NYC LGBT Sports Network is an initiative brought to you by Team New York & Out of Bounds. The Network was launched in 2019 in the run up to Stonewall50, 30 years after the founding of Team New York. Our mission is to create, sustain and support safe, affirming and welcoming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to engage in sports, athletics and recreation.
Team New York (TeamNY) was founded in 1989 as an umbrella organization for coordination and collaboration between LGBTQ+ sports, athletics and recreation organizations. TeamNY’s first coordinated effort was the bid for New York City to host Gay Games IV for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1994. TeamNY was awarded the bid by the Federation of the Gay Games. After we successfully hosted the 1994 Gay Games (see archived picture gallery), the network of organizations has continued to provide safe, affirming and welcoming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to engage in sports, athletics and recreation.
Out of Bounds New York City (OOBNYC) was founded in 2000. OOBNYC was intended to serve as a resource for supporting new LGBTQ+ sports and recreation organizations. Jeff Kagan, co-founder of OOBNYC, also co-founded the New York City Gay Hockey Association in 1999 and the Pride Basketball League in 2006. In 2007, TeamNY and OOBNYC merged into a single entity incorporated as Out of Bounds NYC, Inc. Today, Out of Bounds NYC, Inc. is a charitable non-profit organization incorporated in the State of New York with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. Our organization is governed by a Board of Directors.
2019 was a important year for our community. The year marked the 30th birthday of Team New York. The year also marked the 35th anniversary of the first pride march organized by Heritage of Pride in 1984. Most importantly, the year marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which started on June 28, 1969 (Stonewall50). To commemorate Stonewall50, New York City hosted WorldPride in 2019, and our athletic community hosted competition with athletes from around the world as part of Stonewall50. These competitions included (in chronological order):
- OutCycling’s Annual Pride Ride – June 2, 2019
- New York City Gay Hockey Association’s Annual Hockey Tournament (Chelsea Challenge) – June 21-23, 2019
- Team New York Aquatics hosted the 2019 International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics Championships (Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, Synchronized Swimming) – June 23-29, 2019
- Front Runners New York’s Annual Pride Run – June 29, 2019
- Knickerbocker Sailing Association’s Annual Regatta (Parade of Sails) – June 29, 2019
- New York Gay Football League hosted the National Gay Flag Football Tournament (Gay Bowl) – October 10-14, 2019
For more information about these organizations, and other organizations in our network, visit our Network Directory page.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 2019, Team New York & Out of Bounds launched a new initiative called the NYC LGBT Sports Network. We also rebranded our old Facebook page which is now the NYC LGBT Sports Network on Facebook so you connect with us on social media.