Sportsgram 2025 Vol 8

Three Weeks out....

Author

Patrick Woods
April 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

TGIF or something like that. How is it almost May?! The last few months have felt like an eternity. We’ve been slogging through what has seemed as bleak and dark times. Many of our members in the government are either losing jobs or are very fearful of losing their job. With such major impacts to the federal workforce being felt across the DMV, people are a little more concerned about how they are spending their money. People are cutting back on luxuries.

I can say for certain the restaurant and bar scene in DC is already suffering. while a number of factors are at play, there were alarming headlines coming out last month. 44 percent of full-service casual restaurants in DC are likely to close this year. While the survey specifically focused full-service casual restaurants, it’s not hard to see a similar impact on bars, and more importantly gay bars. A recent conversation with a local gay bar owner, said “it’s scary people aren’t spending the money.”

Team DC is also seeing it too. Many of the business that we would look to donate an item at our recent gala said they just couldn’t at this time. With money matters at hand would a registration fee for a summer league be a luxury that gets cut? I think about my Wednesday night Rogue cornhole league and the money I spend at the bar every Wednesday. Many of our Leagues either play at our gay bars or may hang out at gay bar after play. I can say for certain all of the local gay bars sponsor or have given money or gift cards to our leagues and or to Team DC at one time or another. It’s not hard to see how our member leagues and gay bars go hand in hand.

As we march toward World Pride, I started thinking about this years theme “The Fabric of Freedom”. Interwoven are our member leagues and our gay bars. Gay bars are part of the fabric of the LGBTQ+ community. I will never forget my first time at a gay bar. The feeling of being surround by my people and feeling liberated and safe. It’s no wonder that the riot and then protest for gay liberation started at a gay bar. Enough was enough and the persecution of our community gathering just to be and have a drink had to stop. LGBTQ bars restaurants whether you drink alcohol or not have always been our safe spaces. They are the places we build community.

I leave you with this: Support those that support you. Make sure our safe spaces remain for our leagues and for you. If you are pinching pennies and are only going go out for 1 drink; have it at an LGBTQ bar. If your job is secure and your friends job isn’t; buy them a drink at an LGBTQ bar. If you can afford it; sponsor a fed who lost their job & pay their registration fees for a summer league. If you’re feeling flush do both.

xo-Paddy

P.S. Speaking of Fabric….Do you have an old t-shirt from one of our member leagues? If you have a stack of them that are gathering dust donate them to Team DC for a special art project for our float in the World Pride Parade. From now until May 18th you can donate your member league t-shirts at Pitchers/A league of Her Own during business hours. Look for the big Team DC box up front. Then stay at Pitchers for a drink and get 20% off.

We are three weeks from the start of World Pride. With so many happenings we will be moving to a weekly newsletter to keep you updated until June 9th. Our next Sports Council Meeting will be May 17th at Pitchers at 2PM RSVP HERE There will be a lot of information regarding world pride, parade, festival, and Capital Cup.

We are looking for volunteers for World Pride Sign up now if your team would like to bar back at the festivals Friday Saturday & Sunday June 6-8th. All teams will receive a share of tips based on amount of people and shifts worked. Schedule has not been set yet but we are looking for general interest. Keep in mind festival bars will also be running during the Parade.

March with Team DC during the World Pride Parade. Parade Kicks off at 1pm this year. Each person will get a team DC T-Shirt.

Our first official Pride event is with the Washington Prodigy May 10th for NIGHT OUT

We are pleased to announce our official partnership for World Pride Capital Cup official After Parties with Kinetic, Bunker, District Eagle and Latin X History Project

Thursday: After registration, kick things off at @bunkerclubdc, opening early at 6PM for the Capital Cup Kick-Off with #LatinXPride.

🏊‍♂️ Friday: It’s all about Squad Goals at @bunkerclubdc! We’re opening early for the swimmers and keeping the energy going late for a Mystics Night Out After Party.

💃 Saturday: Capital Cup participants get $5 off tickets to the Shakira Tribute After Party—thanks to our friends at @latinxhistoryproject!

☀️ Sunday, June 1st: Close out the weekend on the rooftop of @districteagle for the Women’s Sports Day Party.

🎟️  No cover for capital cup 2025 participants with credentials at all Bunker and District Eagle events!

