Denver is now a finalist city in the running to host the 2030 Gay Games, the largest LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world!
However, community support is paramount to making this a reality. A GoFundMe has been created to help raise money for the process, including official site inspections and fulfilling the in-person presentation requirements in Valencia, where the 2026 Gay Games will be held.
A fundraising event is to be held Wednesday, July 16 at ReelWorks in Denver. Admission is free, though a donation as little as $5.00 is highly encouraged to support the cause.
The fun will run from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., featuring 9News morning anchor Jordan Chavez and renowned benefit auctioneer Debbie Scheer as the fundraiser’s captivating hosts for the evening. Local musicians, performers, and other artists will be present to bring the night to life!
The Gay Games have been held in many beautiful cities around the world since its creation in 1982 by Olympic decathlete Dr. Tom Waddell. It began in San Francisco that year, and was held there again in 1986, followed by Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), Cleveland+Akron (2014), Paris (2018), Hong Kong and Guadalajara (2023), and Valencia (2026). The two top contenders to hold the Gay Games in 2030 are Denver and Perth, Australia.
Denver has many attributes that locals believe make it the perfect place for the Gay Games, such as Denver International Airport for connectivity, fantastic infrastructure, breathtaking scenery, and most importantly, a long-standing support for the LGBTQ+ community. This is shown through Denver’s progressive politics, consistently ranking in the top 10 safest U.S. cities for queer people, an enormous PrideFest turnout, and more.
The slogan for Denver’s promotional video, “Together, out West,” is a testament to the unity and culture that the city is so proud of. Governor Jared Polis and Mayor Mike Johnston have both echoed this pride and have voiced their support and hopes for the Gay Games to take place in Denver in 2030.
More information about the fundraiser can be found here.
Photo courtesy of social media
