The 2006 Gay Games had a major impact on Chicago's LGBT sporting community in 2007.
Take, for instance, the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) , which is the nation's largest LGBT sport organization. The group's membership in 2007 soared to more than 3,500, an increase of about 350 from a year earlier. While the majority of CMSA's male participants live in Chicago, particularly the Lakeview and Andersonville neighborhoods, the females have been flocking to CMSA sports from a variety of Chicago-area suburbs, not to mention Union Pier, Mich.; Kenosha, Wisc.; and Rockford, Ill.
'There were a bunch of people who were not aware that CMSA existed until they read about it during the [ 2006 ] Gay Games,' held in Chicago, said CMSA president Marcia Hill. 'Most of our sports are at capacity. We really cannot have more teams in many sports, unless we find other facilities.'
Clearly, 2007 was the best, most important, most influential year in LGBT sporting history—locally and nationally.
'It was a great year,' Hill said.
CMSA runs nine sports: badminton, bowling, dodgeball, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The Windy City Athletic Association ( WCAA ) , meanwhile, offers basketball, bowling, darts and volleyball.
And there also are numerous other LGBT teams, sports, groups and individuals who had successful 2007 seasons, such as the Chicago Blackwolves hockey team—and none is even associated with CMSA or WCAA.
Here's a look at some of the 2007 sporting moments to remember:
—The 25th anniversary of CMSA women's softball
—The 20th year for CMSA women's flag football: 'Women's flag football really went well in 2007,' said Hill, who noted that there were three new competitive teams. 'The skill level across the board was up.' Ironically, the four teams that won their league's regular-season title did not win in the playoffs.
—Golf: Golf made its CMSA debut in 2007, with several weeks of play. 'Playing right after work did not work, so we're going to try to move it to the weekends [ in 2008 ] ,' Hill said. 'There definitely is an interest in golf.'
The league likely will play on Saturdays, she said, probably with co-ed foursomes once again playing at different area courses.
—Dodgeball: Set to make its CMSA debut in January, the CMSA league will launch 24 teams, with open and women's divisions.
—Beach volleyball: The CMSA league soared to 115 teams, playing on almost 30 courts, and maintaining its status as the largest LGBT beach volleyball league in the nation.
'I'm happy that so many people stepped up and volunteered their time, to help make sure the fields got set up, make sure scores got recorded, etc.,' Hill said. 'We're so happy that CMSA allows so many people the opportunity to play gay sports, because that's what they're looking for'
Hill said that CMSA officials are looking into forming an indoor or outdoor kickball league in 2008. She confirmed that no sports are going to be dropped in 2008.