Sports
Stonewall spin-offs
Local LGBT sports league blossoms in unexpected ways
A friendly game of tug-of-war was held during the halftime of Stonewall Kickball’s ‘DragBall.’ (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Ever since Stonewall Sports burst onto the LGBT sports scene in Washington in 2010, there has been one successful sports launch after another for the organization.
Stonewall Kickball began in the fall of 2010 with 90 players and more than doubled that amount in its next season. The Sunday league is currently maxed out at 450 players with overflow from the league being handled by D.C. Kickball on Wednesday nights.
The fall 2014 season that just ended last weekend was held on the National Mall due to the ongoing renovations at Stead Park Field. It’s unclear at this time when, if at all, they will return to their longtime home.
A member of Stonewall Darts in action. (Photo courtesy John Jack Photography)
Stonewall Bocce kicked off in Logan Circle in 2011 with similar success and was followed by Stonewall Darts in 2013, held at Diego’s. Both leagues are at more than 200 players.
In the spring of 2014, Stonewall Sports introduced Stonewall Dodgeball, which outgrew its venue in the first season and is now contested at the Jewish Community Center with more than 200 players.
Martin Espinoza, co-founder of Stonewall Sports and the current Stonewall Kickball commissioner points to two key components that have led to the success of the model built by Stonewall Sports.
“Any of the Stonewall sports are an easy entry into the gay community for someone who is shy, new to the area, just getting over a break up or even someone who is recovering from an addiction,” Espinoza says. “It’s a chance to be outside the bar scene and to build a new network of friends.”
The other aspect that has proven popular is the sense of community that the leagues provide to their players. Each league is set up as a fundraising model so that the teams have the ability to raise money for their chosen charities.
“The D.C. Center for the LGBT Community receives the largest contribution from our fundraising but we have set the model up so that the teams are also competing for charities of their own choosing,” Espinoza says. “Stonewall Kickball has donated over $50,000 to charities since its inception in 2010.”
The structure of the Stonewall leagues has been noticed by members of other LGBT communities around the country. Espinoza was approached by some friends in Raleigh, N.C., who wanted to create a Stonewall league in their own small tight-knit community and Stonewall’s first expansion league was born.
“Raleigh thought they might be able to drum up four teams, but ended up with double that in their first season in 2013,” Espinoza says. “They are now at 20 teams with 450 players and raised $10,000 in their second season.”
Along with D.C. and Raleigh, Stonewall Sports now has leagues in Charlotte, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago with four more cities also looking to come on board.
“Kickball has been the mainstay for the expansion leagues, but now the other cities are looking to add the other sports,” Espinoza says. “As long as they maintain the Stonewall mission, my involvement is only whatever they need it to be. It is their city and their league.”
Along with their expansion cities, Stonewall Sports is next looking to add volleyball to its list of offerings.
Earlier this year, a D.C. team from Stonewall Kickball traveled to Las Vegas for their first kickball tournament at the Sin City Shootout and followed that up with the inaugural Stonewall Kickball Summer Tournament which drew teams from the expansion cities. This January, five Stonewall Kickball teams from D.C., Raleigh and Philadelphia will travel to Las Vegas for the next edition of the Sin City Shootout.
“The game is what brings people to Stonewall Sports leagues, but there is so much more to be offered,” Espinoza says. “The socialization, the fundraising, the camaraderie and the sport together make it a combined experience.”
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
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.
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
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