Recent strides have been made in combating homophobia and intolerance within America’s athletic communities, but who knew that for decades, long before the emergence of Jason Collins and Michael Sam, there was this quintessential American sport inadvertently working to bridge the gay gap and bring together both athletes and recreationists despite their backgrounds? Gay and lesbian bowling leagues first became popular during the 1970’s as an alternative place to meet and mingle with the community, but outside of the bar scene. And although this sentiment may remain true today, for most league bowlers it’s not just about LGBT fellowship.
The FIFA of Bowling
Just like soccer’s Major League Soccer (MLS) and college athletics’ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), bowling has professional associations and affiliations of its own. The United States’ Bowling Congress (USBC) is the MLS of bowling, governing nearly three thousand local bodies throughout the country. When it comes to gay bowling leagues, the International Gay Bowling Organization, or IGBO, acts similar to soccer’s International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), except rather than governing the sport in its entirety, the IGBO specializes in unifying over five thousand gay bowling leagues stationed throughout the world. Although the number may seem quite large, the IGBO insists that this number is nothing significant. “The amazing growth of Gay bowling is not surprising, as it is one sport that truly does not discriminate among its participants,” the organization’s web site reads. “Whether young or old, male or female, wheelchair bound or deaf, strong or weak, tall or short, bowling is a sport that virtually any living person can enjoy whether recreationally or as a member of a league.”
‘Burgh Leagues
There are three main LGBT bowling leagues as well as a chapter of the IGBO based in Pittsburgh: The Steel City Bowling league, Pittsburgh Pride (not to be confused with the annual June festival!) and the 3 Rivers Rollers.
Steel City Bowling League is Pittsburgh’s largest LGBT-friendly league. The league’s 2014-15 season began on 7 September, with the second half beginning 4 January, 2015. Interested bowlers are encouraged to visit the league’s home lane, AMF Noble Manor Lanes (2440 Noblestown Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15205; 412-922-4622) to bowl for fun on Sundays at 7:00 p.m. More serious bowlers might consider joining Steel City’s league format, which consists of teams of four players, including a team captain. The cost is $15 per week per bowler plus a USBC sanctioning fee which varies by gender. For immediate information, visit the Steel City Bowling League online at steelcitybowling.org.
The Pittsburgh Pride gay friendly bowling league meets every other Sunday evening, beginning 7 September, 2014 and ending 3 May, 2015 at Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill (5844 Forward Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217; 412-422-5844). Pittsburgh Pride’s practice round begins around 6:15 p.m., and games at 6:30 p.m. The league consists of 10 teams of four players each, and is a member of both the USBC and the IGBO. Weekly bowling dues are $13, plus a $25 annual USBC and IGBO membership fee. For more information on how you can get involved, e-mail Bryan Henn at bryan.henn@verizon.net or visit them online at pghpridebowling.org.
The last, but certainly not the least LGBT friendly league in the city is the 3 Rivers Rollers! Three River Rollers is a summer only, recreational league that begins in June and ends in July every year. In the past, the league has met on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill. According to its web site, the league’s summer series begins with eight weeks of league play, one week of position play and then a week of championships. What makes Three River Rollers unique is that while most leagues require four bowlers on each team, 3 River Rollers’ motto is “Two’s Company and Three’s a Team,” thus maxing out its teams at only three players. The cost per session is $13.00. For more information, visit 3rrbl.org.
Upcoming Events
One thing about Pittsburgh’s gay bowlers – they sure know how to keep busy! Last month (September, 2014), TREAT, an annual IGBO bowling tournament, was held at AMF lanes in Mount Lebanon, followed by a benefit show at Cruze bar. In October the leagues will compete in the ‘Burgh Area Rainbow Bowler’s Invitational, or Barbi for short – a fundraising doubles tournament on 12 October beginning at 11:00 a.m. at AMF Noble Manor Lanes. The tournament entry fee is $40 per team, using your highest average from the 2013-14 season.
In November, the leagues will attend IGBO’s mid-year conference and tournament which will be held in Jacksonville, Florida from 5-10 November. Recently, Pittsburgh’s IGBO chapter won the bid to host mid-year conference and tournament next year. The city will welcome over 400 bowlers from around the world for the mid-year conference and tournament in its 35th anniversary year, from 10-16 November, 2015. For more information about the event, visit igbopittsburgh.org.