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Gay Ski Week stirs dispute in Telluride
Rocky Mountain News ^ | January 13, 2005 | Joanne Kelley

Posted on 01/13/2005 9:15:02 AM PST by presidio9

Telluride's Mountain Village will host Gay Ski Week next month, an event that has stirred debate among residents of the posh ski -resort and the funky Victorian town a few miles away.

In a community that prides itself on diversity, a controversy erupted last month when a resident of Mountain Village wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, questioning why the ski village would promote the gay ski event, which takes place Feb. 26 to March 6.

The letter struck a nerve in the community.

"It was definitely vociferous. It's to be expected," said Suzanne Cheavens, editor of the Telluride Daily Planet. "We're a progressive, liberal sort of place."

Many residents, and even former residents, wrote to voice their support for the village's sponsorship of the ski week, which coincides with the Telluride AIDS Benefit.

"This community is so accepting of absolutely anything," said Ron Gilmer, a letter writer and AIDS activist who spoke by phone Wednesday from Telluride, where he has lived for 13 years.

After the flurry of letters was published, a Web site that publishes an online guide to Telluride, posted a warning to alert families considering a ski vacation about the Gay Ski Week event.

"We weren't trying to be judgmental. The issue isn't having a gay ski week," said Al Heirich, a longtime local resident who operates the site. "Anybody has a right to informatively let folks know what's going to be going on in a small town."

Heirich says he posted the alert after visitors to his site had inquired about the controversy they had seen on the local paper's Web site.

Now he's in a dispute with the ski area.

Telluride ski resort has asked the site to remove links to its Web site. Heirich says he has done so.

"It was unauthorized, and we felt he really didn't represent Telluride or the Telluride ski resort," said Maryhelyn Kirwan, ski resort spokeswoman.

Kirwan said the ski resort expects to host a variety of groups throughout the season, including many Christian and religious groups, college groups and youth groups.

Mountain Village spokeswoman Kerri Cardin said the resort's first gay-oriented ski week in 2004 attracted about 250-300 people, although the village was not a sponsor that year.

Aspen is among the ski resorts hosting gay ski weeks. This year's event runs Sunday to Jan. 23.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: gaydays; gayskiweek; homosexualagenda; telluride
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1 posted on 01/13/2005 9:15:02 AM PST by presidio9
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To: presidio9

Scratch telluride off the list.


2 posted on 01/13/2005 9:17:22 AM PST by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Vote for true conservatives!)
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To: presidio9

Well, since I gave up skiing in 1976, due to a torn ACL, I guess this story doesn't affect me much. I'm sure the hotels, bars, and ski areas around there won't mind too much, though, if a bunch of affluent gays come to town.

If I did still ski, it wouldn't cause me to cancel a trip I'd planned there. I don't suppose there will be gay sex on the slopes, and I never hung out in bars when I was skiing anyhow.

One question, though: Do gays ski differently than straight people?


3 posted on 01/13/2005 9:18:03 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: presidio9

Nice Ski POLES.


4 posted on 01/13/2005 9:19:27 AM PST by Uncle George
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To: MineralMan

One question, though: Do gays ski differently than straight people?

Hehehe...holding each other's poles, perhaps.


5 posted on 01/13/2005 9:20:53 AM PST by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
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To: presidio9

Why must homosexuals single themselves out for everything? Gay this and gay that? Yet they complain they just want to be equal. No they don't, they want to be more than equal.


6 posted on 01/13/2005 9:21:35 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: presidio9
"This community is so accepting of absolutely anything," said Ron Gilmer..

Well, that's been true for decades. It's not a good thing.

If I were spending money on a vacation, I would want to know if large groups were going be there at the same time. I wouldn't want to book the same hotel as the "Sadists and Masochists Annual Convention", for instance.

7 posted on 01/13/2005 9:22:18 AM PST by Gingersnap
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To: mlc9852

"Why must homosexuals single themselves out for everything? Gay this and gay that? Yet they complain they just want to be equal. No they don't, they want to be more than equal."

