Published in Next Magazine, September 17, 2010.
"Gay Football. Now, That’s Hot."
by Jeff Kagan
Tight End. Sack. Wide Receiver. Head Coach. Loose Ball. These are terms one might hear on the set of the latest Michael Lucas film, but interestingly enough, they may also be heard on the field during a football game with the New York Gay Football League (NYGFL).
The players are about to strap on their cleats for another season, heading into their sixth year on the gridiron. Registration is still open with a few spots left, so if you’re looking to throw that pigskin around, here is your big chance! The cost is only $110 per season, and it comes with a uniform and a skills clinic! Fashion and learning. Take that, FIT!
The league was founded in 2004 by Cyd Zeiger, one of the creators of Outsports.com, along with a handful of strangers, who converged at Cyd’s apartment one fateful night. Since then, the group has grown to a whopping 200 players and volunteers making up 14 men’s teams and four women’s teams. They play all over Manhattan -- in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, the Lower East Side and the West Village.
Molly Lenore, a transgender woman and the League Commissioner, has been playing football since age 10. She joined the league after not playing organized sports for over a decade. “I have found a community where I can just be me, where gender, sexual identity and sexual orientation don’t matter.”
And with community, you must have festivity! The NYGFL has a strong social element to it, hosting many festivities throughout the season. “We have more than a few parties,” Molly jokes. But the social events help to bring the players even closer, building camaraderie and inclusiveness. And what stands out the most are the life-long friendships that are made here. We all need friends. Without ‘em, what would happen to Facebook?
Rory Ray has been with NYGFL for 6 years. For him, it isn’t only about the camaraderie, but also about personal accomplishments. “In my first full season in the NYGFL, I won the Most Valuable Player award, which I tearfully gave to my dad, telling him that with this trophy I finally did something that I knew would make him proud.” That was a very important moment in Rory’s life, and he credits the NYGFL in helping make it happen.
The NYGFL players work hard week after week on the many fields around the city, hiking the ball, going for the bomb and pushing their team to the championship. But beyond that, there is yet another competition: the Gay Bowl X! Both Molly and Rory will be heading to Phoenix, Arizona next month to represent the New York in this gay Superbowl-style event. Rory runs with Team X-Treme, while Molly punts with the NY Warriors, the team that won Gay Bowl VI, VII and VIII! Twenty-eight teams will make up two divisions in this 10th annual national event! Does the winning team go to Gay Days at Disneyworld? Probably.
For more information, check out nygayfootball.org. Donations in support of the Gay Superbowl are welcome at gaybowlx.com.
Quickies
Hello Sailor!! The Out of Bounds NYC Sea Tea Party Cruise will be on Sunday, September 26th at 7:30pm, sailing from Pier 40 in Manhattan. Talk about a fantasy sports league – we’ll have the NYC Gay Hockey Association, NY Gay Football League, NYC Gay Basketball League, Team New York Aquatics, Metropolitan Tennis Group and many more jocks by the docks! $20 (Includes buffet dinner & entertainment.) Cash bar. For tickets, contact seatea@oobnyc.org.
Kickin’ balls for 30 years. Congratulations to the New York Ramblers as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary. www.newyorkramblers.org.
My balls are fuzzy. The Metropolitan Tennis Group (MTG) brought home the Atlantic Cup on August 22nd, with Ron Solis and Alex Gonzalez pulling out a gutsy win by edging out their D.C. opponents in a final set tiebreak. The entire NYC contingent competed admirably in this annual interleague competition between the LGBT leagues of Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Ironically, there were no fights in the stands at this event. www.metrotennisgroup.com.
My balls are soft. The Big Apple Softball League recently hosted Playing For Life VII, their annual tournament. Thirty-four teams from over 15 cities competed in New York’s Central Park. Congratulations to the local winners: The NY Noreasters (D-Recreational Division), The NY Demons, NY Barbarians & NY Fusion (1st, 2nd, 3rd in the D-Competitive Division) and the NY Eagle & NY Crusaders (1st & 3rd in the C-Division). Way to go teams! www.bigapplesoftball.com.
My balls are huge and orange. The NYC Gay Basketball League kicked off on Sunday, September 12th with some winners and some losers. What can we tell you? We went to print a week before the games. But we’re happy to report that the season is well under way! For more information, go to www.nycgaybasketball.org.
