And here we are…

We gave you two weeks and no one submitted a worse new years eve story than Patrick’s, so he accepts your pity party and declines a prize. Winning is prize enough.

January 15th Patrick & Grace and our Friends at Destination DC and many of our members headed to Las Vegas for the Compete Sports Diversity Conference and Sin City Classic. We had a wonderful chance to learn more about the impact of diversity and inclusion in sporting across the country. Team DC Was honored with a Petey Award. The 15th Annual Petey Awards honor businesses, individuals, & organizations making an impact in the world of diverse and equitable sports from across the country. Team DC was featured in Compete Sports Magazine in November read here.

We spent the rest of Sin City Classic catching up with Team DC athletes and member orgs and making new friends with athletes from around the country. We made some great connections and are hoping to see our new friends at World Pride and Capital Cup later this summer.

We wanted to give a special shout out to our member orgs District Wrestling, Rogue League Sports & Tuesday Night Flights for co sponsoring events at the Sin City Classic. Rogue-Tuesday Night Flights continued another year of hosting a charity steal tip darts tournament which in addition to their other charitable giving puts them close to half a million dollars in charitable giving since they began. District Wrestling (A new Team DC Member org in 2024) co sponsored , along with Wrestling Without Boarders, a wrestling and grappling tournament. They saw their largest attendance ever at Sin City. We are incredibly proud of the impact District Wrestling has had not only on our community but for LGBTQ+ athletes from around the country.

As I wondered from event to event, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible impact that our sporting communities make across the country. From the Charity tournaments at Sin City, to the Cheer street fundraising, and other charitable giving at Sin City we as athletes make an indelible impact on our communities. I found it incredibly moving that Pride Cheerleading Association Cheerleaders spent an entire day cheering on athletes across the tournament while simultaneously raising funds for local charities then the very next day had a showcase and competition of their own. I was constantly in awe of the sportsmanship and integrity of athletes competing at the tournament. As the tournament came to a close I saw beauty of new friendships made even in defeat. Even as a drastic shift in our government loomed, athletes from across the country competed as their authentic selves and proving that we are better together, and better when we support each other even in defeat.

I have heard from many people concerned about what is happening at the top levels of our government, and what it means as members of the LGBTQ+ community and how it will affect the Capital Cup and World Pride DC. I will be heartened by what I saw at Sin City Classic, and will take carry that through to our 2025 Scholars, our community members and all the people who will visit us during World Pride DC. Our best defense against despair is to show up for one another, show up together to amplify our voices, and be leaders. We exist and we matter. If this January has left you feeling alone, know that you are not. Find a community that is right for you. Join one of our 47 member organizations.  

Speaking of Making a difference. From now until April we will highlight one of our 2025 Champions who will be honored at our Night of Champions Gala April 5th.

2025 Trailblazer -D Fox of DC Queer Pickleball

Just over 3 years ago in mid-2021, DFox (she/they) helped kicked off a Friday Queer Pickleball gathering. What started as a group of seven or so people has transformed into a community of 290 LGBTQ+ people across the DMV who also love pickleball. DFox has created one of the most inclusive spaces in DC, being intentional in development and growth to ensure that identities usually at the margins, especially in sports, are elevated and centered. DFox's Queer Pickleball has become an inclusive group that celebrates BIPOC, deaf/hard of hearing, transgender gender non-conforming, queer and enby players. The space is one that centers intergenerational friendship, body positivity, consensual competition, joy and laughter on and off the courts. For many, this is the first time that a space of sports has been a space of belonging (many of our members talk about the woes of high school gym class or never belonging on a team...that's not the case here!).

DFox has also become a pickleball coach, frequently helping new folks and rookies not only learn the sport but become more and more comfortable.

DFox started Queer Pickleball as a social space -- one that brought together queer folks to play -- especially focused on joy when we were beginning to socialize again in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Since then, D has worked with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation to formalize Queer Pickleball as an offered weekly session, helping institutionalize our community especially at a time when such spaces are under attack. They've launched Pride tournaments across the city and have begun collaborations for World Pride too! Importantly, DFox has also ensure that the Queer Pickleball space shows up for our community in hard moments too.

