The opening ceremony of the 9th Gay Games began Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, bringing thousands of LGBT and straight athletes to the city. However, as the largest athletic event in the LGBT community begins in the city, the state battles to maintain its anti-LGBT policies.

The inclusive athletic competition began with its opening ceremony at the Quicken Loans Arena, known as "The Q," according to Cleveland.com. The event brought athletes representing more than 50 countries, and they will participate in more than 35 different sport activities from Aug. 9-16.

The Gay Games began in 1982, according to the event's website, and are held every four years. Though the games were created to foster a safe environment for LGBT athletes, one does not have to be part of the LGBT community to participate. Anyone 18 and over can participate, and around 10 percent of participants are straight.

In a show of solidarity and acceptance, the United Church of Christ has become the first religious denomination to sponsor the Gay Games, according to the Advocate. As part of its show of solidarity, the Church will have two representatives competing in the games: Sandy Sorensen, director of the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries, and UCC Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer.

Though the Gay Games advocate equality and the United Church of Christ has expressed its support for the cause, the state of Ohio continues to stand against LGBT equality.

Ohio's same-sex marriage ban is under fire in court. The Columbus Dispatch reports the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard cases against the bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee on Thursday. Though the three-judge panel made no decision, some of the judges questioned and criticized the ban.

In particular, Judge Martha Craig "Cissy" Daughtrey compared the ban to old laws from the South, according to the Columbus Dispatch, and also opposed the idea that the matter should be handled by popular vote rather than by the courts, comparing it to the struggle for women's suffrage.

"You want to do this state by state, and it doesn't always work," she said.

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