Well, you could substitute almost any group into your statement. Christians. Moslems. Disabled persons. Whatever. Such statements are flawed on their face, whether you like or dislike any group. Sorry.


8 posted on 01/13/2005 9:24:37 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: presidio9
When is their fully publicized, sponsored heterosexual week?
9 posted on 01/13/2005 9:25:02 AM PST by jennyjenny
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To: mlc9852

Why must homosexuals single themselves out for everything? Gay this and gay that? Yet they complain they just want to be equal. No they don't, they want to be more than equal.
======
Now, see what these morons started??? If the leftist, activist media were not what they are, this issue would not even be on the map.

Typical liberal scenario -- the inmates are running the asylum.



10 posted on 01/13/2005 9:26:27 AM PST by EagleUSA
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To: MineralMan

Well, when is Christian Days at Disney World? Been to any Christian "outfests" lately?


11 posted on 01/13/2005 9:26:47 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: presidio9

Why not just host them in the summer... Cover a few of the slopes with vasoline and let the freaks have at it! I'm certain no one would care. In fact, it might even turn out to be a great recruitment tool. Tool hmmm.


12 posted on 01/13/2005 9:27:24 AM PST by odoso (Millions for charity, but not one penny for tribute!)
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To: mlc9852
its not just gays...The NAACP, Hispanic organizations, the white man association, any sort of "insert ethic or race here" organization singles them selves out. They cry for "justice" and equality, but it's just them crying out for more money, more attention, better status.

Here is an idea...It's not in the best interest for the NAACP to get rid of racism. Without it they wouldn't exist. They'd loose millions and political power...they don't care about the "black man." The same goes for all of those originations. All they can and do is split the populous
13 posted on 01/13/2005 9:27:42 AM PST by tfecw (dolphins are the spawn of evil)
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To: MineralMan

I did a Google search for each of the following:

"Christian Week Telluride"

"Moslem Week Telluride"

"Disabled Persons Week Telluride"

"Whatever Week Telluride"

No luck with any of them. Buttsex is the only lifestyle choice that masses together for these types of events.


14 posted on 01/13/2005 9:28:07 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does)
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To: presidio9

Anybody know of any MOAB's laying about?


15 posted on 01/13/2005 9:29:08 AM PST by HMFIC (The Peace Symbol is the FOOTPRINT of the American CHICKEN!)
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To: presidio9
In a community that prides itself on diversity, a controversy erupted last month when a resident of Mountain Village wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, questioning why the ski village would promote the gay ski event

Because, at the end of the day, gay dollars are the same color as straight dollars.

16 posted on 01/13/2005 9:30:05 AM PST by Modernman (What is moral is what you feel good after. - Ernest Hemingway)
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To: mlc9852

Things we probably won't see: Gay NASCAR Race, Gay Rugby Bowl, Gay Monster Truck Rally, Gay Tractor Pull, and the ever popular Gay Steel Cage Death Match.


17 posted on 01/13/2005 9:30:15 AM PST by ZeitgeistSurfer
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To: presidio9
Mountain Village spokeswoman Kerri Cardin said the resorts first gay-oriented ski week in 2004 attracted about 250-300 people.. Those are confusing numbers...is that an average week for them? 300 gay people and then others? i dunno, but lets assume it was 300 paying customers Those are dismal numbers...300 people for 9 days (assuming 05 will be as long as 04) thats 33 people a day. Either this is the priciest "resort" of all time and can pay their bills, Its not a resort but really a hill with a rope lift, or they didn't pay their bills which would lead one to wonder...why do something that hurts business dearly.
18 posted on 01/13/2005 9:32:39 AM PST by tfecw (dolphins are the spawn of evil)
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To: wmichgrad

What brand of skis are gay? I want to make sure I don't ever accidentally purchase any gay skis. When I buy skis I want them to be able to make me little skis that will someday be able to support me when I am old!


19 posted on 01/13/2005 9:32:59 AM PST by CSM
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To: ZeitgeistSurfer

I hope I never see any kind of rugby bowl! lol


20 posted on 01/13/2005 9:33:09 AM PST by mlc9852
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