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The Argentina Dogos (in blue) play the San Diego Sparks (in white), in a competition game at the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association’s World Championships Tuesday in Washington. (Photo by Glenn Auve; courtesy of IGLFA)
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HOME > OUT IN DC > COVER
By: Joey DiGuglielmo COMMENTS
 
The 500 or so gay soccer enthusiasts who are in town this week for the world championships of the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association are serious about their sport but make plenty of time for fun, too. Amid all the kicks, blocks and goals, there’s time set aside for parties and socializing.
The players — from Europe, Australia, South America and all over the U.S. — will be at Cobalt tonight for a Cherry Fund benefit and a closing benefit/party Saturday night at Town. Some arrived early enough to enjoy last weekend’s Pride festivities.
But they’re also serious about soccer, or football, as it’s called in most of the world.
“I think we’ve had two broken collarbones and a broken leg so far this year,” says Jim Ensor, president of Federal Triangles Soccer Club, the D.C. IGLFA chapter that has three teams competing this week. “The division one teams, especially, are very competitive.”
This year is the first time the championships have been held in the U.S. since San Francisco hosted in 2004. D.C. hosted once before in ’97. Last year’s championships were in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There are more than 100 clubs worldwide. Federal Triangles has about 120 members. London’s Stonewall Football Club is the reigning world champion team. This year’s championship games (one for each division) will be held Saturday at Trinity Washington University and are free and open to the public. Games start at 11 a.m.
So why a gay soccer federation?
“I think it’s about comfortability,” says Michael Pranikoff, marketing chair for the tournament and a Federal Triangles member. “We all know homophobia is out there. But here there’s acceptance, camaraderie. You can let your guard down. But that doesn’t mean the level of competition is any less. Our Federal Triangles play in the straight league in Montgomery County and have been dominating.”
Men and women are welcome but there weren’t enough women registered to have a planned women’s tournament. Pranikoff says the economy put a damper on the travel plans of some who would have participated in that event. Women can play on the mens’ teams if they like. And though the group bills itself as gay and gay friendly, Pranikoff guesses about 98 percent of Association players worldwide are gay. Some participants come from towns too small to have a gay team. Association officials place them on other teams.
And new towns are sending teams all the time. A group from Dublin, Ireland is paired with a group of Minneapolis players this week. A new group from Austin, Texas, is playing with a group from Toronto.
So with all that gay energy, romance and hook-ups are inevitable, right?
“Well, not for me,” Ensor says with a laugh. “Certainly friendships develop and yeah, I’m sure there’s some romance, too, but it’s not part of the official tournament schedule.”
For more information, visit www.iglfa2009.org.
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