I gave it my best shot. I gave the performance of a lifetime. I wowed the crowd. And at the end of my
presentation of my poem "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the Poetic Justice poetry slam competiion of Gay Games VI, I received the
loudest applause I've ever heard for one of my poems, and a prediction from a finalist from the night before that he would
see me tomorrow night in the finals because I would be in them "fer sure."
But of the 10 people who competed Thursday night, the judges (three female Aussie performance poets of assorted
reknown) chose four to go on to the finals...and I wasn't one of them.
No worries. It was a performance -- and is a poem -- of which I will always be proud. And I won at least
in the hearts of the half dozen or so people -- Aussies, other poets, audience members -- who approached me after
the judges called the winners to the stage. With consolatory pats on the back, they told me things like:
"You should've been up there."
"I can't believe you didn't get picked."
"Your poem rocked!"
And my favorite...
"You were robbed, mate."
That support will have to do in lieu of a medal in the poetry slam competition. First place deservingly went to
a fierce Aussie lesbian who gave a rousing "I am Dyke"-style recital, to the cheers of an entire lesbian volleyball team there
to support her. Second place went to a gentlemen who forgot his lines after reciting the first 5 seconds of his poem
and stood silent in front of the mic for about 20 awkward seconds staring down at the floor until he remembered the rest
of his piece. I can't remember what it was about. ('Sympathy vote,' posited one audience member). Third went
to a rotund, bohemian lesbian who had a lesbo-centric poem that only contained words beginning with the letter 'L'.
The fourth and final place went to the gentleman who told me "Your poem rocked!" Dressed in a chimney-sweep outfit,
he delivered a humorous, odd-ball haiku that ended with him brandishing a whip and bowing before the judges. I can't
remember the theme of his poem either.
Other poets addressed body image, the transgender Gay Games volleyball team from Thailand, self-esteem, and the
relationship between a gay son and his father, among other themes.
I gave it my best shot, on the tennis court and on stage, against some of the best in international queer competition. The
dream I've had since deciding to come to these Games more than a year ago, as I have told many, was to celebrate my birthday
Saturday with a medal around my neck (preferably gold, of course, but any medal would do) at the closing ceremonies of
Gay Games VI in Sydney.
That dream will still come true. Tomorrow I receive my Participation Medal -- awarded to every Gay Games competitor and
quite identical in size, weight and even color to the gold medals they are giving out. Proof that, at these Games,
personal best and participation are victories of the same order as formal gold, silver and bronze wins. So I will
wear my medal with pride on Saturday...in solidarity with 13,000 other winners from around the world.
By the way, my mixed doubles partner, Jacqui, is still in the running for a gold medal in both singles and female
doubles of the tennis competition. Wish her luck!
With the competiton behind me, now I finally get to do the many other fun things on my list before returning to the States,
including finding those elusive kangaroos (my Mom says I can't come home until I've seen a real kangaroo in its
natural setting), spotting other unusual wildlife native only to Australia (emus, wombats, wallabees, etc.) enjoying more
of the pristine beaches here (I hung out at world-famous Bondi Beach earlier today -- see the pics below!), taking in a Salvador
Dali exhibition, catching a drag show at the Imperial, the club made famous in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," and much
more.
Stay tuned for pics and reflections on Saturday's closing ceremonies and my remaining adventures Down Under
before I head back over the Pacific Ocean to sweet home San Diego next Tuesday.
Thanks again to all my friends, family, fans and loved-ones for your incredible support, good wishes and e-mails
throughout my competitions.
G'day!
