Gay opening ceremony

A lot of the lesbians took off their shirts. I felt to be a real part of the gay community that day.  The second memory was seeing Tina Turner perform on stage for all of us. All I knew is I was having a blast with this great group of guys, in a fabulous city, doing something I really loved - swimming.

JEAN-NICKOLAUS TRETTER: I remember Tina Turner. His vision ensured that the LGBTQ+ community was included and celebrated on this global stage.

One of the most talked-about moments of the evening was the performance by pop icon Lady Gaga.

We were ready to go but were then told that there was a problem with the sound system, so we would have to wait a while. This segment, however, drew mixed reactions due to a tableau reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” which some viewers found provocative.

The ceremony also saw performances by other global stars such as Celine Dion, another queer icon, blending historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch.

San Francisco was the perfect city to host these first Games. We all knew we were part of something big, but did we realize we were making HISTORY? There were 7,300 athletes and 1,500 artists participating in 27 sports and more than a dozen cultural events. One saw no evidence or concern about this soon to be Gay Epidemic. I didn't, nor do I think many of my teammates thought we were - at the time.

It was an unbelievable experience.

I have 2 very fond memories of the Opening Ceremony.  The first was walking into the stadium as the "Los Angeles Team" in our uniforms (t-shirts, I believe) and seeing the massive crowd and all of the people cheering! For sure an experience that was a highlight of my life. The event culminated in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians, symbolizing unity and the coming together of diverse cultures and identities.

The inclusion of LGBTQ+ athletes was another significant aspect of these Games.

Our big chance squelched.

So we sat in the bleachers at Kezar Stadium watching and listening to the San Francisco and Los Angeles gay bands play and saw the two conductors embrace to loud cheers in the middle of the field.

DOUG ORLOFF: In San Francisco, I stayed with friends of friends who graciously let me and my partner stay in their spare room.

That a big star would perform for a gay event was bananas. With a record number of openly LGBTQ+ athletes expected to compete, the Paris Olympics are set to be a beacon of inspiration. We had to register with photo IDs at a school. Got tips or a news story that you would like published? The Village at City Hall Plaza was a highly visible gathering place throughout the week and the site of the Closing Ceremony.

The City was very busy. The Foster-Hayden band was asked to open for Tina Turner who was the entertainer for the Opening Ceremony. Standing alongside me was Chris Puccinelli, Zohn Artman, and Dr. Tom Waddell.

55 sports and cultural events
102 nations
10,318 participants