GAMERS
A band of Houstonians flies down to Sydney this month for Gay Games VI and the international fest Team Band 2002. Photographers David Lewis and Yvonne Feece captured a few of the jocks and musicians before they departed

Carlo Deason, track

Charles Caliva II, physique

Kevin Taylor, soccer

David Fagan, paddle ball

Houston Pride Band members (standing, from l) Russell Williams, Debbie Hunt, (seated, from 1) Connie Moore, and Kevin Taylor

Steve Ruimveld, volleyball

Frank Garcia, marathon

Billiards: Kas Cejka, Lori Hidalgo, Mitch Mitchell, Carrie Howlett

Gay Games:
Thousands of queer athletes and fan descend on Sydney this month for Gay Games VI Sport & Cultural Festival. Jimmy Sommerville and kd lang perform at "Fabulous", the November 2 opening ceremony in Aussie Stadium. Competition in 31 sports from aerobics to figure skating to wrestling continues for a week. Fox Studios is the site of the closing ceremony on November 9.

The concurrent cultural festivaland Sydney-wide Queering the Streets initiative will add the arts to the jock mix. The wide-ranging program includes a panel chat with the tantalizing title
Debate: All Artists are Gay All Athletes are Straight. Please Explain? at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Other no doubt hot tickets are the cabaret act Flat On Your Bacharach and the San Francisco comedy troupe I Love Lezzie.

More info: www.sydney2002.org.au.

At the same time, members of the Houston Pride Band have flown down to Australia for Team Band 2002, the international conference of GLBT music groups. The bands tune up in Melbourne, then march into Sydney for the Gay Games.

More info: www.gaybands.org/GGVI.

Throughout the Games, Team Houston organizer David Fagan will roam the venues and events as OutSmart's correspondent. He will return with photos and recollections, which will appear in a future issue.