Plans were announced this summer for the creation of the Out Philadelphia Athletic League, an effort that will be getting into full swing this fall.
OPAL is designed to unite the myriad LGBT sports groups in the region. Under the auspices and supervision of the William Way LGBT Community Center, OPAL will dedicate resources to helping leagues grow, offer assistance with fiscal matters and league governance, work to send leagues and teams to tournaments and organize social opportunities across sporting lines.
Members of the OPAL board have spent the last few months meeting with representatives from an array of sports leagues and individual athletes.
“OPAL’s success will be determined by providing value-added programs, activities and operational support,” said sports chair Kurt Douglass. “There has been a very positive response from the leaders of the various organizations.”
Among the organization’s first efforts is the Sunday Funday OUT celebration, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26 at FDR Park in South Philadelphia. Athletes and allies are encouraged to join in for a day of intramural sports such as kickball, softball and tennis.
Teams that attended the Gay Games in Cleveland this summer will be given special recognition, and officials from each respective league will be on hand with information for recruits. Guests are encouraged to BYOB, but food and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
Opportunities like this event that encourage networking among sports clubs and athletes will be a primary goal of OPAL, Douglass said.
“OPAL’s board is determined to create an organization that focuses on the leagues and athletes that comprise the local sports community,” Douglass said. “The board is looking to connect community resources with the Philadelphia sports community. This networking will be designed to strengthen each league locally as well as their performance at national and international competitions. OPAL hopes to provide these synergies and further facilitate successful fundraising, recruiting, outreach and event planning of LGBT sporting events versus having each league function independently. There is a wealth of energy and good spirit to be shared for the good of the entire community.”
Also this fall, OPAL representatives will be on hand at OutFest, Oct. 12 in the Gayborhood. The league will be supporting programming surrounding Kimmel Center’s “It Gets Better” production in November.
For more information, like the OPAL page on Facebook.