Denver loses 2030 Gay Games bid to Perth amid rise in US anti-trans politicshttps://denverite.com/2025/10/27/denver-loses-gay-games-perth/ 🔗Denverite - Kyle Harris
Oct. 27, 2025, 12:41 pm
The city of Perth, Australia, will host the 2030 Gay Games, beating out Denver for the opportunity to host the athletic event, Australian media reported.
The Gay Games had picked Denver as one of the top two finalists among 25 candidate cities, and Gov. Jared Polis, Mayor Mike Johnston and a group of LGBTQ leaders had lobbied to bring the festivities to town.
Instead, some 12,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will be headed to Australia.
With more than 35 events, Denver leaders had hoped for a significant boost to the city's tourism economy.
Colorado has built a reputation as a sanctuary for transgender people fleeing other states with anti-trans laws. But the United States' recent turn toward anti-transgender federal policy left many global leaders wondering if a U.S. city would be a safe destination for the event.
Multiple European countries have issued warnings for transgender and nonbinary people or people with third-gender markers against traveling to the United States.
Public support for LGBTQ protections has fallen nationally, according to polling from the Public Religion Research Institute. Meanwhile, hate crimes against LGBTQ people have been on the rise in recent years, according to FBI data. ------------------------------------
Safety First. When the U.S. starts losing billions of tourism dollars, things will change.
In the meantime, our Brothers and Sisters in the Land Down Under will show these athletes a wonderful welcome.
