Joseph Chow Joseph Chow is fulfilling a dream. He's "participating in an athletic and gay event." Joseph has attended Gay Day at Disney World, but nothing like GAY GAMES V. He's traveled throughout Asia including South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Joseph's game is volleyball. He's been playing since his college days. He stays active with step-aerobics several times a week and VNO. He also loves Chinese food. His aspiration for Amsterdam is simply "to have a good time." Joseph's favorite color is magenta. Ray Gratia Ray Gratia, Jr. is passionate about life, integrity, and volleyball. His zest for life includes "all Asian foods, theatre, concerts and dancing 'til dawn." He remembers experiencing volleyball "at age 12 at McDonough #7." He's been playing tennis since he was "a junior at Rummel High School, when he joined the Tennis team." Ray loves dancing and recalls "going to his brother's band gigs." He wants to participate in the GAY GAMES "to achieve a lifetime dream." His heroes are success stories, fulfilling their dreams: Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, and Archie Manning. "They're not afraid to be who they are! Archie Manning is a great athlete and human being." Ray has been to the U. K., but sees Amsterdam as a chance "to learn more of their culture, history and lifestyles." He thinks it will be great "to meet people of other nations, particularly gays". Ray stays in shape with daily flexibility and toning exercises. Ray gets around too. He has competed in North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) tournaments in many cities: Miami, Washington D. C., Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and, of course, New Orleans. "Being a gay athlete should be transparent; i.e., gay athletes are just as good role models, athletically and civically, as heterosexual athletes." His favorite color is purple. Johnny Lopez & Regis O'Brien Regis O'Brien has been busy. He's one of the Team New Orleans athletes that is a GAY GAMES Veteran. He went to San Francisco in 1986 and Vancouver in 1990. Regis is a regular globe-trotter. When he isn't playing volleyball, he's in Europe, South America, or Africa. Plus. he converses in Russian and French . He says he doesn't need much training for Amsterdam. Regis says, "I move from the bed to the couch and back. The volleyball team is finely tuned. We are athletes always in prime shape." He's been to Amsterdam and finds it charming, "cold even in May, but beautiful and lots of fun." His favorite color is yellow. Johnny Lopez has been a member of Volleyball New Orleans for eight years yet this is his first year as a member of Team New Orleans. Johnny speaks both English and Spanish and has traveled in Italy, Gemany and Austria. One of his more memorable moments was being a passenger on the Air France Concord. The Games will be a wonderful vacation and opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and be a part of a special event, he believes. He is active with the NO/AIDS Task Force. His hope for the future is to be a part of a community that can work together without favoritism. His favor color is Forest Green.

James Forde James Wesley Forde is a world-traveler. He's been all through Europe and is comfortable conversing in Spanish or French. James loves antiques, auctions, and historic preservation. He enjoys all kinds of foods. He will love Amsterdam. "I've never been there. I know it will be crowded with lots of people, but I can't wait!" James will be playing volleyball. He does lots of "mental training." James's favorite color is blue. Brian Karr Brian Karr has been to Amsterdam " a couple of times. It's a beautiful and friendly city." He decided to go to the GAMES because he "thought it would be a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience." Brian has been playing volleyball with VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS (VNO) since 1992. "I started playing only 6 years ago with the local gay league because I wanted to do something fun with other gay people outside of bars and clubs." Brian also started bowling with the Kocktail Bunch at Mid City ROCK 'N BOWL. He loves to travel and has been all over Europe, Canada, and Mexico. He speaks French and German. Brian stays involved. He went to the two marches in Washington D. C. "They were pretty awesome events. The quilt laid out on the Mall was pretty sobering." Brian's favorite color is green. Art Quick Art Quick lives up to his name. He's going to Amsterdam for his third GAY GAMES appearance He competed in volleyball in San Francisco and Vancouver He's also participated in the European National Gay Volleyball and U. S. National Gay Volleyball Tournaments. He's played at UNO for 10 seasons. Art has traveled to Amsterdam and enjoys its scenery and home-grown fun. With a name like Quick, he knows how easy it is to get around. He does love New Orleans though and he says "I like to get there, but I love coming home." Art's favorite dish is duck, and that is just what you have to do when he's serving up on the court. Good luck, Art. His favorite color is blue.