By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com June 3, 2011 In the past week I have visited the mansions of three early presidents of America: Jefferson’s ‘Monticello’ (photo right), Monroe’s ‘Ashlawn’ and Andrew Jackson’s ‘Hermitage’, in Virginia and Tennessee. Viewing these stately properties a modern visitor can glimpse a past way of life both elegant as well as
Memorial Day Remembrance of Army Private John Ammon
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com May 31, 2011 Memorial Day is different from other holidays. Unlike Thanksgiving, Fourth of July or religious festivals where the celebrations recall rather abstract events, Memorial Day for me is about a particular person known and loved by his family and friends. Memorial Day is both a remembrance of millions of
Gay Games 06 Chicago Closing Ceremony
Chicago’s Wrigley Field was the host venue for the closing ceremony of Gay Games VII in July 2006. Participant athletes entered the field to the cheers of about 25,000 people. Mayor Richard Daley helped transfer the Gay Games flag to the deputy mayor of Cologne, Germany for the next Games in 2010. The star singer
USA – Gay Games: Chicago Tour
Random views of Chicago city and gay Boystown. Chicago was the host city for Gay Games VII . It is a city full of architectural wonder and scenic beauty along Lake Michigan. The gay district (Boystown) along Halsey Street was decked out in rainbow flags as thousands of visitors enjoyed the cafes and restuarants and shops. The Gay Games were also a financial success.
USA – Gay Games: Swimming & Sports
About 800 swimmers from dozens of countries spent Gay Games VII week in competition at the University of Chicago Ratner aquatic complex. Many of the swimmers’s home cities were evident from the logos on their swim suits. GlobalGayz owner Richard Ammon won several medals. (photos #47 and 48) Other nearby sports during the week were
USA – Gay Games: Opening Ceremony
Chicago’s Soldier Field was the host venue for the opening ceremony of Gay Games VII in July 2006. About 11,000 athletes from nearly 50 countries entered the field to the cheers of about 40,000 people. At the end of the evening the Gay Games torch was lit.
Garden of Delight–Westhampton, MA and its Denizens
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com September 4, 2010 At 0655 this early September morning a few golden rays of the sun penetrated through the earth’s atmosphere, through the forest of summer trees into our cottage and landed on the stone fireplace in our bedroom. The stones lit up with flickering morning light, a bit like those
My Family – A Hundred Years Later
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com June 25, 2010 A hundred years ago today my grandparents, Francis and Cora, were married and our immediate family began. I have no family memory beyond that–photos and stories yes but no memories. My paternal great-grandfather died in 1915. My maternal great-grandmother lived to 1938, before my birth. But starting a
New Hate Crimes Bill: New Era of Civil Rights Recognition for LGBT Americans (?)
From: Examiner.com October 31, 2009 Sonoma County (California) Civil Rights Examiner By Megan Cofey The expanded federal Hate Crime Prevention Act, named for 1998 victims Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, may end up being much more significant than its scope would suggest. Although the
Gaining Rights vs Being Privileged–Gays and Obama
Westhampton, MA – October 11, 2009 Richard Ammon – GlobalGayz.com Last night President Obama gave a speech at a Human Rights Campaign fund-raising dinner in DC. This is remarkable in itself since no other president has ever given specific attention to a gay organization in a public forum. The press were there and captured his
Coming Out at 13 Years Old – an Eternal Truth
Westhampton, MA – September 30, 2009 Richard Ammon – GlobalGayz.com The September 27, 2009 New York Times Magazine cover story of a 13 year-old boy who has come out at school is notable in many ways: -it was published by America’s premier newspaper -it was made a daring headline story with photos -it’s about homosexual
Gay Rights Organizations react to Death of Ted Kennedy
“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” From GlobalGayz.com: Richard Ammon, owner Westhampton, MA I grew up with the Kennedys in our government, the longest serving being Ted Kennedy. He was a presence in my life
Gay USA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Life in America
The real ‘Gay USA’ story, even part of it, is far too big to tell on one article. Listed in the Gay USA News & Reports of this site are many pages and years with hundreds of stories that express the wide range of edges in the ongoing American revolution against repression, fear and ignorance
