The NGFFL announced the Arizona Cardinals #87 overall pick in the 2022 draft (Photo courtesy of Joel Horton).
In honor of Pride Month and football, we are going to talk about the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL). The NGFFL has been going strong since 2002 and more than deserves a shout-out this pride month. We believe in football being accessible and enjoyable for everyone who wants to partake. This is a league that honors often overlooked sexual and gender identity minorities in the football community, and they are amazing for it. Let’s talk about the league!
NGFFL Quick Facts
Curious what the NGFFL is all about? It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded in 2002. The NGFFL is the ‘umbrella league’ of sorts over 26 leagues that are comprised of over 250 teams. There is even a league in Canada! They have a newsletter you can sign up for here that comes out monthly and gives you the full scoop! The NGFFL is committed to giving back more than they take, and they follow through on that through volunteering in the community and donations. They also partner with many sponsors (like the NFL!). Check out the website for more!
Upcoming Bowls
Generally, there are four events every season in the NGFFL. The Gay Bowl, the Sin City Classic, the Pride Cup, and the Pride Bowl. There are also many local tournaments that are not specifically hosted by the National Gay Flag Football League but are run by member leagues. See if there is an event near you here!
The Gay Bowl is the annual flag football tournament for the league. The event is large, drawing people from the United States and Canada. It will be held in Austin, Texas, this year, from October 31st to November 3rd. Is there a more fun way to celebrate Halloween? I don’t think so!
Las Vegas’ Sin City Classic has already occurred in 2024, but you can always catch it in 2025! It was held on January 11th–14th this year. Four divisions compete (Women’s+, Open A, Open B, and Open C divisions), and you can get all the details on the 2024 winners here.
The Pride Cup hasn’t been held the last few years, but have no fear the Pride Bowl, a Pride Month staple, will still go on. You can get the full scoop on the event here. The annual competition has both open and women’s divisions competing along the beautiful lakefront in Chicago. Don’t miss it! This year, the event is June 28th–29th.
Pride Month Matters
Of course, Pride Month matters, but it’s only one month of the year. So we need people who support the LGBTQIA+ community year-round. The NGFFL has taken a very strong stance in support of their leagues and teams all 365 days of the year. If this is also a cause near and dear to your heart, you can donate to the league here (we are not affiliated with or sponsored by the NGFFL in any way).
Guess who’s also a fan of the NGFFL? Bill Belichick (or at least his foundation). The Rhode Island Providence Gay Flag Football League was one of 25 organizations that were awarded the 2022 Bill Belichick Foundation Grant in March 2023. The PVDGFFL was given $10,000 from the foundation. How nice!
Lastly for more LGBTQ+ Pride Month content throughout June, keep us bookmarked here.
