceremony.

Then one day in June, I received an email from the Olympic opening ceremony organizers asking me to come in and audition for a part.