In what could be
a boon for this summer's Gay Games in Chicago, officials
said Monday that the U.S. government will issue a temporary
waiver allowing foreign-born HIV-positive
participants and spectators to enter the country
and partake in the event.
Under normal circumstances, the United
States bars nonresidents with HIV from
entering the country.
"This is going to raise registration because it
immediately increases our pool of potential
registrants to HIV-positive people as well as their
partners," said Steve Kauffman, Gay Games spokesman.
The government issued a similar waiver in 1994
for the New York Gay Games. It is in effect from July
8 to July 28 and is available only to those who are
planning to participate in or attend the Games. Travel
visas will be issued on a special form instead of being
placed permanently in the applicant's passport.
Travelers do not have to declare their HIV status
on the application--they can simply mark "N/A"
on the form.
Information regarding procedures on how to apply
for the B-2 visa at U.S. consulates will be available
shortly on the Federation of Gay Games Web site at www.gaygames.com and the Chicago Gay
Games Web site at www.gaygameschicago.org.
"Many people with HIV/AIDS and other
life-affecting health issues have competed and set
masters-division records at past Gay Games, and we are
happy that all participants from outside the United States
once again will be able to travel freely to attend the
Gay Games this summer," said Kathleen Webster,
copresident of the International Federation of Gay
Games, in a statement.
The Gay Games are an Olympics-like event held
every four years for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender athletes. The first Gay Games was held in
San Francisco in 1982, with 1,350 people participating.
The Games has also been held in Vancouver, New
York City, Amsterdam, and Sydney. The most recent
event, the 2002 Games in Sydney, drew about 11,000
participants. More than 12,000 athletes from 100 counties
are expected to attend Gay Games VII in Chicago.
(Advocate.com)