Gay Games afloat Sunday

CRYSTAL LAKE — There might be a certain irony — given what happened earlier this year — that event organizers for regatta-style rowing races to be held this Sunday chose the lake here, in part, because of its relatively calm waters.

Who knew that a group asking to use part of the lake for that day for races with less than 100 competitors would stir up, if not waves, at least a few ripples — and bring the relatively quiet town to the short attention span of the national media?

But the competitions in question are part of Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival, and planners "were surprised that, in an age of increasing tolerance for differences of all kinds, some people were willing to appear on television making ofttimes absurd, discriminatory and hateful comments," said Kevin Boyer, board co-vice chairman and marketing committee chairman for the games.

The Chicago Sun-Times, a sister paper of The Courier news, is one of the sponsors of the games.

Those speakers made their way onto the TV news and in the newspapers in early March when the games officials approached the Crystal Lake Park District Board seeking permits and to request no-wake restrictions for the day. The initial district board vote ended in a 2-2 tie, which was broken the next week with a vote to approve the permits.

Late last year, games organizers visited Crystal Lake to check it out as a possible venue after hearing about it through the Gay and Lesbian Rowing Federation. They liked the lake for its gradual shores and viewing areas.

Through mutual contacts, the games people got in touch with Walt Gary, founder of the 2-year-old Crystal Lake Rowing Club. Gary told the games people that they would need to contact the park district to get the ball rolling on using the site instead of another one it had under consideration. That eventually led to what turned into the aforementioned heated meetings.

With a bit less contention from the audience, in April the Crystal Lake City Council approved the request to hold the events, which are open to adult athletes of a variety of ability levels and of any sexual orientation.

In fact, Gary said he knows quite a few straight rowers in clubs who will be taking part.

The village of Lakewood, which also borders the lake, gave its approval without much ado soon thereafter.

Boyer wonders, however, if the controversy in Crystal Lake might have been stirred up by outsiders.

"We had experienced some of the same phrases used by these people in stories quoting representatives of right-wing groups outside of Crystal Lake, so we wondered how much of this was planted comment by those groups," he said. "But we were gratified that after the first two meetings, the vast majority of the comments we received were positive and supportive. Other than media stories quoting the same two or three people affiliated with the same two or three right-wing groups, we have not had anything similar take place, and we are very happy that we have many volunteers now from McHenry County."

"We regret that a few people at those meetings made Crystal Lake appear to be an intolerant place, and we're happy that the two final municipal votes went smoothly and without the same level of vocalized opposition," Boyer added.

Boyer said event planners have not heard about plans for any sort or organized protest, "but we are making appropriate security plans to ensure the safety of everyone."

As for Gary, he said the competition meets a goal in the charter of his tax-exempt club, which is "to foster rowing in the Crystal Lake area."