Sports
YEAR IN REVIEW 2014: Sports
From far-flung tournament wins to strong Gay Games showing, local leagues enjoy banner year
Lucas Amodio of D.C. Aquatics Club wins the two-mile open water race at the 23rd annual Swim for life. (Washington Blade photo by Kevin Majoros)
It was another banner year for the LGBT sports community of Washington. The clubs have continued their steady growth and are the shining example of what a cohesive LGBT sports community can accomplish.
Twenty teams consisting of 270 players battled during season nine of the D.C. Gay Flag Football League in pursuit of the DCGFFL Super Bowl title. The TangerQueens (Orange) took out the Rear Admirals (Navy) in a score of 41-28 in the championship game.
TangerQueens (Orange) win the DCGFFL Super Bowl in season nine. (Washington Blade photo by Kevin Majoros)
Ski Bums spent 2014 looking for the best skiing and snowboarding powder around the United States and other parts of the world. Upcoming international trips in 2015 include Austria, Japan and Argentina. National trips to Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York are also being booked. This year’s D.C. day trip will be to Seven Springs, Pa.
Chesapeake and Potomac Softball sent three teams to the Gay Softball World Series in Dallas and continued to provide league play in the open division and women’s division. They hosted their annual MAGIC Tournament and traveled to New York City and Cleveland for more tournament action.
The D.C. Strokes Rowing Club continued with multiple rowing programs and hosted the 21st annual Stonewall Regatta bringing about 400 rowers to D.C. The Strokes continued to race sprints and head races through the season and had great success at regattas in Grand Rapids and Cleveland.
The Capital Tennis Association hosted Capital Classic XXII and several players traveled the Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance World Tour stops. The group continues to host 20 leagues across four seasons and was honored by the United States Tennis Association’s D.C. branch as the 2014 Community Program of the year.
The Federal Triangles Soccer Club continued to host its annual tournaments, the Women’s Indoor Cup, the Rehoboth Beach Classic and the Turkey Bowl along with the Summer of Freedom soccer league. The squads traveled to tournaments in New York and Ohio. This year’s United Night OUT at RFK Stadium drew about 500 fans.
United Night Out (Washington Blade photo by Kevin Majoros)
Women’s full tackle football made its way into the LGBT sports community of D.C. with the Washington Prodigy becoming part of the Team D.C. Night OUT series. The Prodigy plays in the Independent Women’s Football League and competes against teams along the eastern seaboard.
The District of Columbia Aquatics Club drew about 230 swimmers to their open water race, the 23rd annual Swim for Life which also raises funds for those living with HIV/AIDS and the Chester River Association. The swimmers competed at meets throughout the region and capped off its year with a successful trip to Cleveland.
The Washington Scandals Rugby Club did a lot of traveling this past year going to events in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chambersburg, Pa. Several team members partnered with another rugby team and headed to Sydney, Australia to compete in the Bingham Cup.
The D.C. Sentinels continue to host the Washington, D.C. Gay Basketball League along with pickup games twice a week. Members traveled the country playing in tournaments and picked up a win at the Coady Roundball Classic in Chicago.
Stonewall Sports offered league play in four different sports, Stonewall Kickball, Stonewall Bocce, Stonewall Darts and Stonewall Dodgeball. Combined, they are fast approaching 1,500 players. Stonewall Kickball traveled to Las Vegas for tournament action and hosted its first tournament in July.
The Washington Wetskins water polo players hosted the Washington Wetskins Fall Invitational drawing teams from Richmond, Boston, New York and Montreal along with several local teams. They also traveled to Cleveland for tournament action.
The D.C. Front Runners hosted the second annual Pride Run 5K drawing about 1,000 runners as part of the Capital Pride events. They continue to offer their walk, run and racing series and several of their runners competed throughout the region along with a trip to Cleveland.
The D.C. Front Runners performed a dance number following the Pride Run 5K. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
The Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club teams ended their fall season with the Blues squad finishing first in their division and making the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. The Reds squad finished second in their division and made the playoffs for the second time in its two year existence.
The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association continues to host nine fall/winter leagues along with three summer leagues. Along with hosting their annual Capital Holiday Invitational Tournament, the bowlers traveled the region competing in tournaments.
The biggest display of the prowess of the LGBT sports community of D.C. came at the 2014 Cleveland/Akron Gay Games where Team D.C. competed against more than 7,000 athletes from around the world and brought home 246 medals in 18 different sports.
Team DC athletes medaled in 18 sports during last month’s Gay Games held in Cleveland/Akron. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Those sports were rowing, swimming, sailing, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track & field, figure skating, open water swimming, rock climbing, golf, cycling, racquetball, road running, squash, bowling and triathlon.
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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