2023 Spring/Summer Membership Guide

2023 SPRING/SUMMER MEMBERSHIP GUIDE

2023 Compete Sports Diversity

SPRING/SUMMER

PLAYBOOK www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE

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DO MORE! DOCRAVE MORE! MORE TO MORE TO With 1,600+ restaurants, even the pickiest

CRAVE

eaters will find something to enjoy in Montco, With 1,600+ restaurants, even the pickiest check out our dining guide (free for groups!) eaters will find something to enjoy in Montco, to plan ahead. check out our dining guide (free for groups!) to plan ahead.

EXPLORE EXPLORE

MORE TO MORE TO Enjoy nature with a side of history at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Extend your Enjoy nature with a side of history at Valley walk, run, hike or bike ride with our 60+ Forge National Historical Park. Extend your miles of trails. Or, get wild with a trip to the walk, run, hike or bike ride with our 60+ Elmwood Park Zoo! miles of trails. Or, get wild with a trip to the Elmwood Park Zoo!

FIND FIND

MORE TO MORE TO Great shopping awaits here in Montgomery County, PA at the Philadelphia Premium Great shopping awaits here in Montgomery Outlets, the King of Prussia Mall, or one of County, PA at the Philadelphia Premium the many boutique shops along our charming Outlets, the King of Prussia Mall, or one of Main Streets. Your next great find is waiting! the many boutique shops along our charming Main Streets. Your next great find is waiting!

Contact us today to see if your event qualifies for funding Contact us today to see ifsupport! your event qualifies for funding support!

BOOK YOUR BOOKEVENT YOUR NEXT valleyforgesports.org NEXT EVENT

HUNGRY?

We’ve Got You Covered with Lunch, Brunch, Dinner and Happy Hour...

...and a Wine & Cocktail List to Match!

BellaBrava & Stillwaters Tavern in Saint Petersburg & Tampa (and coming soon to Land o’ Lakes) prepare all our dishes from scratch.

From sauces to salad dressings, sausages to desserts, pizza to pasta we strive to create that special feeling that comes from the best food served at the highest level of attention to detail. Service is casual and friendly.

Eat indoors or out, lunch or dinner, brunch,* or Happy Hour.

Serving the LGBT community since 2005!

BellaBrava.com

BellaBrava Saint Petersburg 204 Beach Drive NE, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 ph: 727.895.5515 BellaBrava Tampa 1015 Gramercy Lane, Tampa, FL 33607 ph: 813.524.5226

StillwatersTavern.com

224 Beach Drive NE Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 727.350.1019 AND COMING SOON BellaBrava Bexley 16722 Focus Loop, Land O Lakes, FL 34638 ph: TBD

*Brunch is currently offered at Stillwaters Tavern & BellaBrava Midtown Tampa every weekend.

PLAYBOOK 2023 SPRING/SUMMER MEMBERSHIP GUIDE AND

Uniting the World Through Sports

TM

18 Person of the Year 20 Kickin’ it in Buffalo 24 Entrepreneur Arion Herbert, SDL 6 7 9 10 16 26

LEADERSHIP BOARD & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OUR TEAM WELCOME FROM OUR TEAM NEWS MEMBER LIST

OUR VISION:

Compete Sports Diversity Unites the World Through Sports.

TM

MISSION STATEMENT Compete connects, educates, empowers and inspires mission-driven LGBTQ+ and allied sports and community leaders, sports organizations, non-profit groups, tourism partners, corporate partners and athletes to further sports diversity together through our membership, media and event platforms.

VALUES

E-Excellence S-Service P-Passion

2023-24 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP BOARD

DIANE MAIESE, SDL BOARD CHAIR USA Diving DEI Council Chair DiveRVA CEO

GREG LEE, SDL Arizona Cardinals Chief Financial Officer

DR. WILLIAM KAPFER JPMorgan Chase Global Head of Supplier Diversity

RHONDA RAJSICH, SDL World Champion Racquetball Athlete

ROGER CAPOTE CAN Community Health Senior Vice President

DEANA GARNER, SDL

Arizona State University Sr. Associate Athletic Director Deputy Title IX Officer

LEADERSHIP BOARD COMPETE LIAISON: Connor Shane, SDLT

Compete’s Leadership Board is comprised of leaders from college athletics, professional sports, business, non-profits and the travel and tourism industry who engage the professional and business communities on behalf of Compete Sports Diversity.

