There are no national rivalries here, only cooperation and fun. For those of you who went to the Circus Concert of the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America, you saw one of the gay entertainment highlights ogf the decade.

This has been a week of remarkable achievement, and now Gay Games II and the Procession of the Arts have become historic reminders of who and what we really are, and what we've become. And what have we become?

We have talked for years about becoming teachers, and that is what we have become. We have something to teach a world that clearly seems to be going mad. We have taken responsibility for ourselves, particularly in the face of the AIDS crisis. We have set the standards for care and support. We will soon be teaching others.

With the activities of this past week we have demonstrated what tolerance, friendship, and understanding can achieve. This world needs a lot more of these things, and we can give it.

Last week I suggested that we were the largest minority in the world. I want to modify that statement. In fact I want to retract it. We are not a minority, we are an alternative. Everyone is welcome in our community. It is so simple; we like anyone who likes us!

We have many battles ahead of us before we achieve parity in our respective societies. There are people who fear our differences, who do not understand us. They will be educated through events such as those you have enjoyed this past week.

Please keep in mind also that we have many non-gay friends who support us. These Games would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and hundreds of others who make no judgements on us and who enjoy working with us.

It is a fact that a non-gay person who has gay friends is far less homophobic than someone who claims he doesn't know any gay people. Again, we need to put ourselves out there and educate. We are pretty nice people. We are worth knowing.

Last night, a friend of mine asked, "What single thought would you like to leave the audience with today?" and this is it: WE ARE THE TEACHERS OF THE EIGHTIES AND WE ARE ON THE MOVE!