Touchdown for Diversity by ken knox
ith recentback-to-back wins at the Gay Bowl and a wide-ranging group of teammates that include gays, lesbians and even (gasp!) straight allies, the San Diego American Flag Football League con-
tinues to carry tolerance and acceptance further down the field. Almost since its inception, football in the U.S. has traditionally been the
sport of the so-called “all-American male.” The implication has been clear: it’s a game for rough-and-tumble, take-no-prisoners straight men. Although in recent years, former NFL players like Esera Tuaolo, David Kopay and Roy Simmons have stunned America with announcements that they are gay. Football largely remains the sport of the straight man and offers little room for sexual diversity. Which is where regional leagues like the San Diego American Flag Football League (SDFFL)come in. Established in 2002 as a platform from which to promote diversity within
team sports, SDFFL was created following founder Ivan Solis’s trip to the ‘02 Gay Games, where he was inspired to see so many out gay athletes participating in sporting competitions. “I met some guys from Los Angeles and told them I was going to be going up there [for a visit] and they invited me to come play flag football with them at Hollywood High,” Solis recalls. “At the end of practice, [National Gay Football League Founder] Jim Buzinski said, ‘You should start something in San Diego.’ There was nothing like flag football here at the time. On the drive home I called all of my softball friends and said, ‘We are starting a league.’” What initially began as “a couple of people just throwing a ball around Bal-
boa Park” has grown to include scores of local teams, from the PECS Wolver- ines and Tanline Hooligans to the the Urban Mo’s Mafia and R Gang Bangers. While Solis recalls that “Because we were new on the national circuit, it took us a while to participate at a competitive level,” that soon changed once word
of mouth got around and recent years have seen back-to-back National Title wins for the San Diego Bolts, as well as a proclamation from the city of San Diego and the inception of an all-female team. “It had been so elusive to the SDFFL for the longest time,” Solis says of the credibility and respect those ac- complishments brought to the league. “It has been the cherry on top for us.” Solis maintains that without partnerships with locals sponsors such as
Babycakes, Flicks and Mo’s Universe the league would not exist and adds that such partnerships serve as an “example as to how sports organizations and local businesses can benefit from one another.” Such partnerships will be crucial in the coming years, Solis posits. “We’ve got our next season com- ing up, and anticipate it being even bigger than last year’s for both teams and sponsors,” he explains, noting that the SDFFL hopes to host the Gay Bowl in 2015. Although Solis acknowledges that the athletic accomplishments of the
league are important, he says that his favorite part is bringing about the social benefits reaped from such an endeavor. “I personally love watching the growth that league members experience,” he declares. “For example, our straight teammates who’ve never known gay people are now amazing team allies. The league helped shatter stereotypes.” “To members who’ve never played team sports growing up because
they were maybe looked at as ‘sissies,’ [the League offers acceptance],” Solis continues. “These same people are now regular members of the league and are thriving. We want people to know that we are all-inclusive. Our motto is ‘Everyone plays.’ In the SDFFL, no one gets left behind.”
For more information on the San Diego American Flag Football League go to
sdffl.org. “We want people to know that we areall-inclusive. Our motto is ‘Everyone plays’…no one gets left behind.” 12 RAGE monthly | JANUARY 2014 | JANUARY 2014
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