2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARION HERBERT, SDL Main Attraction Recreational Sports (MARS) Owner

ANGELA SMITH, SDL Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) Commissioner

JOEL HORTON, SDL National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) Commissioner

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPETE LIAISON: John Deffee, SDLT

BRIAN HELANDER, SDL International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) President

Compete’s Executive Committee is comprised of recreational sports leaders from diverse backgrounds, including leaders from both the for-profit and non-profit sectors who work closely within the diversity community to engage sports organizations, organizers, athletes and other sports leaders to further Compete’s mission

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COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

OUR TEAM SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM ERIC CARLYLE, SDLT CEO | DEI Advocate

eric.carlyle@competediversity.com

CONNOR SHANE, SDLT COO | DEI Advocate connor.shane@competediversity.com

JOHN DEFFEE, SDLT VP of Partnerships | DEI Advocate john.deffee@competediversity.com

LEADERSHIP TEAM

SUPPORT TEAM

CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT Education Director | DEI Advocate connie.wardman@competediversity.com

DAVID “DIRK” SMITH, M.SC., SDL Associate Education Director | DEI Advocate david.smith@competediversity.com

TRAYER MARTINEZ, SDLT Membership Director | DEI Advocate trayer.martinez@competediveristy.com

EMMA CARLSON, M.L.S., SDL DEI Coordinator | DEI Advocate emma.carlson@competediversity.com

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE

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columbussports.org

PLAY HARD. THEN PLAY ALL YOU WANT.

Photo: Slaven Gujic

Go Beyond the Game.

No matter the score, everybody wins in Tempe. Centrally located, just minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Tempe is the perfect place to field your next sporting event. Our facilities, hotels, and post-game scene are unbeatable. You’ll experience all-star attractions, shopping, dining, and nightlife in an inclusive community that champions diversity.

Contact us to help make your event a success.

Tempe Tourism Office Email: Luchie@TempeTourism.com Direct: 480.305.1365 SportsInTempe.com

Scottsdale Phoenix PHX

Tempe

WELCOME Compete Sports Diversity — Where Everyone is Welcome!

WHEN I LOOK BACK AT HOW COMPETE STARTED, as the world’s first LGBTQ+ sports magazine, I am amazed at how much the diversity landscape has changed. In 2006 so many traditional sports organizations and corporate partners weren’t answering our phone calls or returning our emails. Many people dismissed Compete entirely; instead, predicting our early demise.

We knew our mission and vision were too important to fail. In 2014 we partnered with the Federation of Gay Games’ R. Tony Smith and our good friend Brett Klein to launch the Compete Sports Diversity Council (CSDC). Today the CSDC welcomes members from LGBTQ+ sports organizations, women’s sports organizations, traditional sports organizations as well as corporate, community, and travel and tourism partners.

Compete is also focusing on strategic partners with like-minded organizations such as Northstar Meetings Group and Express Conferences where we bring our expertise in sports diversity to their conferences.

Additionally, we are members of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) which allows us to be part of an important, diverse community outside of sports.

Recently, we welcomed Main Attraction Recreational Sports, Hershey Harrisburg Sports and Events Authority, Aunt Rita’s Foundation, and Molson Coors to the CSDC. It’s because of relationships like these that Compete, our current members as well as future ones, are most effective at implementing change.

We want to thank you for being a part of something special — as members, friends and most importantly, as positive change agents.

Welcome to Compete. We’re glad you’re here!

With you,

ERIC CARLYLE, SDLT CEO | DEI Advocate

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE

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FROM OUR TEAM

Embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Sports Diversity Movement: A Catalyst For a Brighter Future IN A NATION AS CULTURALLY HETEROGENEOUS AS THE U.S., the significance of embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can’t be overstated. From sporting event organizations to corporate partnerships to the tourism industry, it’s paramount we recognize and celebrate the distinctive perspectives and experiences individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to the table.

By fostering connectivity between these stakeholders and nurturing an inclusive environment, we unlock the transformative power of DEI; we create a stronger society that’s more vibrant. Compete Sports Diversity’s mission aims to do just that. It’s our social and formal responsibility to use our intellectual capital on behalf of all communities, especially those that are disenfranchised. Essentially we become the connective tissue that binds all DEI sports industry stakeholders into a cohesive, more powerful sports diversity movement.

