Imagine my surprise when I learned that the U.S. Government has granted "Designated Event Status" to the 2006 Gay Games to be held in Chicago this July. The "Gay Games" are an event known as much for after-hours sexual activity as for on-field athletic competition. In fact, on the official Chicago Gay Games web site just as much emphasis is put on "entertainment" as on the event itself. This entertainment includes links to bathhouses and clubs where illicit and illegal activity is allowed.

HIV positive participants at the Gay Games can apply for a single entry B-2 travel visa. You might not know that people who are HIV positive are often prevented from entering the country.  But this is frequently waived for all sorts of events, ranging from conferences to Para Olympics and regular Olympics, as well as for longer stays upon a showing of financial support.  The visa for the Gay Games will be valid for ten days.

"Getting a waiver for any non-immigrant to come to the U.S. is a fairly routine process," a Homeland Security official told the Chicago Tribune online. The federal government issues such waivers to individuals and also blanket waivers that cover large events like the Gay Games.

But, to listen to Tony Perkins, you would think it was the invasion of the bird flu and mad cow disease, combined.

The tragedy is that there are Americans who may well be infected with a deadly disease as a direct result of this most unwise decision.  Why should this administration feel the need to bow to the politically correct crowd?

Please contact the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman within the Department of Homeland Security.  Ask the office to revoke this almost unprecedented waiver.  Human lives are at stake.

The Illinois Family Institute, a religious right spawn, piled on.

This is only one of several attempts to scuttle and derail the Chicago Gay Games.

Earlier, The American Family Association and Illinois Family Institute demanded that the Chicago-area Harris Bank and Kraft Foods end its sponsorship of the Gay Games.  When Kraft refused to back down, citing diversity and inclusiveness, AFA expressed its shock at such thinking.  

Walgreen's came under attack,too. Of this, Randy Sharp of AFA wrote:

The Gay Games will be a breeding ground for what Walgreens needs -- diseases that cause illnesses that require high-cost, high-profit drugs. They're making sure they capitalize on others' despair by supporting events that guarantee them a high yield return on their investment.

This summer's Gay Games are months away ... but the Religious Right games carry on, no matter what the season.