Team DC family,

As we close out an incredible June, Team DC is filled with gratitude, pride, and celebration.

Pride Month gave us so many opportunities to show up for one another — from community events and local celebrations to Pride Night OUT at the Nationals and the many moments that reminded us why LGBTQ+ sports matter. At every turn, our community showed the power of visibility, connection, and joy.

We are also celebrating the success of the athletes, supporters, and members of our Team DC community who traveled to Valencia, Spain, for the Gay Games. They represented the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region with pride on an international stage, joining thousands of athletes from around the world in the spirit of competition, inclusion, and community.

As the Gay Games flag is passed to Perth for the 2030 Games, we carry forward the same energy here at home: building spaces where LGBTQ+ athletes and allies can compete, connect, and thrive. Congratulations to everyone who represented our region in Valencia, and thank you to everyone who helped make this Pride season one to remember.

In solidarity and Pride,
Miguel A. Ayala
President, Team DC

TeamSmile, a nonprofit organization that partners with professional and collegiate sports teams to provide free dental care to children in underserved communities.

On Friday, July 31, TeamSmile will be partnering with the Washington Nationals to host a free dental clinic at Washington Nationals Park. Children will receive comprehensive dental services including exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions, alongside fun educational activities, face painting, music, entertainment, and appearances from team mascots. 

We are seeking Dental and General Volunteers to play an essential role in assisting with registration, patient flow, select dental care, activity stations, hospitality, event operations and most importantly a willingness to contribute to a meaningful community event!

We would be so grateful if your organization would consider volunteering your time, and help in sharing this opportunity with other professionals in your network and community. The event flyer is attached, and the volunteer registration link is included below:

TeamSmile and Washington Nationals Volunteer Registration

The George Mason University College of Public Health is conducting a Daily Care Study related to day-to-day parenting practices.  The study has tried to broadly recruit parents from across the country, but we are missing the vital voices and perspectives of LGBTQ+ parents. 

Our study recruitment flyer is attached to this email, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could share it with your personal and professional communities. 

Most parents who live in the United States and reside in the same home as their 5- to 15-year-old child(ren) ARE eligible to participate. They can earn up to $125 for their time. PLUS, get entered to win $300 in 2 raffles. 

We are hoping to conclude our recruitment period by the end of June, so please don't hesitate to share with potentially interested parents!

Why is this research being done?  Parenting is hard and important! It has many highs and lows, challenges and successes, but a lot of research about parents and parenting has not included all families. It’s time for us to get more than one-sided stories! 

The purpose of the study is to increase our understanding of how today’s parents manage the day-to-day responsibilities of taking care of a child between the ages of 5 to 15 years old. By learning from their day-to-day experiences, we hope to better support all parents, caregivers, and their children.

What will participants need to do? Study participation is completely online and can be completed from a location of their choosing, from their computer, tablet, or smartphone. Interested parents will be asked to complete: