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Gay Games 9 to begin Saturday in Ohio

By WTOP Staff

MARK GILLISPIE
Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — If Cleveland and Akron seem like odd choices to host the international Gay Games, that’s because they are. The eight previous hosts for this quadrennial affair have been gay-friendly cities where those who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered feel comfortable.

Cleveland and Akron don’t have “gayborhoods” and their LGBT communities generally keep a low profile. That will all change Saturday with the opening ceremonies for Gay Games 9 at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. The games run through Aug. 16.

Gay media outlets pilloried the decision to bring the games to northeast Ohio, which was competing against the more gay-friendly cities of Boston and Washington. But those lobbying to bring the event to northeast Ohio pushed the idea that holding the events in the heart of the Rust Belt would provide an opportunity to chip away at barriers that persist.

“The biggest reason for the region to host the Gay Games is the kind of legacy it can leave for northeast Ohio,” said David Gilbert of Positively Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “The eyes of the LGBT world and LGBT media will be on Cleveland and will give our community a chance to shine.”

Tom Nobbe, a lead organizer of the games, is a gay man, a native of northeast Ohio and a swimmer who is competing in the games. Nobbe optimistically thinks northeast Ohio is, in some ways, “post gay” — that sexual orientation is far less of an issue today for most people. Yet he hopes the games will dissolve stereotypes and show the world how skilled and athletic the games’ competitors are.

“The games are about diversity, about changing hearts and minds,” Nobbe said.

About 8,000 people have registered to participate in more than 35 events, which include traditional sports like track and field and basketball and non-traditional ones, such as rodeo and ballroom dancing. The participants come from 51 countries and 48 states.

While registration numbers are lower than for past games — Cologne, Germany, had 9,500 registrants in 2010 and Chicago had 12,000 in 2006 — Nobbe said he was thrilled by the number of participants. He attributed the lower number to the Akron and Cleveland region, which has a population of about 2.7 million, being the smallest to ever host the games.

In keeping with the Gay Games credo of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best,” straight people were encouraged to participate. The golf tournament at historic Firestone Country Club in Akron likely will draw a number of straight competitors.

Nobbe is not naive about the potential for confrontations. He said he has marched in enough gay pride parades to know better, but added that police, the FBI, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies have worked closely with organizers and that he does not anticipate any trouble.

Phyllis Harris, executive director of the Cleveland LGBT Center, has held “competency training” for the Cleveland Police Department. She said she found their attentiveness to her message encouraging, and she is excited by the chance her hometown of Cleveland has been given.

“I want us to show up,” Harris said. “This is one of those opportunities that we happen to have and I think we’ll be all right. I would ask skeptics to get involved and put their money where their mouth is.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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