With a fusion of races, ethnicities and backgrounds, the U.S. has long typified the spirit of a cultural melting pot. It’s precisely this diversity that’s imprinted itself on our national identity. And when we wholeheartedly embrace DEI, we acknowledge and pay homage to the contributions that individuals from those varied backgrounds bring, including a blend of unique experiences, knowledge and ideas that become a catalyst for innovation, creativity and problem solving that show up in groundbreaking ideas, novel approaches and unforgettable experiences.

Embracing DEI also engenders a sense of belonging that every individual desires; it serves as the bedrock for forging strong connections among stakeholders. These stakeholders are our athletes, volunteers, commissioners, event organizers, city representatives, recreation employees, corporate managers and non-profit partners.

When every voice is valued and respected, we create an environment that fosters the flourishing of every individual involved, ultimately building a society that’s more inclusive, accepting and resilient in the face of current and future challenges.

A foundational pillar of DEI is ensuring equitable access to opportunities, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other defining characteristics. By actively

10 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

cultivating inclusive environments within our sporting events, the tourism industry and corporate collaborations, we remove barriers and provide equitable prospects for all individuals, empowering them to reach their peak capabilities.

While DEI undoubtedly stands as a moral imperative, it also stands as a prudent business strategy. A wealth of research consistently affirms that diverse teams and inclusive organizations outperform their homogeneous counterparts. By championing DEI within the arenas of sporting events and this industry as a whole, we tap into an expansive customer base, attract and retain top-tier talent who work for these organizations, and elevate overall performance.

These very real metrics for success will result in a heightened playing field for athletes, both youth and masters. Destinations that take a clear, public approach to make their locations attractive for various disenfranchised communities are very likely to see an EOY increase in both engagement and economic impact. And corporations and larger for-profit or non-profit companies with DEI initiatives in their strategic plans that actively support disenfranchised communities will undoubtedly see a similar EOY increase.

Embracing DEI transcends moral obligation; it emerges as a strategic advantage that propels organizations toward unrivaled success.

DEI initiatives possess the profound capacity to drive consequential social change.

By addressing and dismantling systemic barriers, we actively contribute to the eradication of discriminatory practices and the creation of a more just and inclusive society. When sporting event organizers, corporate partners, and the tourism industry come together, united by the common goal of DEI, we can collectively work toward a shared vision of equality and boundless opportunities for all. We can equip all parties involved with the educational and social tools necessary to sustainably push programing in their respective environments. DEI becomes an unequivocal catalyst for social progress, fostering an environment where inclusivity, fairness and justice prevail.

CONNOR SHANE, SDLT COO | DEI Advocate

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 11

FROM OUR TEAM

Welcome to Compete’s Summer Membership Conference AS THE EDUCATION DIRECTOR for Compete Sports Diversity, I want to welcome you to what I’m sure will be a day of meaningful information on Building Partnerships. At Compete we truly believe in the truism that it takes a village, or to use my phrase, Team Human Race.

Each one of us is a member of this team, and for it to be successful, we also need to be actively involved in helping our other team members to be successful.

Our Mission Statement reflects this belief: “Compete connects, educates, empowers and inspires mission-driven LGBTQ+ and allied sports and community leaders, sports organizations, non-profit groups, tourism partners, corporate partners and athletes to further sports diversity together through our membership, media and event platforms.”

A recent example of our mission put into action is the inaugural Dive Into Diversity Festival held this past April in Tempe, Arizona. When Compete members Diane Maiese, owner of DiveRVA, Arizona State University, Tempe Tourism Office, CAN Community Health and AARP got the ball rolling on Diane’s Dive Into Diversity project, it then garnered additional support from USA Diving, AAU Diving and Phoenix utility Salt River Project. This is the first in a nationwide series of events intended to act as a catalyst to change Olympic diving’s landscape by empowering members of underrepresented communities through awareness, exposure and access.

When you look around you today, you’ll see individuals representing that group of “mission-driven LGBTQ+ and allied sports and community leaders, sports organizations, non-profit groups, tourism partners, corporate partners and athletes” listed in our Mission.

And whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie in each of today’s education topics, being able to hear best practices information being shared by those involved is always an important way to build your personal skill set as well as making your own programs and outreach efforts more successful.

Who knows? Maybe the individuals you spend time with today will be supporters of your next project or event … or vice versa!

CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT Education Director | DEI Advocate

12 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

Why Compete Has an Ally as Its COO FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW some of the history of gay sports leagues, they were formed for members of the Gay community to play the sports they loved in a safe space where they could be their authentic selves. Due to their past fears that they would no longer be safe, there was strong initial resistance to allowing others from the cisgender community to join their ranks.

Once they allowed change to happen, their teams grew and become stronger. They finally realized that their organizations benefited when they worked as a team that included individuals different from the original members. As the former commissioner of NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance), the international organization for gay softball, I realized the benefit of having a well-rounded, diverse, and inclusive team where in addition to their passion for playing, each person also brings the added value of their personal abilities and experiences.

The question of why Compete has an ally as its COO really stems from this much older question of why any LGBTQ+ team or organization should want to have allies as part of their mix, especially in a position of power. But Compete has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to sports diversity.

I believe we are lucky to have ally Connor Shane, SDLT as our COO. He not only brings his organizational skills to the mix; he also brings his passionate advocacy for DEI, especially in support of transgender athletes, as well as his experiences working in the field of Olympic sports.

Long before I joined Compete as a team member, I always believed in the work it was doing and supported its continued growth. Compete realizes the value and worth of each individual who works here and what they bring to this organization. I’m proud to say that Compete practices what it preaches!

JOHN DEFFEE, SDLT VP of Partnerships | DEI Advocate

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 13

FROM OUR TEAM “What makes our membership special? It’s a group of individuals, groups and organizations that are focused on the quickly changing landscape of sports.

Historically, when change is needed in an industry it takes a dedicated individual(s) to inspire others to be the catalyst for change. Sports can bring a powerful platform that drives systemic change for future generations, and Compete Sports Diversity and the groups that are part of it are those very individuals that are dedicated to come together and be that change.”

TRAYER MARTINEZ, SDLT Membership Director | DEI Advocate

UNITED STATES GAY SPORTS NETWORK AMERICA’S ONLY ONLINE LGBTQ+ SPORTS LEAGUE DIRECTORY

35 STATES 39 SPORTS 60 CITIES 450 LEAGUES

WWW.USGSN.COM @USGSN

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 15

NEWS Deana Garner, SDL, Joins Compete Sports Diversity’s Leadership Board Deana Garner, SDL, Arizona State University’s (ASU) Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Deputy Title IX Officer, recently accepted an invitation to become a member of Compete Sports Diversity’s Leadership Board. This follows on the heels of last fall’s powerful partnership between Compete and Garner to hold a Compete Sports Diversity Summit on Women in Sports and Events held at ASU. Hired by ASU Athletics in 2015 as its senior woman administrator and senior associate athletic director, Garner’s current role at ASU ensures that student-athletes, staff, coaches and Sun Devil administrators behave in ways that align with the NCAA’s DEI and Title IX standards.

Additionally, she also oversees all 26 sports as senior associate AD. An athlete who played club soccer and softball (although she says she wasn’t very good), she attended Dillard University, an HBU in New Orleans and later earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis in 1991. Garner began her legal career as a deputy prosecutor with Indiana’s Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in its Domestic Violence Unit, eventually becoming the supervisor.

From 1996-1998, Garner worked as staff council for the Indiana Gaming Commission, teaming with Indiana law enforcement to conduct background checks on Indiana Riverboat occupational licensees. She also drafted rules of play for table games and assisted the Commission in the review and approval of riverboat gambling-related activities that were marketed and offered to the public.

When the NCAA moved to Indianapolis in 1999, with her gambling policy experience and knowledge, Garner accepted a position with the NCAA’s Enforcement Services Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities department where she provided education regarding NCAA gambling policies to student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

Following her nine years with the NCAA, Garner moved to New York City in 2008 to work for the NFL in their Securities Department.

Working with all 32 NFL teams (more than 1,600 players) around the NFL, she was primarily responsible for implementing and coordinating educational programs for NFL players and staff.

In 2014, Deana partnered her background in law enforcement and educational programming to organize and lead the NFL’s Domestic Violence education efforts.

Wanting to broaden her work within athletics beyond professional football, ironically it was through her NFL experiences with then vice president of Football Operations, Ray Anderson that led Garner to apply at ASU in 2015. Today she acts as VP of Arizona State University Athletics.

