"Changed" Gay Games I poster (1982)

Anderson, K. · 1982

This is a photograph of the "Changed" Gay Games (Olympic Games) poster for Gay Games I held in San Francisco in August and September in 1982. This poster has the word "Olympic" masked with black magic marker. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) sued the founders of the Gay Games to prohibit the use of the word Olympic and the symbols used. In the 1987 Supreme Court case San Francisco Arts & Athletics, Inc. v. United States Olympic Committee ("Gay Olympics") the Court upheld the constitutionality of a statute granting the USOC power to enjoin homosexual activists from using the name "Gay Olympic Games" for an athletic competition. Due to the court injunction pursuant of this lawsuit, the words "Olympic" had to be removed from posters and other official documents used during the first Gay Games. One of the solutions, the blacking out of the word "Olympic" using magic marker. For the original poster, see ms537-01-25-001. The poster was designed by K. Anderson. It measures 21" high and 14" wide. This lithograph poster has a black background with small drawings of the different sports being played. Written in the center is "Gay Olympic Games I/ San Francisco/ Aug. 28- Sept. 5, 1982." Along the bottom edge is written, "Bottom edge is "P.O. Box 1487 4 San Francisco, California 94114 U.S.A.". For biographical information on Thomas F. Waddell, see: https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/155.