Canadian gays proudly camp it up in local curling leagues.
It’s a well known stereotype that Canadians love their hockey. But the culturally diverse and inclusive nation boasts many fine winter sporting options. And it turns out, curling is where it’s at on the ice for gay men.
Gay athletes across the great country flock to join the local gay leagues. They come for the ice sport, but stay for the beers and buddies.
The New York Times recently highlighted this queer Canadian sporting phenomenon:
Gay curling leagues have blossomed in recent decades, highlighting a distinctly Canadian aspect of modern gay life. The country’s oldest gay curling league, Rotators, was started in Toronto in 1962 and went publicly gay six years later. Its founders were largely men who worked as train porters.
This generation of “curling enthusiasts” are simply following in the footsteps of their parents. The baby boomers fell into the craze as well. As one player tells The Times, “In the 1970s, curling club was like day care.”
There are a dozen different gay curling leagues across the country. All teams are open to players regardless of gender or sexuality. The PRCL website proudly proclaims:
The Pacific Rim Curling League (PRCL) is Vancouver’s LGBTQ curling league!
We are a recreational sports league open to adult curlers of all gender identities and orientations.League members range in skill level from absolute beginner to experienced competitor. All are welcome to play.
48 teams are categorized into divisions to ensure that scheduled games feature opposing teams of similar experience and skill level.
But, good luck singling out the wittiest team names. Standouts in the Pacific Rim league roster include: Don’t Curl for Me Argentina and Curls Gone Wild.
This summer, when team members of the PRCL marched in the Vancouver gay pride parade, they carried their brooms like batons. Participants donned tee’s that read, “I swept with your husband.”
Read the complete story in the New York Times here.
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