Queer Sports Leagues in Washington DC

The D.C. Gay Basketball League provides a fun, supportive and safe environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies of all skill levels to play basketball. The league fosters athletic competition, camaraderie, and community, creating lasting relationships among players in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Capital Area Rainbowlers Association (CARA) is an organization of LGBTQ+ bowling leagues in the Washington, D.C. metro area. It includes over 600 bowlers across 12 leagues in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, promoting the sport of bowling and community for LGBTQ+ participants.

The DC Gay Flag Football League (DCGFFL) is Washington, D.C.’s premier LGBTQ+ flag football league. Founded in the mid-1990s, it now has hundreds of participants and multiple teams. The league offers competitive flag football for players of all skill levels in a welcoming atmosphere, bringing together athletes, allies, and friends each season.

Stonewall Kickball is a recreational kickball league in Washington, D.C. open to the LGBTQ+ community and allies. The league provides a fun, inclusive environment where participants play kickball and socialize, fostering community and camaraderie through the sport.

Adventuring LGBTQ+ Outdoors Club is the Washington, D.C. region’s outdoor recreation group for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. It organizes year-round group activities such as hikes and bicycle rides (often in Northern Virginia) for participants of all fitness levels. The club fosters an inclusive atmosphere for enjoying and exploring the outdoors with friends.

DC Rollergirls is Washington, D.C.’s women’s flat-track roller derby league. Founded in 2006, it is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-run non-profit and a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The league fields multiple competitive teams and provides an inclusive environment for athletes to play roller derby and support community events.

The Potomac Curling Club is an LGBTQ+-friendly curling club serving the Washington, DC area (based in Laurel, Maryland). Its mission is to teach, develop, promote, and encourage the sport of curling. The club offers weekly leagues, open "drop-in" curling sessions, and training opportunities for all skill levels. It hosts events like the annual Glitter Bombspiel to bring together curlers and allies.

The Washington Renegades are an LGBTQ+-inclusive men’s rugby club founded in 1998, competing in USA Rugby’s Potomac Rugby Union (Division III). The club welcomes players of all backgrounds and experience levels, promoting equality, inclusivity, and camaraderie on and off the field. They provide a supportive rugby and social experience for both veteran players and newcomers in the D.C. metropolitan area.

DC Front Runners is a running, walking, and social club for the LGBTQ+ community and friends in the Washington, D.C. area. Open to all paces and abilities, the club organizes weekly runs, walks, and social events to promote fitness and community inclusion.

Federal Triangles Soccer Club (FTSC) is Washington, D.C.’s premier LGBTQ+ soccer club, open to anyone regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or soccer ability. FTSC focuses on promoting soccer and fostering community among players of all levels.

The Chesapeake & Potomac Softball League (CAPS) is a nonprofit softball league founded in 1983 for LGBTQ+ people and allies in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore/Virginia area. It offers an open coed division and a women’s+ division, providing a friendly environment for players of all skill levels to play softball, improve skills, and build community.

District of Columbia Aquatics Club (DCAC) is the Washington, D.C. area’s gay and lesbian masters swimming team. It welcomes competitive and fitness swimmers of all levels, offering structured training and social opportunities in swimming. DCAC is open to everyone from beginners to expert swimmers interested in fitness, wellness, and community.

Capital Tennis Association (CTA) runs organized tennis programs and leagues for the LGBTQ+ community in the D.C. area. It provides a supportive, social atmosphere where players of all skill levels can compete, improve their game, and enjoy the sport together as part of D.C.’s LGBT+-friendly tennis club.

DC Pride Volleyball League (DCPVL) is an inclusive nonprofit offering volleyball opportunities to the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Washington, D.C. It organizes competitive seasons, open play sessions, and skill clinics. The league provides a social and competitive environment where members can meet new people, develop volleyball skills, and enjoy the sport in a supportive atmosphere.

District Wrestling is an LGBTQ+-friendly wrestling club for adults in the Washington, D.C. area. Open to all skill levels, it provides a safe, inclusive environment to learn and practice folkstyle and freestyle wrestling. The club is affiliated with USA Wrestling and Wrestlers Without Borders, hosting regular practices, competitions, and social events to grow the local wrestling community.