One of her current goals is to implement sports diversity leadership training, a service offered by Compete, into ASU athletics for coaches, staff and student-athletes. Referring to herself as a mentor rather than a teacher or coach, Garner also actively promotes Compete Sports Diversity, noting that Compete is doing work many people and organizations throughout the greater Phoenix area need to know about. •

16 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

CHALLENGE, COMPETE & CELEBRATE in Daytona Beach!

SportsDaytonaBeach.com

COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY’S 2022

Person of the

BY KJ PHILIP • HE | HIM

As the world turns its attention to State Farm Stadium, where Super Bowl LVII will decide the next team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 12, 2023, one senior executive with the Arizona Cardinals just brought home a different trophy.

Greg Lee, Arizona Cardinals Chief Financial Officer, was recognized as Compete Sports Diversity’s Person of the Year for 2022.

The award was presented by Compete in partnership with Tempe Tourism Office, on October 26 as part of the TEAMS Conference & Expo presented by SportsTravel magazine in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

“Compete was honored to partner with the Tempe Tourism Office to recognize Greg Lee as our first-ever Person of the Year,” said Eric Carlyle, Compete CEO. “Greg’s commitment to advancing diversity, equality/equity and inclusion in sports has been a game changer in both recreational and professional sports.”

Lee was selected by Compete’s executive committee which considered “spirit, generosity and dedication to sports diversity” as the criteria for selecting the inaugural honoree. In Lee’s nearly 17 years with the NFL franchise, he has played an integral role in countless efforts that set him apart from the other candidates.

“Lee was among the first senior executives from the NFL teams to champion equality/ equity, diversity and inclusion by asking what he could do for the LGBTQ+ community,” Carlyle added. “He listened and then he took action by working closely with the community in meaningful ways. He’s set a shining example

that other executives are now adding to their playbooks.”

By partnering with the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL), the Arizona Cardinals were instrumental in bringing Gay Bowl XXI — LGBTQ+ flag football tournament — to Tempe, Arizona in 2021.

That relationship continues. Representatives from the NGFFL were subsequently invited to the 2022 NFL Draft to announce the Cardinals third-round pick (No. 87 overall) before a live audience in Las Vegas as well as an estimated 10.3 million viewers worldwide. The team’s selection — Cameron Thomas, defensive end from San Diego State — was read by NGFFL player and new league commissioner Joel Horton, making him the first openly gay person to announce an NFL draft pick.

Off the field the Arizona Cardinals are gold sponsors of the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce (GPECC) and also launched a new partnership with Compete’s annual Sports Diversity Summit in 2021.

“The Tempe Tourism Office is proud to be a presenting sponsor of Compete’s inaugural Person of the Year award,” said Michael Martin, President & CEO of the Tempe Tourism Office.

“Not only does this speak volumes about the inclusive and welcoming spirit of our city, it also celebrates our Gay Bowl XXI guests and enriches the narrative around the Cardinals’ local relationships and priorities as we countdown to Super Bowl LVII. Everyone is welcome here and this is just one way we’re sharing that.”

Another way in which Tempe is widely

18 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

Year extending an invitation to all visitors year-after-year is via its Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score, a snapshot that is based on a nationwide evaluation of municipal laws and related criteria, including nondiscrimination laws and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. Since 2014 the City of Tempe has earned the perfect score of 100.

For updates on the Tempe Tourism Office’s LGBTQ+ efforts, please visit tempetourism.com/travel-tips/lgbtq or, for more information on booking your next event in Tempe, visit tempetourism.com/ plan-an-event. •

“He’s set a shining example that other executives are now adding to their playbooks.”

— ERIC CARLYLE, COMPETE CEO

GREG LEE, ARIZONA CARDINAL CFO PHOTO© JARED WICKERHAM

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 19

Kickin’ it IN BUFFALO

BUFFALO’S VARSITY GAY LEAGUE TAKES OFF

BY MICHELLE KEARNS • SHE | HER PHOTOS BY DEANNA BEDNARZ

20 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

The Varsity Gay League in Buffalo, N.Y. has really taken off with kickball: 20 teams, 300 players and now, in September, a national tournament!

After Katie Jurkas, a Michigan-native, landed in Buffalo due to a work transfer, she fell in love with the sports-loving Buffalo Bills community of Western New York. When another work transfer led her to Long Beach, California, she began playing kickball in its Varsity Gay League and discovered something she would eventually launch to a surprise success: Buffalo Varsity Gay League.

