What’s better than starting out a lazy Sunday? Brunch. It doesn’t matter if you are a breakfast or a lunch person all your gastronomic needs are met with brunch and it’s the perfect excuse to slow down and hang out with friends — new and old.

No matter where you are in the world, brunch makes everything better whether it’s simply to cure a hangover, hang with your favorite people, or refuel after a sporting it up.

Girls That Roam was pleased to find on a trip to Cleveland three of the city’s best brunch spots. These three places are sure to satiate the hungriest of the hungry with savory and sweet breakfast favorites and some surprises served up in healthy portions. Many of these hot brunch spots even offer vegetarian and vegan options. More >

The post Hot (brunch) in Cleveland first appeared on Lesbian.com.

It wouldn’t be a party without The Dinah girls!

This week to celebrate the gold, silver and bronze wins Club Skirts promoter Mariah Hanson and her team in association with Aqua Girl are hosting the official all-girl bash “The Victory Party” at the Gay Games 9 in Cleveland, Ohio.

“[We] plan to deliver an unforgettable event, Dinah style,” says Mariah, excited to bring The Dinah’s “special brand of high octane event production laced with first class entertainment and music to Cleveland’s Gay Games.”

Mariah and The Dinah team are expecting a sell-out crowd, she says, especially with three floors with DJs and a rooftop patio overlooking Cleveland’s skyline and Lake Erie. More >

The post It’s a victory party: The Dinah hosts all-women party for Gay Games 9 first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Anne E. DeChant performs during the opening ceremonies of Gay Games 9

BY CANDY PARKER
Lesbian.com

The thousands of participants gathered at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland for the opening ceremony of the International Gay Games were welcomed by President Barack Obama who made a surprise appearance via videotape Saturday.

Obama gave context to the event stating, “Since 1982, the Gay Games have given lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes and supporters around the world a chance to come together to compete, celebrate and inspire others. It’s been remarkable to see the Games thrive over the years. We’ve come a long way in our commitment to the equal rights of LGBT people here (in America) and around the world.”

The President went on to acknowledge those athletes who face serious human rights challenges in their home countries. “Some of you have come from places where it requires courage, even defiance, to come out, sometimes at great personal risk,” Obama said. “You should know that the United States stands with you and for your human rights.”

Athletes from around the world are gathered in the Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, area to compete in more than 35 sports and cultural events. In addition to President Obama’s welcoming remarks, attendees at the opening ceremony were treated to an opening number by a trio of drag singers lip-syncing “Proud Mary,” a Mexican athlete decked out in a sombrero, knee-high, red, platform boots and skimpy silver shorts, and performances by Lance Bass and the Pointer Sisters.

The competition runs through Saturday, August 16.

Watch President Obama’s full Gay Games 9 address below.

The post Obama welcomes athletes to Gay Games 9 first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY CANDY PARKER

Anticipation is ramping up as Gay Games 9 is set to kick off August 9 in the Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, areas. The week-long event will feature over 11,000 athletes from around the world, all coming together to compete in a variety of sports ranging from badminton to darts to rowing to wrestling and (nearly) everything in between.

I checked out the list of events and noted that, although diverse, the competitions don’t seem to be geared toward our natural lesbian skill sets. Sure, there’s softball and billiards, but where, I wondered are the events at which lesbians truly excel?

While it may be a little late to work with the Gay Games 9 organizers to supplement the current sanctioned sporting competitions, I put together the following list of proposed activities for consideration for Gay Games 10 which will be held in Paris in 2018. Start training, ladies — the competition is likely to be fierce!

Ellen DeGeneres-inspired Musical Chairs

Lace up those dancing shoes and get ready to boogie oogie oogie! As the music begins, show off your best dance moves, two-stepping, hustling and electric sliding up and down staircases and across the stage. Be careful not to get hung up with an audience member, though, because when the music stops, the race is on. Grab one of the cushioned host chairs and plop your booty in the seat while you can. Last woman standing is out of the competition. Just be careful not to take a seat too soon — if your back side touches down before the beat stops thumping, you’ll incur a penalty and be forced to participate in the next round with your shoelaces tied together.

