There’s no doubt about it. San Diego is a great city to live in if you’re an athlete and a member of the LGBT community.
With many LGBT-founded leagues and teams in the area, there are opportunities for practically any sports fan. Athletes of all skill levels are welcome to join, compete and, perhaps most importantly, have fun in a safe and welcoming environment. Although it’s not a requirement to be gay to join any of these teams, the majority of the members are and all members are gay-friendly.
While joining a sporting team is great for your health, it’s also wonderful for your social life. Many of these leagues plan other non-athletic events and activities as well.
San Diego American Flag Football League
While the San Diego American Flag Football League (SDAFFL) may be one of the newer LGBT-friendly sporting leagues in the area, it’s also one of the fastest growing. Since 2004, the SDAFFL has grown to more than 250 players, men and women, spread throughout 16 teams. One of the league’s teams, the San Diego Bolts, won the Gay Bowl XII, a flag football national championship, last year.
Experience level isn’t a factor with the non-profit league and the teams are evenly mixed with experienced athletes and newcomers to the sport. Everyone plays as one division and everyone gets a chance to participate.
“For me, it has always been a personal mission to target people who have never played an organized team sport before,” said Russ Edra, PR representative for SDAFFL. “Maybe those folks who growing up were bullied or called sissy or were the last kid picked on a team.” The Flag Football League strives to make everyone feel included, on and off the field. They regularly get together after Saturday games in La Jolla and hang out at a sponsored bar. On some occasions, as many as 200 players and supporters attend these post-game gatherings.
As a way to give back to the community, the SDAFFL participates in various charities, including joining the other LGBT-friendly sporting leagues in contributing to a fundraiser every Christmas.
About 85 percent of the league’s members are gay and the league is open to both gay and straight players.
“It started with a bunch of guys just wanting to play football and drink beer,” said Edra, who has played in the league since 2011. “It developed into one of the largest leagues of its kind in the nation.”
The SDAFFL is currently in the midst of its season, which ends in June. For those interested in participating next year, clinics and the draft take place at the beginning of the year. For more information, visit sdffl.org
Step up to the plate with America’s Finest City Softball League
As the oldest consecutively-running adult softball league in San Diego County, America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) has quite the history. Created by and for the LGBT community in 1981, the league has grown from two or three teams to include more than 500 players on 40 teams this year.
“In 32 years we have never lost sight of being a welcoming place for everyone,” said manager and player Roman Jimenez. “If you’re that athlete who grew up playing sports and who feels at home on the softball diamond, or you’re the player who grew up being the awkward kid always last picked for dodge ball, we have a place for you, whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.”
While more than 95 percent of the leagues members are part of the LGBT community, the AFCSL welcomes non-gay members as well.
The AFCSL is split into halves: the Open Division for men and women and the Women’s Division. Each half is further split into divisions based on skill level to ensure a fun and competitive environment for all players.
In addition to the spring and fall seasons, there are several major sporting events in which the league participates. The Autumn Classic Softball Tournament, held every October, is the third largest annual gay sporting event in the world. The best players in the Open Division and Women’s Division also participate in, respectively, the Gay Softball World Series and the Women’s Softball World Series.
Aside from practices and games, members of the AFCSL also enjoy various social events, including the San Diego Pride Festival and Out at the Park, a yearly trip to Petco Park.
“To me, this organization is about family,” Jimenez said. “My ‘family’ plays here. Softball is the means through which we socialize, get caught up, mend each other’s broken hearts, celebrate our successes and mourn each other’s all-too-early passing. It’s where many of us meet our partners in crime, and where we meet our partners in life.”
For more information, visit afcsl.org
Score a goal with the San Diego Sparks
In 1986, Leslie Randolph moved from New York to San Diego and founded the first gay soccer team in the city, the San Diego Sparks. Nearly 27 years later, it’s still the only official gay team in the San Diego County Soccer League.
The Sparks, who are currently first in the league, have traveled to and won several international tournaments. The team plans to compete in the third World Outgames in Belgium this summer.
Not all members of the team participate competitively and there is no requirement for a certain experience level. While the more advanced players take the field on Sundays to compete in league games, other team members gather to practice in Balboa Park.
