'%3E%3Cpath d='M16.3574 35.6519H12.9537L15.0491 18.8873L16.3574 35.6519ZM30.4229 54.0093L22.309 0.994385H7.91795L0 54.0093H10.6634L11.5802 46.3855H17.4014L17.9914 54.0093H30.4229Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M48.2073 41.8813C48.2073 43.4049 47.4892 44.0011 46.1144 44.0011H43.7595V11.0687H46.1144C47.4892 11.0687 48.2073 11.6636 48.2073 13.1885V41.8813ZM59.5273 43.6695V11.3326C59.5273 3.71323 53.5729 0.994385 47.8157 0.994385H31.7213V54.0093H47.8157C53.5729 54.0093 59.5273 51.29 59.5273 43.6695Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M90.183 0.994385H78.6039L75.0711 30.6157L71.9955 0.994385H59.4346L69.2474 54.0093H80.373L90.183 0.994385Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M107.063 42.3448C107.063 43.7359 105.951 44.5974 104.643 44.5974C103.269 44.5974 102.157 43.7359 102.157 42.3448V12.658C102.157 11.2676 103.269 10.4058 104.643 10.4058C105.951 10.4058 107.063 11.2676 107.063 12.658V42.3448ZM119.233 43.2723V11.7312C119.233 6.36384 112.952 -3.8147e-06 104.643 -3.8147e-06C96.2667 -3.8147e-06 89.9867 6.36384 89.9867 11.7312V43.2723C89.9867 48.6393 96.2667 55 104.643 55C112.952 55 119.233 48.6393 119.233 43.2723Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M150.976 43.9349V33.7309H139.069V42.3448C139.069 43.7359 137.957 44.5974 136.582 44.5974C135.076 44.5974 133.964 43.7359 133.964 42.3448V12.658C133.964 11.2676 135.076 10.4058 136.582 10.4058C137.957 10.4058 139.069 11.2676 139.069 12.658V21.2723H150.976V11.0687C150.976 5.70107 145.283 -3.8147e-06 136.582 -3.8147e-06C127.75 -3.8147e-06 121.796 5.70107 121.796 11.0687V43.9349C121.796 49.3022 127.75 55 136.582 55C145.283 55 150.976 49.3022 150.976 43.9349Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M167.478 35.6519H164.076L166.17 18.8873L167.478 35.6519ZM181.544 54.0093L173.432 0.994385H159.037L151.123 54.0093H161.785L162.704 46.3855H168.523L169.114 54.0093H181.544Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M205.412 10.4058V0.994385H177.081V10.4058H185.392V54.0093H197.428V10.4058H205.412Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M230.002 54.0093V43.9349H218.914V31.8746H226.635V21.8028H218.914V10.4058H230.002V0.994385H206.875V54.0093H230.002Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3CclipPath id='clip0_260_7080'%3E%3Crect width='230' height='55' fill='white'/%3E%3C/clipPath%3E%3C/defs%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
The opening ceremonies for the World Outgames in Montreal begin on Saturday. But preliminary events, including a human rights conference, have been under way in the city since Wednesday.
From the moment you land in Montreal's airport and pick up your luggage in the rainbow-swathed baggage retrieval area, you know the Outgames have arrived. The first few days of this multicultural and multinational event featured a human rights conference run in conjunction with the International Lesbian and Gay Association.
The opening gala was headlined by a speech by United Nations high commissioner for human rights Louise Arbour. The next morning opened with a series of speeches by Canadian Olympic-medal swimmer Mark Tewksbury, Muslim-Canadian author Irshad Manji, and others. The 1,500 attendees and speakers came from over 110 countries, including far-flung locations such as Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Cameroon, South Africa, and Pakistan.
Organizers staged the event in the historic Palais de Congress, with sessions filling more than 25 rooms at a time. A final Montreal resolution on LGBT civil rights will be presented to the United Nations, the European Union, and the Canadian parliament. (Michael Luongo, Sirius/OutQ News)
