The 11th edition of the Gay Games began November 5 with a vibrant ceremony held at the Aquatics Stadium in Zapopan.

Athletes participating in the games reveled in the traditional lap of honor that kicked off the occasion. They waved their flags gleefully and responded in kind as the large crowd egged them on as they paraded around the swimming and diving pools behind the banners bearing the names of their countries. Cheerleaders from several U.S. cities spaced themselves out around the pool offering additional animation while performing some clever moves.

The largest contingents from the 33 nations taking part in the games were, understandably, from Mexico, the United States and Canada, but many other nations brought sizable delegations, including Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Denmark, Sweden, and others. Guadalajara had its own category, as did Lake Chapala whose score of happy participants included expats and locals, one of whom waved a large “Ajijic” flag on the lap of honor.

Speakers at the ceremony included Mónica Sánchez, the executive director of the 2023 Guadalajara Games, who asked the athletes to “live the games from a perspective of inclusion and love, transforming ourselves into true and better human beings.”

Sean Fitzgerald, the co-president of the Gay Games, thanked Guadalajara and the Jalisco government for “stepping up to the plate” after Covid nixed the 2022 games planned in Hong Kong. (The event was rescheduled for this year with Hong Kong and Guadalajara acting as go-hosts.)

When Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro took the microphone, he highlighted the efforts that have been made ever since he took over as mayor of Guadalajara in 2017 to “tear down the walls of hate and promote tolerance and freedom.”

“What better way to celebrate than to raise our voice from Guadalajara to continue fighting for equal rights, for respect, for everything that this community has fought.

“It is a great honor to receive international events, but it is an even greater honor to be able to receive the Gay Games as an example of the openness, of the progress that this city and that this community has achieved.”

After a performance by the host of Drag Race Mexico, Valentina, the official ambassador of the Gay Games, accompanied by dancers from the Folkloric Ballet of the Jalisco School of Arts, an archer “lit” the flame of the games, while divers and synchronized swimmers gave a demonstration of their talents in the pools.

The games continue through Sunday, November 11, with 22 sports held in 14 venues throughout the metropolitan area.

There are also many other associated cultural events scheduled. For full details, see gggdl2023.org.