In the four years since Jurkas returned to Buffalo, the league she started in 2018 with four kickball teams and 60 players quintupled in membership. Now there are more than 300 gay league players on 20 kickball teams, like Pink Taco, Scrambled Legs, Mixed Signals and Funky Monkey.

This September 17 and 18, there will be even more players in town: the Buffalo

league will host its first Queen City Cup Kickball Tournament, a new championship for all skills, genders and sexualities. So far, nine teams with about 100 members will visit from leagues in Rochester, New York, New York City and Los Angeles.

“This is going to be awesome for Buffalo, to bring that kind of diversity from other places into the Buffalo area and show them what we’ve got here,” said Jurkas, Buffalo Varsity Gay League general manager.

To her, the Varsity Gay League is a convivial athletic alternative to the bar scene. The host organization, founded in 2007, is the first national sports league for LGBTQIA+ athletes and allies. There are 22 chapters from San Francisco and Austin to Memphis and Phoenix. League teams play games of all kinds, including dodgeball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, bowling, beer olympics and video games.

For a mid-sized region, the Buffalo-

Left: Teresa Trevino, of the Big Ang and the Cohorts, heads for the pitch Above: A jump shot with the Buffalo Varsity Gay League kickball team Assume the Position

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 21

area has a surprisingly strong crew, said Jurkas. “The LGBT community in Buffalo is larger than one might think,” she said.

The Buffalo Varsity Gay League has also amassed devoted fans. Families and friends come to watch and celebrate the kickball teams at Sheridan Park in Tonawanda, a northern Buffalo suburb.

“The other day,” said Jurkas, “one of our team friends had a birthday and we did a cake at the field and her family all came.”

The list of other Buffalo league sports includes softball, dodgeball, bowling, darts and cornhole. Soon, Jurkas expects to add volleyball. “Part of what I love is bringing people together,” she said.

“When I see people becoming friends and I see these new people join a league and meeting people, it’s just very gratifying.

That is why I do this.”

September’s debut Queen City kickball tournament connects with a local tourism campaign designed to highlight the Buffalo-area to LGBTQ travelers.

Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler looks forward to

watching a few games and sharing Buffalo with new visitors.

“They’ll be coming here for their tournament, but they’ll also be experiencing our community and the restaurants, the nightlife, our cultural attractions, our waterfront,” he said. “It goes back to why we are the ‘City of Good Neighbors’ … Local teams are excited to welcome their counterparts from across the country to Buffalo. They get to showcase why they love Buffalo and why they choose Buffalo to live, work and play.”

Buffalo’s passion for sports is one of the reasons Jurkas, a health insurance investigator, moved back to the city.

“Buffalo has that sense of home feeling for me,” she said. “I also fell in love with the Buffalo Bills ... Bills fans are something special. They’ve always got the back of the team, win or lose.”

The Buffalo Varsity Gay League’s swift rise has been a thrill. “It’s almost like a disbelief thing that it has grown the way it is,” Jurkas said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what has happened in Buffalo.”•

Above left: Members of the Pink Tacos, a kickball team with the Buffalo Varsity Gay League. Above right: Buffalo Varsity Gay League players gather on a Buffalo Party Barge, one of the paddle boats in Buffalo Cycleboat’s fleet.

22 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

Whoever you are.

Whoever you love.

Wherever your journey takes you.

Allianz Partners is proud to support LGBTQIA+ organizations—in the States and across the globe—to further our mutual goals of visibility and equity.

We are driven to ensure safety, security, and well-being for everyone—whether you’re one of the over 55 million travelers, event-goers, and students we help protect every year; part of our workforce; or simply our neighbor. → Learn more about our commitments to our customers and our community at AllianzPartners.com.

978369_051523

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 23

Entrepreneur Arion Herbert, SDL: Owner of MARS

BY CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER

Meet Arion Herbert, SDL, Compete Sports Diversity’s new executive committee chair. If you haven’t met him yet, put it on your To Do list; he’s a staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community and absolutely filled with infectious energy.

Arion and his wife Erica cofounded MARS (Main Attraction Recreational Sports) in 2016 after moving to Charlotte, North Carolina from Long Island, New York. In 2013 Arion’s high school friend had taken him to a kickball game where he was surprised by the sport’s exciting, electric energy. He was immediately hooked! That was the spark that ignited the couple’s passion to create something that was fun, healthy and offered positive community engagement while still giving them the work/life balance they were looking for.

