Sports
GAME CHANGERS: Local Stonewall Kickball team captain enjoys ‘semi-competitive’ team
Out player wants a more inclusive, more diverse sports league
This week in the ongoing Game Changers series in the Washington Blade, we meet an athlete from Stonewall Kickball who is carving his path both on and off the playing field.
Recently voted onto the Stonewall Sports national board as the Washington representative, Viet Tran plans to be outspoken about diversity, equity and inclusion. He refers to those as key values in his life.
Born in Vietnam and raised in San Diego, Tran grew up in a family that believed children should be active. He played Little League and tennis including two years on his high school tennis team.
During his undergrad work at University of California San Diego, he was a member of the quidditch team and running club along with picking up Olympic-style weightlifting.
Because of his interest in policy and politics, he moved to D.C. three days after graduating in 2014 to pursue a post-undergrad internship. He joined Stonewall Kickball in 2016 and is now team captain.
“I was looking to integrate into the LGBT community and for me, Stonewall provided a strong vibrant community,” Tran says. “My team is semi-competitive and I like to create an environment where people are comfortable. Winning is a bonus but it is more about the camaraderie and social aspects.”
In his role on the Stonewall Sports national board, Tran is hoping to be involved in developing a committee that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion. He says things like adding pronouns on the Stonewall shirts would create a bridge to a more inclusive culture.
“I came from a large Asian community and it was different when I arrived here in D.C. As I became more informed about my own queer identity, I became more aware that there are not a lot of Asian Americans in that community,” Tran says. “The numbers are growing in Stonewall and I want to be more welcoming to all communities including trans, nonbinary and women players. My team is diverse, but it doesn’t extend to the entire league.”
Outside of the kickball field, Tran has had a loaded career trajectory with each experience evolving around his key values.
He has worked with the Victory Fund, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the Center for the Study of Social Policy and the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership. Currently he is the deputy press secretary at Human Rights Campaign.
“The work that I have done and the issues that I advocate for are tied to my own identity. I am an Asian-American immigrant who is queer,” Tran says. “It is important that I work in the communities that I resonate with.”
When Tran came out to his mother, he spoke to her in Vietnamese as a sign of respect to her heritage and to meet her halfway on connecting as immigrants.
“The narrative and culture in D.C. is so rich. I want to be a part of creating an environment that is reflective and representative of everyone,” Tran says. “It is my mission to make it an intentional action.”
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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