The Big Peach Softball Tournament, held over Memorial Day Weekend at Atlanta's West Metro Atlanta Softball Complex, featured three days of gay competitive action in three divisions.
The annual event is hosted by Hotlanta Softball. Atlanta Genesis came away with first overall in the "B" division, Atlanta Menace claimed "C" divison and the LA Thunder Bolts rounded out the winners by claiming victory in division "D."
Robbie Keane may have provided the Los Angeles Galaxy with the goals it needed to come away the victor from Sunday's game against the Seattle Sounders, but it was Robbie Rogers who stole the show.
Rogers stepped onto the pitch in the 77th minute to a roaring crowd Sunday night. For the first time in American men's professional sports, an openly gay man was a part of the competition.
In April, Rogers came out as a gay man and announced his retirement from professional soccer. The former U.S. Men's National Team player was then invited to a training session with the Los Angeles Galaxy and earlier this month, a trade was finalized between his old club, Columbus Crew, and the Galaxy.
It’s hard to deny LGBT acceptance in sports is growing right alongside acceptance in society at large.
Professional basketball player Jason Collins recently came out as a gay man. Former professional soccer player Robbie Rogers came out in April. Straight allies in sports, like NFL players Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo, are paving the way for other gay athletes to come out, as well.
When basketball player Britney Griner came out earlier this month following her selection as number one overall in the WNBA draft, it was welcome, albeit not earth-shattering, news.
The end of summer marks the start of the annual fall sports leagues. From softball to flag football, gay and lesbian sporting leagues offer a plethora of options for those seeking competitive fun this fall.
On the national stage, three of Atlanta’s professional teams look to shake the city’s reputation of being a “miserable sports town,” as stated by Forbes. The Braves, Falcons and Dream are all poised for post-season action in 2012.
The gay National Flag Football League of Atlanta will kick off its fall season with a day of pre-season games Sept. 16 followed by a shorter-than-normal five-week season schedule.
If you happen to be in Midtown April 21, don’t be alarmed if you run into well over 100 buzzed big guys traipsing around in purple dresses.
The sixth annual Purple Dress Run, a fundraiser for the Atlanta Bucks gay rugby team, takes over the city that day, and the 55-man team hopes to raise $5,000 with a little help from their friends.
“The term ‘run’ is used loosely as it’s more of a 5K bar run/walk/crawl/waddle/saunter, depending primarily upon which point along the route you survey the participants,” jokes Bucks President Max Alvarado. “Aside from the occasional wardrobe malfunction along the way, we haven’t lost a runner yet.”
Several gay Atlanta sports leagues will kick off their Spring seasons in the coming weeks, including three softball leagues, a flag football league and a soccer league.
The Decatur Women’s Softball League, an all-women’s league, returns to the diamond March 16 for its sixth annual Spring season. This season, the action will take place at a new field, the fields at Blackburn Park off of Ashford Dunwoody Road. The league previously played at Kelly Cofer Park but has moved locations for the season due to field repairs.
Games will be held at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. from March 16 through the end of May. The League will take Friday, April 6 off to mark Good Friday.