The Load Out

This one is for the movers and shakers — but mostly the movers. Grab your packing tape and bubble wrap and get ready to load up an entire one-bedroom apartment full of furniture, clothes and rainbow candles at breakneck speed. The clock is ticking as you assemble boxes, pack ‘em up and get them loaded into your U-Haul. Once your truck is filled, dash to the home of your new paramour — the one you started seeing two long weeks ago — and get your stuff unpacked as quickly as you can. This one’s all about speed, ladies, as you maneuver past unexpected obstacles — your new love’s ex who hasn’t quite yet gotten the message, a hasty and potentially heated negotiation about splitting the rent and a new house full of cats who don’t seem to get along all that well with your dog.

“Orange is the New Black” Endurance Challenge

You may have run an iron man, ladies, but nothing can prepare you for this ultimate survival ordeal. Join your competitors in a room filled with recliners and prepare to watch both seasons of “Orange is the New Black” back-to-back without a break. Can you keep your eyes open for 24 hours of non-stop prison action? Will your bladder withstand this ultimate binge-watching test? There’s no rest for the weary and no adult diapers allowed as you follow the shenanigans of the Litchfield prison crew in this decisive trial of lesbian fortitude.

Melissa Etheridge Air Guitar Tournament

You’ve honed your skills at Melissa Etheridge concerts for the last two decades, but just how good are you really? Strum along on your imaginary guitar to classics like “Come to My Window,” “ I’m the Only One” and — the ultimate challenge — “Like the Way I Do.” There are no strings attached as you test your air guitar chops against Etheridge fanatics from around the globe. Judges score on both technical proficiency and artistic creativity, so you’d better get “Brave and Crazy” or there’ll be “No Souvenirs” for you in this event.

“Well, this is awkward” Obstacle Course

Your week of competition culminates in the penultimate lesbian contest — an obstacle course in which your  ex awaits at every turn. Scale walls, dive through tunnels and scurry under barbed wire all in an effort to dodge your ex at the local lesbian bar. The stakes get higher as the course goes on — there’s your ex and she looks pissed; it appears she really does want her CDs back. And wait — is that your ex with her new girlfriend? Test your agility, mental dexterity and aptitude for blending in with the crowd as you elude your ex and race to the finish line. There are really no winners in this competition, only those who live to dodge again.

The post Gay Games 9: Let the real lesbian games begin first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The legendary Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend — the biggest lesbian event of its kind in the world — is confirmed to be hosting the only official Gay Games-sanctioned women party this summer in Cleveland, Ohio.

The announcement comes on the heels of the massive success of this past April’s Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs, California, which broke all attendance records and garnered extensive national and worldwide media coverage.

Impressed with the outstanding achievement of Mariah Hanson — the mastermind behind The Dinah — and her team in organizing for over two decades such a high profile event, featuring such an elite group of high caliber performers, organizers of the 2014 Cleveland Games handpicked the event producer extraordinaire to exclusively produce the official lesbian party for Gay Games 9 (GG9).

“We’re immensely honored to be joining forces with the entire Gay Games 9 team and have no doubt our combined efforts will turn this incredibly formidable LGBT Sport and Cultural event into the best one ever,” Mariah Hanson, founder and producer of Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, said.

The bash dubbed “The Victory Party” will take place starting at 8pm eastern time on August 13 at The Velvet Dog, Cleveland’s premiere nightclub and dance destination for 15 years.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Mariah Hanson and beyond excited to be bringing such a staple event in LGBT culture to the Velvet Dog,” club manager Georgina Karim said.

Voted Cleveland’s best nightclub for the past five years, The Velvet Dog is located in the warehouse district, a bastion of nightlife in the heart of the city.

“The Dinah team is honored to bring our special brand of high octane event production laced with first class entertainment and music to Cleveland’s Gay Games. We couldn’t have picked a better host location than the Velvet Dog, the premiere nightclub in Cleveland. Plus we love the idea of a rooftop patio,” Hanson said. “We’re expecting a sell out crowd and plan to deliver an unforgettable event, Dinah style.”

The victory party will mark Club Skirts’ second Gay Games participation. Hanson previously produced the largest women’s event in 2006 at the navy pier in Chicago, Illinois, showing Club Skirts’ enduring commitment to securing the nicest locations available to showcase the host city.