Filled with entrepreneurial energy, he’s the league owner and tournament director but he’s also the stay at home parent to their two boys, ages two and four, while Erica is still in the mainstream workforce for now (emphasis on the “for now” part).

MARS began its first year by offering only kickball and then the second year added dodgeball, softball and basketball. But its specialty, and what the league is best known for is kickball, according to Arion, saying that it’s the sport that always has the most engagement with both athletes and spectators.

During the 2016-17 season MARS had a one day kickball event with the winning team getting a

24 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

NO MATTER WHAT LIFESTYLE AN INDIVIDUAL LIVES OR HOW THEY SELF-IDENTIFY, IT’S “OK TO PLAY.” $1,500 cash prize. Twelve teams showed up with players coming from Tennessee, Georgia and Washington, D.C. Through the use of lots of ongoing face-to-face and social media outreach, the success of this event led MARS to create a series of events, most notably TURF WARS, a series of destination kickball tournaments that, according to Arion have grown to become the largest, most exciting adult kickball tournaments in the U.S. In 2019 the league held a TURF WARS tournament that was featured on ESPN and was sponsored by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Equitable and Dave & Busters.

This tournament was a go big or go home moment for MARS – it had 32 teams and a winning purse of $10,000. “MARS,” said

Arion, “now leads the industry in total cash payouts, total teams, social media views and engagement, national press releases and major brand sponsors.

“I believe that the quality of our events,” he continued, “along with the relationships that we’ve established with local businesses in the community truly set us apart from others.” And SportsEvents just released its 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Live or Virtual Sports Event Planner, naming Arion as the #2 winner.

Although North Carolina does have a “bathroom bill,” the league is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and a healthy lifestyle. Arion says that no matter what lifestyle an individual lives or how they self-identify, it’s “OK to play.”•

www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE 25

MEMBERS Compete Sports Diversity AARP AFLAC Allianz Partners Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) Arizona Cardinals Arizona Coyotes Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona State University Athlete Ally Auburn-Opelika Tourism Aunt Rita’s Beast Softball Big Gay Frisbee Cactus Cities Softball League Can Community Health Canadian Rockies Rodeo Association Capital Rugby Union CASA Soccer Cascade Flag Football Cheer Seattle Cloud Sports Network Compete Sports Diversity Juneteenth Sports Festival Cultural Sponge Discover Kalamazoo Dive Into Diversity Emerald City Softball Association EventPipe Experience Columbia Express Conferences Federation of Gay Games (FGG) Feisty Media Gay & Lesbian Rodeo Heritage Foundation Gay and Lesbian Tennis Association (GLTA) Gay Bowl XXII Gay Polo League (GPL) Go Providence Goombay RD Kickball Greater Birmingham CVB Greater Columbus Sports Commission 26 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

Joined 2014 Joined 2023 Joined 2022 Joined 2022 Joined 2017 Joined 2018 Joined 2018 Joined 2018 Joined 2022 Joined 2015 Joined 2023 Joined 2023 Joined 2023 Joined 2018 Joined 2019 Joined 2021 Joined 2019 Joined 2018 Joined 2022 Joined 2019 Joined 2022 Joined 2018 Joined 2022 Joined 2017 Joined 2022 Joined 2022 Joined 2022 Joined 2022 Joined 2023 Joined 2023 Joined 2015 Joined 2020 Joined 2019 Joined 2018 Joined 2022 Joined 2017 Joined 2020 Joined 2022 Joined 2019 Joined 2022

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32 COMPETE | Sports Diversity Playbook 2023

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS 2023 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY SUMMIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GAY BOWL XXIII

Seattle, Washington September 28-29

2023 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY SUMMIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH THE ARIZONA CARDINALS

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona 3 Day Summit October 9-11 Summit Schedule: October 9-10 Women’s Conference with LLF Sports October 11, LGBTQ+

2024 COMPETE SPORTS DIVERSITY WINTER MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCE AT SIN CITY CLASSIC

Las Vegas, Nevada January 12-14

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION John Deffee, SDLT • john.deffee@competediveristy.com Trayer Martinez, SDLT • trayer.martinez@competediversity.com

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