The Athletic Alliance of Chicago (AAC) offers a badminton doubles league on Sundays at Center on Halsted and Warren Park, welcoming recreational through advanced players .

Badminton: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

AAC’s beach volleyball league runs Monday evenings in summer (June–August) at Montrose Beach, with over 70 teams in divisions from recreational through advanced .

Beach Volleyball: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

Stonewall Sports Chicago offers an inclusive bocce league each spring and fall as part of its LGBTQ+ sports program .

Bocce: Stonewall Sports Chicago

The Chicago Pride League is a co-ed Friday night bowling league (5-player teams) with cycles through fall. Active for over 30 years and one of the country’s largest LGBTQ+ bowling leagues, it emphasizes community and charity fundraising (with themed social nights) .

Bowling: Chicago Pride League

Stonewall Sports Chicago’s bowling league operates in winter and summer seasons, providing a fun, friendly environment for LGBTQ+ players of all skill levels .

Bowling: Stonewall Sports Chicago

Windy City Cycling Club (WCCC) is Chicago’s LGBTQA+ cycling organization. Open to all and 30+ years old, it offers weekly group rides, multi-day trips, and social events that foster camaraderie among LGBTQ+ cyclists .

Cycling: Windy City Cycling Club

The Athletic Alliance of Chicago includes a darts league among its inclusive LGBTQ+ sports offerings .

Darts: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

Stonewall Sports Chicago holds dodgeball leagues year-round (winter and summer), welcoming players of any skill level in a social, supportive setting .

Dodgeball: Stonewall Sports Chicago

Stonewall Sports Chicago also hosts “Game Night” social events (board games and trivia) to build community among LGBTQ+ members beyond the playing field .

Game Night: Stonewall Sports Chicago

AAC’s indoor volleyball league (year-round) is one of the organization’s core programs, providing a diverse, welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ athletes .

Indoor Volleyball: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

Stonewall Sports Chicago’s kickball league runs in spring and fall, providing an inclusive version of the traditional game for LGBTQ+ community members and allies .

Kickball: Stonewall Sports Chicago

The Queer Kickboxing Club Chicago offers free outdoor kickboxing/MMA training sessions in Chicago, led by a veteran instructor. It emphasizes a fun, inclusive fitness experience and welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds .

Martial Arts: Queer Kickboxing Club Chicago

AAC has introduced a doubles pickleball league (played at Warren Park) to its lineup. Leagues run roughly 10 weeks, organized by skill level, and welcome players of all abilities .

Pickleball: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

Frontrunners Chicago is a premier LGBTQ+ running and walking club (part of International Front Runners). It provides weekly social runs and training programs for people at all fitness levels, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for fitness and socializing .

Running: Frontrunners Chicago

Stonewall Sports Chicago supports a member-facilitated running club in addition to its team sports, providing group runs for fitness and community-building .

Running: Stonewall Sports Chicago

CMSA’s original sport is softball. It offers open (co-ed) and Women’s+ leagues each summer, plus an additional open “Fall Ball” league, making it one of CMSA’s largest and most popular sports .

Softball: Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association

The Chicago Smelts is an LGBTQ+ U.S. Masters swim team (predominantly gay and lesbian) founded in 1988. The club promotes fitness, friendship, community, and competition; membership is open to everyone (including gay-friendly straight swimmers) with skill levels from beginners to former college athletes .

Swimming: Chicago Smelts

The AAC table tennis league runs a fall season (Oct–Dec) and a spring season (Mar–May), with recreational, intermediate, competitive, and advanced divisions to include players of all skill levels .

Table Tennis: Athletic Alliance of Chicago

Second City Tennis organizes tennis programs and social events for Chicago’s gay and lesbian community. Founded in 1987 and affiliated with AAC since 2013, it has ~900 members, offering summer singles, winter doubles, and hosting the annual Second City Tennis Classic (a GLTA tournament) .

Tennis: Second City Tennis

Sand volleyball (beach volleyball) is one of the sports hosted by Pride Sports Chicago, offering LGBTQ+ athletes a welcoming environment and seasonal play options .

Volleyball: Pride Sports Chicago

Chicago

Chicago's LGBTQ+ community is centered around Boystown (now officially called Northalsted), the first officially recognized gay village in the United States. The area features iconic venues like Sidetrack, Roscoe's Tavern, and The Closet. The city also has vibrant queer scenes in Andersonville, Lakeview, and the South Loop. Chicago Pride is one of the largest Pride celebrations globally, and the city hosts numerous LGBTQ+ events including Market Days and the Chicago International Film Festival's LGBTQ+ programming. The city's diverse queer community spans multiple neighborhoods and includes strong representation across all identities.

An indoor volleyball tournament for teams competing in the 2025/2026 season.

2025 Indoor Volleyball Tournament

A social gathering for CMSA members to celebrate and connect.

IML Headquarters

2025 Member Party

An indoor volleyball tournament organized by CMSA for teams to participate and compete.

2024 Indoor Volleyball Tournament

The 2024 Indoor Tournament is scheduled to take place on February 10, 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00. The event details, including brackets, rules, and safety protocols, are provided on the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association website. Participants are advised to arrive early for check-in and adhere to the rules regarding roster checks, safety, and conduct. The tournament features a double-elimination format with divisions carefully reviewed for fairness. Additional information about food, beverages, and reffing details are available online.

CMSA Volleyball Courts

2024 Indoor Tournament

Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association Event

The 2025/2026 Indoor Tournament is scheduled to take place on April 26, 2026, from 09:00 to 17:00. The event features various volleyball divisions, including BB, UB, LB, CC, and C, with teams competing in a double-elimination format at the Armory venue. Participants are expected to arrive early for check-in and adhere to rules regarding registration, sportsmanship, and safety. For more details, schedules, and updates, visit the event page.

Softball: Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association

About

Events by this league

Upcoming events

April 2026

2025/2026 Indoor Tournament

Past events (last 90 days)

January 2026