Arts & Entertainment

Getting in the game

It’s never to late to join one of the local LGBT sports leagues

Published

14 years ago

July 5, 2012

Kevin Majoros

The D.C. Gay Flag Football League, one of dozens of LGBT sports outfits in the region. (Photo courtesy Kevin Majoros)

Last month at the Capital Pride festival, I was enjoying the sights of the day and eventually made my way over to the LGBT sports teams that were all lined up in a row at the center of the causeway.

After visiting with several of the teams, I ran into a friend who felt compelled to give me his impression of what he felt the LGBT sports teams were all about.

He ran a few steps on his tiptoes and pretended to throw a ball with a limp wrist.

Over the past decade, I have been at local LGBT volleyball tournaments, soccer matches, rowing regattas, flag football games, basketball tournaments, swim meets and the list goes on.

I have never seen anyone who resembled the twinkle toes that my friend portrayed.

The 30+ LGBT sports teams in the D.C. area are made up of over 2,500 athletes with varying degrees of ability. Some are just beginning in their chosen sport, and some are world record holders.

One thing that they do have in common is that they are all part of a team and part of a community.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that by just taking that first step towards one of the local LGBT sports groups can lead to a lot of positive changes in their lives.

I recently spoke to a woman who decided to take that step four years ago by signing up for a local Learn to Row program. Upon completion of the program, she decided to try competitive rowing.

The competitive rowing led to ergometer training (stationary rowing), strength training and eventually cycling. She recently completed a 100 mile bike ride for charity.

All these accomplishments came from a 40 year old woman who had never participated in sports up to that point. “You’re an athlete now,” I said. She just blushed with pride.

Although I have been in sports my whole life, it was just a few short years ago that I experienced a moment that defined what sports could feel like for someone trying it for the first time.

After four days of competition, I had completed my swimming races at the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatic (IGLA) Championships and volunteered to be a timer for the rest of the meet.

Up on the blocks came a heat of swimmers competing in the 200 Medley Relay which consists of four people on each team swimming 50 meters of the four strokes. Up first is the backstroke followed by breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.

The swimmers in my lane were somewhat older and obvious beginners. The race started with all the backstrokers heading out to the first turn. As they came back towards the wall, the breastrokers all adjusted their goggles and prepared to begin their leg of the relay.

After the breaststroker in my lane made the turn 25 meters away and began heading back to the blocks, we all saw it; his goggles had come down and planted themselves squarely in his mouth.

Not only was his vision impaired by not having the goggles over his eyes, his breathing was also being impaired by the obstruction. While everyone around the blocks was mumbling about his misfortune, I happened upon the look in his eyes.

They were huge and filled with the fierce determination that can only come from having three other swimmers depending on you. He was going to finish that race, no matter what obstacle, and he was going to finish it to the best of his ability.

I had goose bumps and even got a little teary. This guy was truly a hero and truly an athlete.

So what are you waiting for? Put yourself out there. Find the athlete that lives inside of all of us.

Most of the local LGBT sports teams can be found at teamdc.org.

Photos

Center for Black Equity honors leaders, activists at BE. Gala

Miyake-Mugler, Oakes co-host annual awards ceremony

Published

23 hours ago

October 11, 2026

Michael Key

Center for Black Equity President and CEO Kenya Hutton speaks at the 2026 BE. Gala on Saturday. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Center for Black Equity held its annual BE. Gala at Conrad Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Lolita Leopard Miyake-Mugler and Anthony Oakes co-hosted the awards ceremony.

Honorees included journalist and producer Justin Stewart; nonprofit leader Nikki Alexander; HIV advocate Marlene McNeese; the nonprofit organization FreeLux Project; actress Monroe Alise; public health advocate Tori Cooper; Manassas Park Vice Mayor Darryl G. Moore; Rev. Dr. Carmarion D. Anderson; Bishop Steven Sawyer; government relations professional Courtney Snowden; Senior Deputy Director of HAHSTA at D.C. Health, Clover Barnes; and Texas state Rep. Venton C. Jones.

The event was sponsored by Gilead.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Books

In ‘The Lost Brontë,’ a complicated lie can lead to danger

New book features sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist

Published

1 day ago

October 11, 2026

Terri Schlichenmeyer

(Book cover image courtesy of Bywater Books)

‘The Lost Brontë’
By Catherine Friend
c.2026, Bywater Books
$22.95/335 pages

Mom always said to tell the truth.

One lie leads to another and another and you have to remember them all until pretty soon, you’re caught. Fibs are hard, mistruths are messy, even little white social lies can destroy trust. Worst of all, as in the new novel, “The Lost Brontë” by Catherine Friend, a complicated lie can lead to danger.

Though Lilianne Loxley was very young when she lost her parents, she understood that her uncle didn’t really want her. As time passed, though, Lily made herself useful to Uncle, writing and signing letters for him and she became a good companion, helping him with his collection of Brontë memorabilia. Uncle was a keen enthusiast.

She had no idea that his obsession was out of control and he was deeply in arrears. The day Lily learned of his debt was the day she learned that he’d agreed to send her to his debtor’s home to work off the money owed.

It was so sudden. One minute, Lily was at Loxley House, happy and loved by Uncle’s staff … and five hours later, she was at Crag Thorn Manor, home of Lord Bexton, who informed her that she’d be working on his ledgers – work that seemed routine, but Lily tackled it.

Uncle always did say she was headstrong.

But would headstrong be enough to survive, when she was restricted from most of the Manor, when she was forced to dine with Brexton and his slimy friend, or – the worst! – when Brexton told Lily that her next task was to forge a letter from Emily Brontë? And then an entire manuscript?

Lily struggled to do what was right. She had to get Uncle out of debt but this last order horrified her. Did she dare refuse Brexton’s orders and commit a crime? It was unthinkable!

The only brightness in the whole situation was Wren, the ladies’ maid assigned to Lily’s room. Wren was adorable with freckles and the sweetest smile. But with everything else happening at Crag Thorn Manner, could Lily act upon her feelings?

This time of year, you may come to crave dark, spooky stories, and “The Last Brontë” fits those needs perfectly with its Gothic deliciousness. Think: Daphne du Maurier-type, stormy-night squirms with a dangerously chaste, sweetly romantic girl-meets-girl twist for fun.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve read a Gothic novel, you’re in for a nice reminder of why you love them here. You can almost tick off the must-haves: a novel like this is nothing without a foreboding stone manor with damp walls; stone steps to a dank basement; a mysterious portrait; and a nearby bog, and author Catherine Friend gives readers every one of them. You’d be disappointed if there was no ghost, wouldn’t you? Ha. You can practically feel the cold blow through the attic, right? Yeah, it’s that kind of book.

If you’re a fan of the Brontës, you’ll like this novel. If you love Gothic mysteries or Victorian romances, ditto. “The Lost Brontë” is good, no lie.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

Out & About

CAMP Rehoboth Block Party returns Oct. 18

Expect performances, vendors and more at annual celebration

Published

1 day ago

October 11, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

CAMP Rehoboth’s annual Block Party returns next weekend. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

CAMP Rehoboth will host its annual Block Party celebration on Sunday, Oct.18 at 11 a.m. on the second block of Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

CAMP Rehoboth invites all community members to join in the festivities and to expect magnificent performances and dozens of vendors, including artists, craftspeople, non-profits, businesses, and more.

The event started in 2015 in celebration of CAMP Rehoboth’s 25th anniversary. This year, attendees can expect to shop sea glass art, pottery, jewelry, Pride merch, body care, clothing, and learn more about local non-profit causes and businesses.

Attendance is free. For more details, visit CAMP Rehoboth’s website.