Sports
Volleyball at last
New D.C. gay league hopes to avoid pratfalls of prior efforts
Players in action at the President’s Queer Cup Classic. (Photo by Kevin Majoros)
Every year at Capital Pride, the LGBT sports groups of Washington line up in their booths to recruit new players to their teams. Team D.C., the information clearinghouse for the teams, puts out a list asking what sports people are interested in playing that don’t seem to be available.
Every year, the most requested sport is volleyball. Over the past 10 years, the LGBT volleyball groups in D.C. have put together some great teams for the North American Gay Volleyball Association tournaments, but efforts to combine a long-term social and competitive structure have met obstacles.
As with most of the competitive sports teams in D.C., the biggest obstacle has been dealing with the search for a facility at which to play. The most recent volleyball club was Capital City Volleyball which consisted of a group of LGBT athletes playing pick-up games on non-regulation courts at Mackin High School on Wednesday nights.
Many of the competitive athletes did not want the social atmosphere of pick-up games.
Last month, a group of guys led by Michael D’Zgod, Jack Fleming and Marc Laplante, have worked out the logistics and have launched the D.C. Pride Volleyball League which will also run social play. The League immediately filled up with 130 players and will run from March 19 to June 18.
“Finding a place to play in the city has been difficult,” says D’Zgod, commissioner. “High school gyms are ideal, but they are always booked and the D.C Parks & Recreation facilities begin to shut down at 8:30 p.m.”
Many of the LGBT sports teams have discovered great spaces at the city schools only to realize that the schools have no incentive to rent out their space. All funds go back to the D.C. Treasury.
The League turned to long running Gotham Volleyball in New York for advice and ended up obtaining space through District Sports at Thomson Elementary. Competitive league play will be on Thursday nights and matches will run hourly from 6:30-10:30 p.m.with two divisions, intermediate and advanced.
The League will follow a prototype similar to the D.C. Gay Flag Football League where new teams are drafted every season to prevent team dynasties.
“We plan to use the League to cultivate the best players to represent the D.C. community at North American Gay Volleyball Association tournaments,” D’Zgod says.
The League will also offer social open play during the same time period on Wednesday nights and will cap that out at 48 players. They will also continue the tournament legacy of prior groups by running the President’s Queer Cup Classic tournament after Thanksgiving.
D’Zgod moved to D.C. in 2005 and works in congressional affairs. He has played competitive LGBT sports here in rowing, flag football, volleyball, kickball and soccer. Growing up an Army brat, he found himself drawn to the athletic and social benefits of playing sports.
He says sports were his entry into the D.C. community and he has met most of his friends through the LGBT sports leagues.
“It’s great that this is finally happening,” D’Zgod says. “We wanted our own league and we want to give back to the community.”
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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