Presented by the Cleveland Foundation, Gay Games 9 is one of the biggest sports and cultural festivals in the world and comes to the Cleveland and Akron areas August 9-16, 2014.

“Here at Gay Games 9 we are excited to welcome everyone to our region and especially all the women of the world and what better partners to collaborate with then the most amazing, Club Skirts, The Dinah. This will be the party to attend for all of the women. So, come celebrate ‘participation, inclusion and personal bests’ as we embrace and unite as one,” Michelle DeLozier, Gay Games 9 culture co-chair, said.

Open to all adults — regardless of sexual orientation or athletic ability — Gay Games 9 will host 11,000 participants from all over the world (including countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden), and will feature more than 35 sports, band and choral competitions, and community and cultural events.

Launched over 30 years ago, the large scale, weeklong event is about more than just an Olympic-style sporting competition with spectacular ceremonies and parties. It is first and foremost about a celebration of the LGBT community and a celebration of the spirit of unity and diversity. This message holds particular significance as Ohio, while recently ordered to recognize out-of-state gay marriages, still remains in the nationwide race to legalize same-sex marriage in its own state.

Both Hanson and organizers of the 2014 Gay Games see the event as not only a chance to show that the industrial Midwest can be gay-friendly, but also as an important potential catalyst for change.

Hanson has been sending a strong message of inclusion through the Dinah.

The event has not only come to embody the very notion of living life out loud, but has also been systematically transforming lives.

“Club Skirts has been passionately committed to extending its involvement beyond the actual Dinah in promoting and showcasing the rich diversity of our LGBT talents by engaging in and supporting events that create and enhance opportunities for our community,” Hanson said. “We look forward to Gay Games week and can’t wait to ignite Cleveland’s lesbian nightlife.”

Stay tuned as Mariah Hanson will be announcing the headlining act in the coming weeks.

Tickets to the event are $25 per person or $50 for VIP, which includes bottle service opportunity, and access to all VIP areas in all three floors as well as the spectacular roof top patio that overlooks the entire city of Cleveland.

For more information about Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend’s Victory Party, click here.

The post The Dinah hosts only Gay Games women’s party first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY CANDY PARKER

Some drivers for Ace, AmeriCab and Yellow Taxi in Cleveland aren’t keen on promoting the city’s upcoming Gay Games. Citing religious objections, approximately 17 cabbies, many of whom are Muslim, have walked off the job rather than drive cars displaying ads for the 2014 Gay Games.

According to Outlook Columbus, Gay Games Executive Director Tom Nobbe said that the cab drivers’ objections run counter to the overall reaction to the international event in northeastern Ohio. Organizers have offered to line up LGBT-inclusive diversity training for transportation, safety, hospitality and other businesses and agencies whose employees will help Gay Games visitors, Nobbe said.

“This could accelerate those efforts,” Nobbe said.

“It’s unfortunate they feel this way,” he said of the cab drivers. “It’s the first time something like this has happened.”

The Gay Games are scheduled for August 9-16 in Akron and Cleveland and are expected to draw 30,000 athletes and spectators. Athletes will gather from around the world to compete in 36 events.

“When you look at what’s going on around the world it’s not a huge surprise. In some parts of the world LGBT folks are not very welcome,” said Tom Nobbe of the event.

While Nobbe expressed disappointment over the taxi drivers’ actions, he remains enthusiastic about the event.

“Even though there will be a handful of folks who are not comfortable the vast majority and we’re seeing it now are totally enthusiastic and ready to welcome all these folks into town,” added Nobbe.

Airport Director Ricky Smith released a statement reaffirming Cleveland Hopkins International Airport’s commitment to providing the necessary customer service to arriving passengers seeking transportation from the airport to their final destination. He noted that an agreement has been brokered by the airport between the taxi cab stand operator, Standard Parking, and the affected taxi cab companies that will allow for the replacement of those drivers who no longer wish to participate in the airport’s dedicated taxi cab program.

It is expected to take up to three weeks to back fill the positions vacated by the cabbies.

The post Cleveland cabbies balk at Gay Games ad first appeared on Lesbian.com.