Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Styx co-founder Chuck Panozzo, and U.S. Women's World Cup Champion soccer goalie Saskia Webber are just three of more than 50 Chicago 2006 Gay Games Champions announced by the Chicago organizers of Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival.
The 2006 Gay Games Champions are prominent individuals—gay or straight—who have agreed to lend their support to the Gay Games coming to Chicago July 15-22, 2006.
Mayor Daley will serve as Honorary Co-Chair of the 2006 Gay Games Champions program. Co-chairing the program with him are Chicago City Treasurer Judy Rice and openly gay Chicago Ald. Tom Tunney.
'Chicago has a long history of having great sporting events, and we look forward to being the host city for the 2006 Gay Games,' said Mayor Daley. 'Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Chicagoans have contributed substantially to the development of Chicago. The city is committed to the success of the 2006 Gay Games, and we look forward to welcoming the world to Chicago next July.'
2006 Gay Games Champions include:
— U.S. Rep. Barney Frank.
— Athlete Saskia Webber. During a brilliant college soccer career, Saskia Webber was a member of the U.S. National Team, earning a reputation as one of the toughest goalkeepers. After winning the World Cup in 1999, Saskia played with great success in the WUSA for Philadelphia ( 2000-2001 ) and the New York Power ( 2002-2003 ) . She is currently the host of On the Road to the Gay Games, a weekly show on Q Television Network.
— Musician Chuck Panozzo. Bass player Chuck Panozzo formed the rock band Styx with his brother John Panozzo and Dennis De Young in the 1960s.
— Def Jam Poet Staceyann Chin. A resident of New York City and Jamaican native, Staceyann Chinn has been an out poet and political activist since 1998. She has won more than a dozen international poetry slams and was featured on the hit HBO series, Def Poetry Jam. She was one of the original cast members of the Tony Award-winning Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway.
— Joel Hall is a world-renowned dancer and choreographer. In 1974, he co-founded the Chicago City Theatre Company, later renamed the Joel Hall Dance Center.
— U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin.
See www.gaygameschicago.org for a list.