GayCities New York editor JJ Keyes met up with World OutGames media maven Gerry Hail in Copenhagen to get the lowdown on Outgames 2009, kicking off July 25 and going strong thru August 2. The Outgames–much like GayGames, scheduled for next year in Cologne–is not just a world-class sporting event. It has become a mini gay world’s fair, and the beautiful city is rolling out an immense pink carpet for thousands of gay visitors from across the globe.
JJK: When did you move to Copenhagen, Gerry? What were some of your favorite bars and clubs to hang out back then?
GH: I moved to Copenhagen from San Francisco on January 1, 1990 – a new year, a new decade and a wonderful new beginning to my life. Gay Copenhagen in the early 90´s was particularly vibrant, more so than even today with clubs like Pan, Metro and After Dark swinging until six or seven in the morning. None of these places are still open today, although the Pan venue will be home to some of the parties at World Outgames 2009. Today, Rocco zum Biergarten and Warehouse 9 are my favorite places to party.
JJK: What are your top three restaurants in the Copenhagen?
GH: I don’t eat out so much in Copenhagen. My husband is a great cook! But I have no problem recommending Kate’s Joint (Indian inspired), L’Education Francaise and the best Thai in town – Nam Thip. These are not gourmet restaurants but the atmosphere is lively, the service good and the price is right.
JJK: We know everyone in Copenhagen stays fit by riding bikes everywhere, right? In addition to riding everywhere, where do you work out?
GH: Well, I used to play organized Roller Hockey in the Danish 2nd Division for many years, but now I just skate for fun and work out three or four times a month at Form & Fitness. There is one just around the corner from where I live. And, of course, I swim during the summer. There are many great beaches just minutes from the city center. Some of the best sand beaches in the world!
JJK: If you had the choice of winning a shopping spree at any one clothing store in Copenhagen, what would it be?
GH: This is a tough one because there are so many great stores in town and I’m not really a fashion queen – but I think I’d choose the vintage boutique KbhK and stock up on t-shirts, sports shorts, vintage jackets and accessories.
JJK: Are there a few bars that are really going to lay out the red carpet?
GH: I think all of the bars are going to lay out the red carpet including Oscar, Central Hjørnet, Jailhouse, Mens’s, Cosy and the fabulous lesbian hangout Vela.
JJK: What museums are catering to the GLBT community for the World OutGames?
GH: The cultural program at World Outgames is going to be tremendous and includes exhibitions at The Museum of Copenhagen chronicling 200 years of homo-his and history in the city, Queerying the Archive at Nikolaj, Copenhagen Center of Contemporary Art, and a variety of galleries joined under the theme Art Cruising.
JJK: If someone wants to skip the hotel breakfast and go somewhere for a good brunch, do you have suggestions?
GH: I love pancakes, sausage and bacon, so I have to recommend O’s American Breakfast & Diner on Gothersgade. Another hip place is for brunch with a Danish fusion twist is Laundromat Café on Elmegade.
JJK: If someone had a few extra days after the games and wanted to take a day (or two) trip out of Copenhagen, where would you recommend?
GH: Well, you should definitely take the train over the Oresund Bridge connecting Denmark to Sweden and visit Malmoe. It is a quaint and photogenic town with great eating and shopping. I would also recommend the small beach resort community just north of Copenhagen called Tisvilde.
JJK: Do you have a favorite “Copenhagen moment”?
GH: There are so many great moments, but one that stands out now was a protest against the closing of “Pusher Street” where pot and hash were sold in the hippie part of town called Christiania. A few thousand protesters gathered one day to smoke joints in front of the house of parliament, Christiansborg. I don’t think anyone was arrested. Just a lot of stoned, happy people making speeches.
JJK: You guys have been preparing for the OutGames for quite some time now. How long have you been working with the organization?
GH: I have been working with the World Outgames organization since May 2007.
JJK: Do you have any favorite moments from working on the Games?
GH: Without a doubt my favorite moments have been the “Take a liking to a Viking” promotion parties I organized in Berlin, Madrid, Munich and Hamburg. Also marching near the front of the Pride Parade in New York in 2008 when we got drenched in a thunder shower was fantastic.
JJK: What events are you most excited for?
GH: I’m a circuit boy so I’m looking forward to sailing across the harbor to the opening party at a great venue called Halvandet, the White Party, lewd (the leather fetish party) and the closing party pairing GMF/Berlin with Rocco/Copenhagen.
JJK: The slogan for this year’s World OutGames is “Love of Freedom, Freedom to Love.” Can you speak to us about this slogan?
GH: This is the theme of the World Outgames LGBT Human Rights Conference. For me, it is about the basic human right of everyone to love and be in love with the man or woman of their choice. I just don’t understand those people who claim to love freedom but work to deny us the freedom to love because of our sexuality. I really hope the US gets with the program soon and recognizes gay marriage or civil unions or whatever they want to call it. Too many of us with foreign partners are forced to live in exile.
JJK: Where can we find out more details about the World OutGames?
GH: Visit our website. All of the info is available there including a digital version of the complete program and our theme song, “Freedom to love, love of freedom” by Danish music Icon and lead singer for Savage Rose, Annisette.
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