This is a first in a series highlighting local league leaders! In this installment, local league leaders Brian Hawker from Seattle and Ryan Gray from Salt Lake City provide answers to seven questions about their involvement in flag football and their local leagues: How did you get started in flag football? Brian: I started playing with the pick-up games in Denver before the DGLFFL was formed. I then initially was part of the group that formed the DGLFFL, and played in that league from 2009-2014. Ryan: My husband and I were assaulted/gay bashed in April 2010. We were struggling and very depressed. Our good friend Robert VanReenan invited us to play flag football to help get some of our frustrations out and to meet some new friends. The Salt Lake league made a huge impact on my life and helped me get through dealing with trust issues, depression and isolation. Fast forward seven years later, I am commissioner of the local league. What does the league or NGFFL mean to you? Brian: Cascade Flag Football is about providing a safe space where regardless of a person's background, skill set, or experience, they can come in and enjoy playing football. We're very focused on building a new inclusive community here in the Pacific Northwest, and a large part of that requires breaking down walls and preconceived ideas. Ryan: Mountain West Flag Football League and the NGFFL are very important to me. I have made lifelong friends with so many people that have been instrumental in my life. My close friends in Salt Lake City come from playing flag football. I have made friends all over the country through the NGFFL. I love the opportunity to tell people about it and get players excited to go the various tournaments. What motivates you to create and/or maintain a league? Brian: Love of the sport and the opportunities it brings to other people, in addition to the desire from the local community for the game. Ryan: I want people in the LGBT community to have the opportunity to learn and grow, as well as using the league as a safe place to express yourself. They league also provides great opportunities for sportsmanship and learning athletic skills. What are your biggest challenges as a leader? Brian: Keeping the local board and our players motivated as we experience different organizational challenges and quiet periods. Also, personally learning to let go and truly share responsibility and direction with a wider group of people. Ryan: Getting other people to have engagement in building the local league. It seems that the same people are always doing the work to keep the league running. It can be draining on the leadership of the league. What's been your most memorable NGFFL or league experience? Brian: Close of our first two seasons and being able to look back and see what we accomplished, and the players whose lives we touched. Ryan: My second year playing in the Salt Lake league, I was playing on the Pink Bears team. My parents, my sister, and my brother surprised me and came to the game and brought about 15 of my nieces and nephews to watch me play. They were wearing pink to support my team. Coming from a very Mormon family, they were not always supportive of my lifestyle. It was awesome to have them there and supporting my flag football team and the league. It was the first LGBT event my family has supported me in and one I won't forget. How many teams exist in your league? Brian: It varies between 4-6 currently. Ryan: 4 to 6 teams each year.
What's your vision for the local league? Brian: Continue to grow and become a viable long-term organization in our area. Longer term goals include the development of youth sponsorship programs, supporting regional play mini-tournaments, and hosting a future Gay Bowl. Ryan: My vision is to expand the and grow the local league. Next year, we will be starting our regular season earlier in the spring and moving from playing on Wednesdays to Saturdays. We will also be changing the venue of where we have played for the last ten years, and will continue to support local LGBT community partners.
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