“Queer pickleball has changed my life -- I've made some of my best friends here, built intergenerational friendships, and importantly, found a place of (friendly) competition that simply feels like home! Credit to DFox for all of this...and so much more!” -Mackenzie Thomas

JOIN TEAM DC AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

Pride Night OUT at the Wizards Tickets now on Sale
Wizards vs Pistons
Thursday, March 27

Join Team DC and our partners the Washington Wizards as they take on the Pistons and as we celebrate our 12th annual Pride Night OUT Thursday March 27th at Capital One Arena. Pregame activities start at 5PM at District E in Gallery Place. 7PM tip off.  Team DC is selling early bird tickets now through January 30th.   Each ticket includes a $5 donation to Team DC's Programming fund. Tickets purchased through Team DC do not have any fees attached and offer a significant savings.  We have special access to a fan tunnel experience, and space for 12 children ages 6-12 to escort players on to the court and stay for the national anthem. Tickets start at $27

Night of Champions Gala 
Saturday, April 5

Team DC’s annual event to honor local LGBTQ+ sports leaders as well as the recipients of the 2025 College Scholarships. 

Join our 45+ member organizations and Team DC as we celebrate a Night of Champions. Team DC will honor a new class of college bound LGBTQ+ athletes. We will also celebrate local LGBTQ+ leaders and educators making a difference in our community.

Cocktail and silent auction reception 6:00PM, dinner and awards 7:30.
Hilton National Mall/Wharf,  480 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024

Do you own a business or know someone who does? Donate to our Silent Auction at Night of Champions Gala to support our scholarship program.

As reminder scholarship applications are due February 15 if you know an LGBTQ+ athlete graduating in 2025 make sure they apply. Go to www.teamdc.org/scholarships for more information.

Would you like to volunteer for our planning committee? Contact [email protected] to join the our ranks as we plan our Night of Champions Gala.

Save the Date: June 5th

20 Years in 2025. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of our Pride Night OUT at the Nationals. It’s also the 20th anniversary of Major League Baseball coming back to Washington DC. We are so excited because this is going to be our biggest year yet. This year the Nats are going all out for us and have designed a vintage style Jersey in Rainbow exclusively for people who purchase tickets through Team DC or Pride Night OUT Fevo. Links and sales will open soon. For Presale large groups, please contact [email protected] for more info.

TEAM DC is proud to partner with Capital Pride Alliance and Interpride to bring one of the pillars of World Pride to DC. Team DC along with our members will host the World Pride Capital Cup on May 26th through June 4th 2025. Registration is now live at the link below, and you can check teamdc.org for more info coming soon

District Wrestling's 2025 Winter I season is underway! If you're new to the sport of freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, our practices are the perfect way to start. We offer experienced coaching in an inclusive and safe environment, and design our practices to be unintimidating and adaptable to all experience levels and physical abilities. Everyone's first practice is free, so come by and check us out Mondays at 6:30pm at Frank Ballou High School! Visit DistrictWrestling.com to learn more and sign up!

✨ Save the Date! ✨ 

We’re bringing DC Different Drummers Do Drag back, and it’s going to be a fabulous time!

When: Saturday, February 1st Time: Show starts at 3:00 PM Where: Trade Bar, 1410 14th St NW, Washington DC

Theme: Lonely Hearts Club Get ready for an afternoon of love, laughter, and incredible performances—all while supporting a great cause! This event is a fundraiser to support DCDD operations, so your attendance helps us keep the music and community alive. We can’t wait to see you there!

Save the Date February 8th, 2025

Love lorn and lost? Well don’t fret, The “ladies” Dupont Social Club are once again putting on their spectacular dinner show spectacular V-DAY Drag benefiting SMYAL. This party has everything, Drag Queens, Musical Numbers, Prizes, Cocktails, Shirtless Men, Ticket info to be posted soon. Follow them on Insta for the details @dupontsocialclub

Join Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association for our 2025 Royalty Competition and Dance Social. Competition will take place in the categories of entertainment, formal and informal western wear and interview.

After the competition, the fun continues with a lively dance social! Dances are accessible to all and will be taught on site. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or just want to let loose, the atmosphere will be electric, and everyone is welcome! Purchase tickets via the website at https://www.crescendostudiosva.com/events1/2025-atlantic-states-gay-rodeo-association-royalty-competition-dance-social"

Our 2025 season registration is now open. Our season begins Sunday, April 6. There are open and women’s+ divisions and people with all skill levels are welcome. If you have questions prior to registering, please contact [email protected].

We are pleased to announce that the 13th annual DCFR Pride Run 5k will take place on June 1, 2025 starting at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and running along the iconic Pennsylvania Avenue 5k route. This year we are partnering with Capital Pride and Team DC as part of the Capital Cup Sports Festival and increasing our registration cap to 5,000 runners. We need your help to get there!

Registration opens on 1/20/2025. https://dcpriderun.com/

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