🏳️‍🌈 Bunker and District Eagle are proud to host Official @worldpridedc partner events in celebration of our pride, our community, and YOU!

After the World Pride Opening Concert Featuring Shakira head to the AI Warehouse for the Shakira Tribute After Party Use Discount code “dcsports” and take $5off your ticket https://shotgun.live/en/events/shakira-tribute-after-party-with-daiky-gamboa-pedro-night 

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. You can also register to be a volunteer.

20th Anniversary Night OUT at NATS 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. Sit with us in the Team DC section.

We have many night OUT experiences on the horizon. For a full line up please go to www.teamdc.org/nightout 

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FROM OUR MEMBERS:

"Washington Prodigy is entering our THIRTEENTH season with our deadliest arsenal of athletes yet! Our 2025 lineup:

MAY 3RD vs. Houston Mambas

MAY 10TH vs. Jersey Shore Wave Pride NIGHT OUT

Gates open at 5pm. Kickoff at 6pm.

District Wrestling is now just a Metro ride away! We've relocated our weekly practices into a new, dedicated wrestling room right in the heart of L'Enfant Plaza. Every Monday at 7pm join us on the mats for 90 minutes of fun, beginner-friendly instruction, and one killer workout, all in a safe and inclusive environment. Our new season just started this week, and drop-ins are always welcome! To learn more and sign up for your first practice for free, visit districtwrestling.com/join See you on the mats soon!

"Lambda Links is a golf club based in Washington DC and the DMV area that organizes social and competitive golf events for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Founded in 1999, Lambda Links has over 50 active members and welcomes golfers of all skill levels.

We offer a two week free trial membership so what have you got to lose? Learn more on our website https://lambdalinks.com/

Upcoming Events:
Herndon Centennial Golf Course Apr 26, 2025
The Crossvines May 4, 2025
Twin Lakes - The Lakes Course May 11, 2025
The Preserve at Eisenhower May 17, 2025

Join the Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club and Red Bear Brewing Co. on Sunday, May 4, from 6-10PM as your favorite drag queens battle for the title of Miss Sequins and Scrums! The queen with the most donations automatically makes it to the top 3, and those donation links are LIVE!! All information can be found on our Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/sequins-and-scrums-2025-tickets-1316374955929

Want to give rugby's a try? Come join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Email us at [email protected] IG: @scandalsrfc FB: Washington Scandals Rugby"

Cycling season is finally here! OutRiders is a social cycling club in Metro DC for the LGBTQ+ community. We are free to join and organize through MeetUp (https://www.meetup.com/outriders-dc-va-md/), but also have a presence on Instagram(@dcoutriders) and Strava (OutRiders). To see our full schedule of upcoming rides, join our MeetUp group. We meet at Smithsonian Metro every Thursday at 6:15pm for a 14-20 mile social-pace ride. Route changes every week and there's always a post-ride hangout! We also offer a wide variety of weekend rides: from casual, in-town social-pace rides to epic centuries in the mountains, and everything in-between. Hope to see some new faces out riding this summer!

Singles Bowling - Summer League. This is a drop-in league that will be meeting every Thursday at 7:30pm starting May 15th and running until August 9th. The league will be held at Bowl America Shirley at 6450 Edsall Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312. The cost is $25 per week, and is a fundraiser for the CHIT bowling tournament being held in October http://www.chitdc.org.

We are pleased to announce that the 13th annual DCFR Pride Run 5k will take place on June 1, 2025 starting at 9:00 AM at the Historic Congressional Cemetery. Please visit www.dcpriderun.com for more details!

The Atlantic Stampede Country Dance Celebration is a three-day event, sponsored by the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association. Enjoy 4 dances over 3 nights with 2 full days of dance workshops. Evening events will feature community contra, square, circle and barn dances, plus open two-step and waltz, featuring live musical performances and calling from some of the most talented and highly regarded LGBTQ+ artists in the United States. See more information at https://atlanticstampede.com/

CAMP Summer Bowling League. There is a summer league in Falls Church this summer that will be meeting every Tuesday at 7:30pm starting June 3rd and running until August 19th. The league will be held at Bowlero Falls Church at 140 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046. The cost will be $23 per week and will be a 3-person team format.

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