John Ammon Photo Gallery
Also see: John Ammon Remembered story These images have been collected from several sources including John’s own photo album, family archives in Switzerland and America and Richard Ammon’s photos taken in Switzerland in 1965. Most of the photos cover a range of years from about 1892 to 1927 as well as a few modern pictures. Nearly
Gay USA: Gay Games, Chicago 2006
For the fourth time in its 22-year history the Gay Games were held in the USA. Starting in San Francisco in 1984 and 1986, New York in 1994 and Chicago 2006, The Games carry on the spirit of founder Tom Waddell’s vision of ‘Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best’. GlobalGayz owner, Richard Ammon, was there competing
John Ammon Remembered
John Ammon Remembered (1888-1918) John in his twenties (1908-13) with camera Also see: John Ammon Photo Gallery Photo Galleries of World War 1: Northern France where John’s company fought and John died. Introduction to a Short Life How are people remembered after they die? Unless blessed or cursed with fame or infamy, the departed
It’s Normal to be Gay: Worldwide Gay Survey
Intro: Despite daunting persecution of gays in many countires, a guest author surveys mid-nineties optimistic gains in gay expression, gay pride activity and legal status around the world. Bangkok by John Duvoli The Economist Revised June 1, 2008 Photos by Richard Ammon Across the world a radical idea about homosexuals is gaining ground:
Gay Canada 2003-04: Bold Pioneer for Gay Equality
Gay Canada is a feisty, energetic, aggressive, wide-ranging herd of activists and citizens who don’t take discrimination lightly. They are not overwhelmed by a stampede of right-wing moralists hell-bent on a homophobic agenda to preserve the ‘sanctity’ of marriage. Nor are they living in fear of brutal police tactics to beat them into submission. Mostly
Gay Canada 2006: Athletes go to OutGames Sports & Activists go to Rights Conference
OutGames Montreal presented the world with its double-header debut event linking gay sports and gay human rights under one banner. The result was a resounding success for the organizers, for the city, for 11,000 athletes, for 1500 rights activists and for 60,000 spectators. Three news reports here give overviews of the Montreal events and include some comments about the Chicago Gay Games staged the week before.
Canada – OutGames: Opening Ceremony (1)
About 11,000 athletes from 60 countries marched into the 1976 Olympic Stadium to open the OutGames before an audience of 75,000. The featured speakers were the mayor of Montreal, Olympic swimming medalist Mark Tewksbury and tennis champ Martina Navratilova. The featured openly lesbian singer was k.d.lang.
Canada – OutGames: Human Rights Conference
Four days prior to the OutGames sports events an international gay human rights conference was held at the Palais des Congres in downtown Montreal, July 26-29, 2006. 1500 delegates from over 100 countries attended making it the largest LGBT rights conference ever held. Organizers plan to hold similar conferences with future OutGames. More information can
Canada – OutGames: Swimming & Dragon Boats
The swimming took place in the 1976 Olympic stadium pool, a 50 meter pool with separate diving and warm-up pools. The estimate was about 900 swimmers from 20 countries. Most of the images here speak for themselves. The last dozen images in this gallery were taken at the Dragon Boat competition held at another Olympic
Canada – OutGames: Montreal City (1)
Montreal was the host city for the first world OutGames in August 2006. The city was welcoming and blocked traffic from the main street of The Village, the gay district, as thousand of visitors strolled up and down shopping and eating at the many cafes and restaurants–and looking at each other. The opening and closing
Canada – OutGames: Opening Ceremony (2)
About 11,000 athletes from 60 countries marched into the 1976 Olympic Stadium to open the OutGames before an audience of 75,000. The featured speakers were the mayor of Montreal, Olympic swimming medalist Mark Tewksbury and tennis champ Martina Navratilova. The featured openly lesbian singer was k.d.lang.
Canada – OutGames: Montreal City (2)
Montreal was the host city for the first world OutGames in August 2006. The city was welcoming and blocked traffic from the main street of The Village, the gay district, as thousand of visitors strolled up and down shopping and eating at the many cafes and restaurants–and looking at each other. The opening and closing