Sports
Team DC gearing up for busy fall
Tennis, football, diving and much more on tap
The D.C. Gay Flag Football League starts its new season Sept. 7, while so much more awaits Team DC teams this fall. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
As the summer cools down, many LGBT sports leagues are just heating up. From Flag Football to Diving, Team DC has a wide array of LGBT sports opportunities this fall.
The Federal Triangles, D.C.’s LGBT soccer organization, kicks off its Rehoboth Beach Classic tournament over Labor Day weekend today (Friday) through Sunday. Participants are still needed. Members can register for $87.26 and non-members for $97.49 at federaltriangles.org.
The Triangles have indoor and outdoor coed, women’s and men’s teams over the fall. The Turkey Bowl, an annual tournament for all skill levels, is held each year the Saturday before Thanksgiving, with a potluck dinner party afterward.
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Membership dues are $50 each year. Visit federaltriangles.org to become a member and find other ways to get involved.
The Capital Tennis Association has a fall league that runs from Sept. 17 through Dec. 29. The Capital Classic XXI Tournament is Sept. 13-15, with doubles and singles tournaments at the Rock Creek Tennis Center (16th and Kennedy streets, N.W.) and the East Potomac Center (1090 Ohio Dr., S.W.). Registration ranges from $70-130. For more information and to register, visit capital-tennis.org.
The Capital Tennis Association has six leagues that play weekly and three remain open, including Saturday Singles at Hains Point (972 Ohio Dr., S.W.), Saturday Faixfax Doubles and Sunday Fairfax Singles (9860 Lee Hwy., Fairfax, Va.). All skill levels are encouraged. Registration ranges from $165-330. Visit capital-tennis.org for more information and to register.
The Washington Wetskins water polo team hosts its annual Columbus Day Classic tournament on Oct. 12 at the Takoma Aquatic Center (300 Van Buren St., N.W.). Teams can register for $100 before Sept. 17, or for $450 afterward.
The Wetskins practice each week on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Takoma Aquatic Center. New members can register monthly for $30, quarterly for $90 or annually for $300. For more information on the tournament and to register, visit wetskins.org.
The D.C. Gay Flag Football League kicks off its seventh season on Sept. 7. The teams play every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Carter Barron Fields (16th and Kennedy streets, N.W.) and on Friday nights at Randall Field (820 South Capitol St., S.W.). All skill levels are welcome.
The game schedule for the fall is TBA. Registration is full, but those interested can be put on a waitlist. For more information and to be waitlisted, visit dcgffl.org.
The Chesapeake and Potomac Softball league starts its fall season on Sept. 7, with registration through Sept. 2. The group plays every Saturday through Oct. 12, with teams playing at 10 or 11 a.m., or noon or 1 p.m., at the Tucker Road Complex (1771 Rucker Rd., Fort Washington, Md.). Registration is $30. For more details and to register, visit capssoftball.leagueapps.com.
The Lambda Links Golf Club continues membership through Oct. 31. The league hosts two fall tournaments, including the Club Championship on Sept. 7 and the Oct. 27 Halloween Tournament, with times and locations to be announced.
Lambda Links play at a variety of courses in the area, such as the Poolesville Golf Course (16601 West Willard Rd., Poolesville, Md.). Membership is $20 after Aug. 15. All skill levels are welcome, but members are expected to have played 18-hole rounds of golf and know “golf etiquette.” For more information and to register, visit lambdalinks.org.
The Lambda Divers, an LGBT scuba diving group, host a diving trip to Curacao, an island in the Caribbean, from Sept. 21-28. The trip is part of the International Gay and Lesbian Diving Jamboree, and requires a minimum deposit of $515.
Two-year membership dues for Lambda Divers range from $30-67.50. To register and for more information on the Curacao trip and the group, visit lambdadivers.org.
The D.C. Front Runners start back up their regular fall Saturday “fun run” on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m.-noon at 23 and P Streets, N.W. The “Fun Run” is their most popular weekly run, and includes 3-, 4- or 6-mile runs through scenic Rock Creek Park.
The Front Runners will also be participating in the “Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5K” run on Sept. 7 at the Crystal City Double Tree Hotel (300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va.) at 6 p.m. The 9-11 Memorial 5K draws over 25,000 participants each year, and raises up to $400,000 for 9-11-related charities, like the American Red Cross and Wounded Warrior Project. Registration is $40.
The group will have a lot of races during the fall and participate in many more marathons in locations all over D.C. and as far as Baltimore and Philadelphia. For more information and to register for events, visit dcfrontrunners.org.
The Washington Renegades rugby league start their season on Sept. 7, which lasts through Nov. 23. Practices are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at Cardozo High School (1300 Clifton St., N.W.).
Matches will take place each Saturday, with times and locations TBD. Membership for fall recruits is $50, and full-year membership is $100. For more information and to register, visit dcrugby.com.
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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