Can the San Diego Bolts win their fourth national championship?
Gay Bowl is the national LGBT flag football tournament, put on every Columbus Day weekend by the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL). It’s been a decade since San Diego hosted Gay Bowl, but NGFFL teams will make their way to America’s Finest City for the 15th Annual Super Gay Bowl October 9 – 11. Another record breaking showing for the NGFFL, with 34 teams in the Open Division and nine in the Women’s Division.
The NGFFL is a 501(c)(3) sports organization that seeks to promote the positive social and athletic enjoyment of American Flag Football. Through the league, their events and most importantly their members, the NGFFL also seeks to foster and augment the self-respect of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and to promote respect and understanding from the larger community.
It is a fundamental principle of NGFFL that all activities, social and athletic, are conducted to be inclusive in nature and that no individual shall be excluded from participating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political beliefs, athletic ability, physical challenge, HIV status or gender identity. Currently, over 200 teams in 23 leagues across the United States and Canada are members of NGFFL.
Established in 2004, the San Diego American Flag Football League (SDAFFL) also a 501(c)(3) is one of the largest flag football leagues of its kind in the United States with 16 teams and nearly 300 players. As a second time host of Gay Bowl the SDAFFL not only brings a wealth of experience to the tournament but an unmatched record of having won the last four Gay Bowls. Can the San Diego Bolts make it four?
Eric Reissner ,San Diego Bolts co-captain and Compete Magazine’s 2014 Athlete of the Year believes they can, “We are incredibly excited and driven to winning another championship,” Reissner told LGBT Weekly. “We are working very hard to make this happen in our own hometown. It would be awesome to have a win in San Diego.”
The tournament is played at the San Diego Polo Club, 3855 Via De La Valle in Del Mar. For Gay Bowl XV, approximately 12 fields will be set up along with various food and consumer tents along the perimeter. Located 19 miles north in the community of Rancho Santa Fe, the fields are less than a 25-minute drive from San Diego.
San Diego is represented by six teams, which is the most of any city, and they will be joined by 34 men’s teams and nine women’s teams from all across the U.S. SDAFFL will be playing host to more than 1,000 players and supporters and have secured unprecedented participation from local businesses to open up Hillcrest to Gay Bowl visitors.
“We’re very fortunate that so many businesses have come forward to support Gay Bowl XV. These are businesses that continue so support the San Diego league during the regular season and have really stepped up to the plate for this fantastic event,” said current SDAFFL Commissioner and Gay Bowl XV Co-Chair Steve Farrow. “These pledges provide pivotal funds to the San Diego Flag Football League in its role as the host city of Gay Bowl XV and will help ensure the national championship is a great success,” continued Farrow.
Corporate sponsorship is one way of supporting the SDAFFL and Gay Bowl but individual contributions are vital too. “Your donation of any size will help the San Diego League not only put on the best Gay Bowl but also to showcase our city’s premier hospitality and LGBT community,” said Farrow. “We want to prove that America’s Finest City isn’t just a tag line meant to attract tourists; it’s a designation we locals are proud to have earned. From $5 to $5,000 and any amount in between, your generosity will help ensure
One of the interesting facts about Gay Bowl and the SDAFFL in general is it is not all LGBT. Many straight allied players play alongside their LGBT teammates, shattering stereotypes and illustrating how sport cuts across all social lines.
“Sport is a great leveler,” Co-Tournament Director Russ Edra, told LGBT Weekly. “We have a lot of straight players in the league and there are many examples of how joining the league and playing with LGBT players has changed their views of the LGBT community. I’ve heard of stories where straight guys have included gay men they’ve met at football in their weddings.”
‘The tournament is so much more than just playing to win,” said Farrow. “Gay Bowl represents the opportunity to compete and showcase athletic ability without any consideration of sexual orientation or gender expression. Gone is the fear and stigma of being picked last because of perceived athleticism. The Gay Bowl tournament shatters any stereotypes associated with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender athletes.”
Organizing Gay Bowl XV has been a tremendous undertaking which has taken over the lives of Farrow and Edra. Their passion for the game though shines through as they get closer to the start date.
“This has been probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” said Edra. “Made harder by having moved twice since taking this on. But San Diego was prime for such an event, and we didn’t want to let our city down. Plus not all cities have it as good as we do. I think we owe it to those cities who work hard fundraising and planning all year.”
Farrow also acknowledges the enormity of the task, but is confident San Diego will not disappoint. “I’ve never taken on such an event like this,” said Farrow. “Huge kudos to previous Gay Bowl cities! They made it look so easy and effortless. And each year just gets better and better. There are huge expectations of our tournament. I’m confident that we won’t disappoint.”
Volunteers are a big part of the success of Gay Bowl and while many have signed up to help there is still room for more! The tournament organizers are still looking for a few more volunteers to help make this the best Gay Bowl ever. If you are interested simply go to sdaffl.com and sign up.
The importance of Gay Bowl and other similar LGBT inclusive tournaments go far beyond the actual days of the tournament. As Farrow writes on the Gay Bowl XV Go Fund Me page it is an important step in the quest for equality. “Even with the legalization of same-sex marriage and gay acceptance reaching an all-time high, LGBT athletes are sadly still stigmatized,” states Farrow. “There are very few openly gay athletes to serve as role models and even fewer active LGBT athletes. We must turn to ourselves and our community to provide these role models, as well as avenues like the Gay Games, and Gay World Series for LGBT athletes to compete at a higher level and strive to achieve equality through sports.”
For more information on every aspect of Gay Bowl XV visit gaybowlsandiego.com and get ready for the best Gay Bowl ever.