“We want people out there who have a good attitude about soccer,” Randolph said. “There are no specific requirements for joining the club. We just expect that people will want to come out and have that special camaraderie and special feeling of having a second family.”
The team, along with some of its former members, gathers for social events off the field as well. In addition to marching in the San Diego LGBT Pride parade, they regularly meet for parties, dinner and trips to the movies.
Although the team started as a co-ed team, the women broke off in the late 1980s and the team is now men-only. The majority of the members are gay but straight men are welcome to join as well.
“We are always looking for players, specifically a goalkeeper right now,” said Randolph. “We love it when we get skilled players so they can join us at the different tournaments throughout the world. But we take what we get and teach people to play the game.”
For more information, visit sparkssoccer.org
Swim with Different Strokes Swim Team
Founded in 1985, the Different Strokes Swim Team (DSST) is one of the oldest gay sports teams in San Diego. It began as a place for swimmers to practice and have fun together at a time when there weren’t a lot of gay-friendly opportunities.
“A few decades ago when the team was started, it was one of the few gay outlets where people could be themselves,” said Robert Lucas, swimmer and webmaster/publicity for DSST. “As people have more outlets and are accepted more generally in society, the team has gone from being the center of many members’ social lives to just one aspect.”
From 1985-2002, the swim team has sent members to compete in select Gay Games. Recently, the team size has dwindled and now consists of mainly recreational swimmers with just a few competitive swimmers.
Annual charity events and monthly social gatherings and fundraisers encourage members “to get to know each other better and meet their better halves,” according to Lucas. Different Strokes participates in the LGBT Pride parade and members often get together for holidays.
An annual charity event, the Bart Hopple Memorial Swim, scheduled for May 19 and named in honor of the team’s co-founder, raises money for people living with HIV/AIDS. In an effort to reach out to a broader swimming community, the club will also hold a recreational race, The Flaming Gatorman, Sept. 7.
Different Strokes is always looking for new members and as an added incentive, new members can swim for free for two weeks. Men and women of all skill levels are welcome and coaches are available to help newer swimmers.
“It can be tough for new members to come to a practice cold and not know anyone,” acknowledged Lucas, “but our coaches will make you feel welcome and we’ll have plenty of eye candy to make it worth your while!”
For more information, visit dsst.org
additional LGBT-friendly sporting leagues
San Diego Hoops
Since 1999, San Diego Hoops has provided the LGBT community with a fun, welcoming place to slam dunk. The league currently consists of nine teams that play an 18-week schedule from October through March. During the off season, they participate in an open gym practice. Both men and women are welcome to join. sdhoops.net
San Diego Pool League
Open to anyone 21 years of age and older, the San Diego Pool League welcomes all participants regardless of sexual orientation. There are two seasons, spring and fall, and teams are divided into divisions based on experience level. sdpool.org
San Diego Gay Bowling
San Diego Gay Bowling offers a variety of leagues, including the Rainbow League, High Rollers and Easy Pickups. The league uses a handicap system to even out the playing field and all experience levels are welcome. About 95 percent of the league participants, men and women, are gay and the remaining are gay-friendly. sdgaybowling.org
Rainbow Dart League
Join this competitive dart league and enjoy weekly meetings at a variety of bars throughout San Diego. Contact Rod George at rodsd@aol.com for more information.
The San Diego Armada Rugby Club
This men’s rugby club welcomes all gay and minority men and fosters social and community interactions that are a natural outgrowth of team sports. sdarmada.com
San Diego Surfers Women’s Rugby Club
Since in 1975, women have joined the San Diego Surfers for a fun, competitive time. All levels of rugby experience are welcome and everyone is invited to join as a player or spectator. sdsurfersrugby.com
San Diego Tennis Federation
With more than 200 members, the SDTF offers tennis players a competitive and social environment. The gay and lesbian, non-profit organization is open to every level from beginner to advanced and plays year-round. sdtf.org
San Diego Wrestling Club
Practice amateur wrestling in a club that is accepting of all people regardless of skill level or sexual orientation. The San Diego Wrestling Club was founded in 1998 and is open to anyone over the age of 18. sdwrestling.org
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids.
I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!