ABSTRACT
During the Olympics there is usually public concern about a dramatic increase in people ling for asylum. This was the case when the Winter Olympics and Paralympics were held in Vancouver in 2010. Gay and lesbian groups in Vancouver set up ‘Pride Houses’ as social spaces to watch the games. One of the three Pride Houses, located in the Qmunity LGBT Community Centre, was set up as a resource centre. One of the three primary goals for the Pride House was: ‘to be a catalyst for Human Rights to protect gays and lesbians in countries of conict where governments have laws that openly discriminate against homosexuals’ (Pride House, 2010: 2). Legal support was offered for people who might apply for asylum in Canada on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status (SOGIHS). Indeed, dealing with an anticipated increase in refugee claims during the Olympics was the major non-sporting political mission for the Pride House. The Pride House organizers anticipated that ‘Given the large number of visitors, temporary workers, athletes, and families travelling to Canada, LGBT immigration or refugee related inquiries were likely’ (Pride House, 2010: 12). Gay entrepreneur Dean Nelson, who initiated and to a large extent nanced the Pride Houses, proclaimed that:
At these huge sporting events – gay or straight, it doesn’t matter – people do request asylum from established western nations, so we just anticipate that if we’re being so public about having a Pride House that some of these athletes that are having such turmoil back home about their sexuality, this could be an opportunity to escape that legitimately. We’re there to support them.
