This February, the Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado will be hosting the First Annual GLAAD Gay Ski Week. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will be the beneficiary for the event, which will be held from Feb. 28 through March 7, 2004. The first major event of the week, the 11th Annual Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB) on Feb. 29 will be a screening party for the Academy Awards.

“GLAAD is proud to be partnering with Telluride Ski Resort on its first-ever gay ski week,” said GLAAD Executive Director Joan M. Garry. “By opening its doors to and welcoming the LGBT community, Telluride is putting itself on the map as a place of inclusion and respect.”

One of the major fundraisers for the event will be the revenues generated from the sale of “GLAAD Passes” that are available for pre-purchase. The $175 GLAAD pass offers VIP, no cover charge access to all Gay Ski Week activities, discounts on three and seven-day lift tickets, and lodging discounts. According to organizers, the full value of the pass is more than $300, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit GLAAD. Additionally, passes purchased before Feb. 1 will be available for the discounted price of $150.

“We are extremely excited to work with GLAAD on Telluride’s first gay ski week,” stated Pete Woods, vice president of sales and marketing for the Telluride Ski Resort. “This event will be a laid-back, fun experience — offering an alternative to other gay ski weeks.”

Additional activities for Gay Ski Week in Telluride will include the annual on-mountain drag race benefiting TAB, the Academy Awards viewing party, street parties, aprés ski parties and special offers for guests from numerous Telluride retailers. Activities currently in development for the week will include theme parties, on-mountain entertainment, an Oscar party, great music, races, prizes and of course food and drink.

For information or to book reservations for lodging, transportation and to pre-purchase a GLAAD pass, go to the gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this story for a link to the sales site.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Founded in 1878, Telluride prospered as a mining town until 1953, when it became a ghost town for nearly 20 years. Resurrected in the 1970s, the Telluride Ski Area first opened its runs in the winter of 1972-1973. Since then it has earned a reputation as a mountain village that offers skiers and tourists an escape from the big city.