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 f you’ve been reading this column for the past couple of years, you’ve come to realize that there is a teeming sports community not only in the city of Toronto, but all around North America. We’ve got everything from thriving softball, hockey and bowling leagues to billiards, rock climbing and swim clubs.
Aside from offering an alternative to the usual bar scene, as well as a great source of fitness, these groups and leagues have become cornerstones in building LGBT communities. Back in the 60s and 70s, at a time when gays were regularly being condemned, abused and reviled, city leagues offered a place for queers to meet, socialize and develop a sense of community and inclusion.
San Francisco was ground zero in the 60s for initiating softball and bowling leagues. They became famous for their matches that pitted gay teams against local police departments. Think about it: A city police department in a match with a gay team – in the 60s! It must have been a surreal experience when gay rights demos were happening and the very same cops had to come out and crack some queer skulls.
As the years went on, the success of these leagues spread to other cities around America and into Canada. The Cabbagetown Group Softball League- which began here in the mid-70s- has its roots in the original Bay area league. There is now a huge North American queer softball organization with thousands of members.
On April 2nd, San Francisco’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Historical Society will open an exhibit about this queer sports legacy. The show is called Sporting Life: LGBT Athletics and Cultural Change from the 1960s to 2000. Its aim is to celebrate these leagues, focus on their social relevance in advancing the LGBT community and demonstrate how gays have broken stereotypes and inspired others through sport.
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What a great idea! And when I read about it, it got me thinking: Toronto needs to recognize and celebrate its long and vibrant history of queers in sports. A few years ago, when I attended the CGSL’s annual season-ending banquet, there was talk of getting a display in Canada ’s Sports Hall of Fame. In the end, nothing happened with that idea and the owner of Crews generously dedicated a space to display decades’ worth of trophies and memorabilia from the league.
I’d like to resurrect the idea to have a permanent display in Canada ’s Sports Hall of Fame. Think about it. It’s very similar to the story of A League of Their Own. No one took women in baseball seriously. But their impact both on morale during wartime and the perception of women’s place in society cannot be denied. The same applies to queers.
Toronto’s ever-growing list of gay leagues has made an indelible mark not only on our LGBT community, but the general community as well. I think it is high time queer athletes got recognition from the general sports community for their contributions to athletics, this city’s inclusive attitude and for breaking down stereotypes and building invaluable bridges both in and outside of our community. Let’s take that initiative and run with it.
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