By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

“Hot boys, cold beer…what could be better?” said Chicagoan Jay Gelles as he surveyed the crowd at Wrigley Field July 15.

Gelles was one of almost 1,000 participants in CFP’s seventh annual Out at the Ballgame at Wrigley, as the Cubs took on the Houston Astros.

Dance singer Amber’s renditions of “God Bless America” and the National Anthem set a gayer-than-usual tone. Temperatures hovering in the 70s all afternoon also helped to keep everyone’s spirits high.

Spectators were still wandering in long after the game started. “All these queens show up for a 1:20 game at 2 o’clock,” remarked someone from the stands.

“Hopefully they’ll win today, because every time I’ve come to one of these they’ve lost,” said Chicagoan Jerry Boomershine, who follows both the Cubs and the White Sox. “They break my heart every year.”

Boomershine said he doesn’t come to Wrigley that frequently, but gay day was too good to pass up. Sitting with so many people from the GLBT community, “You’re not in the minority,” Boomershine said.

“I’d like to see one for football games, too,” he added.

Howard Wax of Chicago also said he’d enjoy gay days for other Chicago teams, adding that he appreciated the visibility the event brought to the GLBT community.

“It’s important for Wrigley to know that gay people buy their tickets, too,” Wax said.

He added, “I wish they’d announce it more. There are how many gay people here today? I’d like the other people in the audience to know it.”

Gelles said, “It’s great that there’s one day out of the whole year where you can come to Wrigley and not be ostracized for being with people from your own community.”

He said he comes to see the Cubs two or three times a year. “There’s no camaraderie like this at any other ballpark,” he said.

But, like Boomershine, he appreciates the very different dynamic that goes on at gay day.

“I have totally different conversations with friends, and you can just relax and be a part of the community,” said Gelles.

He also added, “And you can gawk.”

Wax agreed, adding, “I haven’t even been watching the game. I’ve been watching the crowd.”

The Cubs, fortunately, did not disappoint. They ended up beating the Astros 7-6.