Sports
Heat of the moment
Local gay athletic groups staying busy as summer sizzles
Andres Gomez-Pena, Seth Kalish and Claudia Gebert of D.C. Frontrunners at the 2010 Gay Games in Germany. (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
July brings all kinds of action for the local LGBT sports clubs. It’s never too late to join in the fun. Following are some highlights for the month.
The D.C. Frontrunners are looking to beat the heat. Their Saturday morning run/walks have been moved to 9 a.m. for July and August. Walkers can meet at 23rd and P streets N.W. for a 3-4 mile walk. Runners meet at the same time and location for a 3-, 4- or 6-mile run. The group also meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the same location for run/walks. More times and information can be found at dcfrontrunners.org.
Rainbow Climbing D.C. will be at Sportrock in Alexandria on July 10 from 2-5 p.m. Members will be hosting a class on bouldering and top climbing starting at 2:30 p.m. Cost of the class ranges from $10 to $18 and includes all the gear you will need to climb that day. Check out the climbers on their Facebook page under Rainbow Climbing D.C.
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association is hosting a social bowling night on July 18 from 8-10 p.m. at AMF Alexandria Lanes in Annandale. Come with a team or by yourself. The cost is only 99 cents a game which includes those fancy bowling shoes. The bowlers can be found at carabowling.org.
The D.C. Sentinels basketball team is hosting its annual Red party on July 23 from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. It will be held at Almaz which is located at 1212 U Street N.W. Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The night will feature a best body contest, Red shooters, raffles and giveaways. This is a fundraiser for the Sentinels as members prepare for upcoming tournaments, establishing a local basketball league and volunteer activities with local charities. They are located at teamdcbasketball.org.
Congratulations to the District of Columbia Aquatics Club for raising $21,000 for local charities at its annual Swim for Life event last month. The swimmers are currently in Honolulu competing for their ninth large team trophy at the International Gay & Lesbian World Championships. More details on the swimmers are at swimdcac.org.
Ultimate Out Frisbee continues through the summer. Practices are every Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. on the National Mall fields in front of the Air & Space Museum. Cleats are recommended for this sport. Contact Ben at [email protected] or check them out on Facebook under the name Ultimate Out Frisbee.
If you enjoyed the Night Out at the Nationals event, Team D.C. has two more events in July. Night Out at the Kastles will be held on July 21 at 7 p.m. as the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis take on the Philadelphia Freedoms in the season finale. The 2011 roster for the Kastles includes Renae Stubbs, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds, Venus Williams and Serena Williams. Add to that the hilarious Murphy Jensen in the coaching position and you are sure to have an enjoyable evening. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at teamdc.org.
Night Out at the Mystics will be held on July 26 at 7 p.m. as the Washington Mystics take on the San Antonio Silver Stars. Tickets are $15 and ticketholders will have access to the Acela Lounge for a special gathering throughout the game. Tickets are available at teamdc.org.
For those traveling to Vancouver this summer, the North American OutGames will be contested from July 25-31. Go to vancouver2011outgames.com to learn more.
The Adventuring Outdoors Group continues its series of Arlington Evening Bike Rides on Tuesday. The ride will be 19 miles maintaining a relaxed pace and using bike trails and bicycle-friendly residential streets around the Arlington area. Arrive by 6:25 p.m. at the Clarendon Metro station elevator entrance. Free on-street parking is available. Bring a helmet, water and a $2 trip fee. You can contact the ride leader at [email protected].
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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