Here is a database of as many queer sports organizations/groups/leagues as we could find based in Toronto
Remember lining up so captains can pick teams. . . but you always got picked last? Horrors in the locker room? Just generally bullied no matter the activity? Many of us had a hellish time in school, particularly in gym class, and never got to participate properly. This may account for the popularity of queer-specific and queer-inclusive sports groups and clubs in Toronto! Now – among your people – is your time to shine. There are literally dozens of groups to choose from, and we hope this database will help you stay active and meet some other sporty spices in the meantime.
ARM WRESTLING
STRAPS ARM WRESTLING
-Trans-focused but everyone is welcome. Allies can come so long as they behave.
-It takes place every two months depending on organizers’ work schedules.
-People can sign up on organizer socials whenever the latest event is announced.
-Participants compete against one another with each event being a sort of mini-tournament.
BASEBALL
FIELD OF DREAMERS COOPERATIVE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
-Open to queer, trans and non-binary people, as well as allies and supporters.
-The league plays from May to October, with playoffs in September.
-Registration/sign-up usually happens in February/March.
-Players being drafted onto teams based on their self-described skill/experience.
LEARNSOFTBALLTO
-Welcomes adult women, trans and non-binary players. It is not a queer league but it is queer-inclusive and queer-friendly.
-The season runs May to September.
-Registration begins in February. There is no deadline to register, but they sell out, so players are encouraged to sign up early.
-Players are rotated to different teams each season to allow people to get to know each other.
NOTSOAMAZON SOFTBALL LEAGUE
-For queer positive women, trans* & gender neutral individuals of all skill levels.
-The season runs April to September on Sundays (except the long weekend and Pride).
-Registration opens in February.
-People sign up and are divided into teams. They play non-competitively until September and then there is a playoff tournament.
QUEER SOFTBALL BABIES
-Welcomes queer people, with trans and non-binary people and women prioritized
-Meet at regular intervals during the warmer months of the year.
-There is no registration; this is a drop-in.
TORONTO DOWNTOWN FASTPITCH LEAGUE
-Open to anyone who is 16 or older and identified as non-binary, transgender (men and women) or a woman. This is not a queer league but queer inclusive and queer friendly.
-Plays Tuesdays from May to September in Trinity Bellwoods Park.
-To play you contact them and tryout and then you are invited to register. Registration happens early each year.
-Those seeking to play should have experience with fastpitch (a variaton of softball).
BASKETBALL
RAINBOW HOOPS TO
-Open only to queer women, trans and non-binary folks.
-The league plays from October to May each year.
-Registration/sign-up takes place in September/October for the following year. Registration goes until spots fill up.
-After signing up, people attend a draft/skills clinic and are played on teams in a balanced and equal manner.
SQWISH
-This group is open to all queer people.
-It is a year-round drop-in at Central Technical School. It takes place every Friday.
-There is no registration/sign-up; This is a drop-in.
TORONTO GAY BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
-Everyone is welcome; Queers of all kinds and allies and “everyballer you can think of.”
-The fall season runs September to November (indoors), and the spring season is January to April (indoors). There is no summer season.
-Sign-up for the fall season is in early September, and sign-up for the spring season is mid-January.
-Players sign up and then there is a draft where volunteer captains pick their teams.
BOXING
QUEER BOXING CLUB
-Welcoming queer people and allies.
-Participants meet every second Saturday all year round at Rumble Boxing Yorkville.
-Registration opens two weeks before each class with 34 spots available.
-Participants (of all skill and fitness levels) learn fundamentals with instructors.
CLIMBING
BULGES AND BOULDERS
-Open to all genders, orientations and skill levels.
-This group does indoor climbing all year round. They meet every Tuesday at Rock Oasis and on the last Tuesday of each month at Joe.
-No sign-up is required; this is a drop-in.
QUEER CLIMBERS OF TORONTO
-For all queer and trans people.
-They climb all year round on the last Sunday of the month.
-Sign up is at any time—it just needs to be before the climb happens.
DODGEBALL
CHAOTIC QUEER DODGEBALL
-All queer people are welcome but they prioritize trans, Non-binary and queer women players. Allies are only permitted if they are needed for a new queer player to feel comfortable.
-Play is every Wednesday evening from September to June.
-Sign up the ‘week of’; Prospective plays should sign up Monday if they intend to play that Wednesday.
-Teams are created and posted a couple hours in advance. This group is just for fun, with scores are not tracked.
DODGEBALL NATION
-This is a women’s dodgeball organization. Cisgender, trans and non-binary people are welcome.
-There are three leagues: Mondays coed recreational, Tuesdays coed intermediate, and Thursday women’s all skill levels.
-In general, fall registration opens early August, winter/spring registration opens late November, summer registration opens early April.
OK DODGEBALL CLUB
-This is described as “an intermediate league for marginalized players.” That is, women, trans and non-binary folks who are okay at dodgeball.
-The season runs from approximately late September to June. Play is every Thursday.
-Sign-up/register individually or as a team in late August and early September.
FLAG FOOTBALL
FLAGS OF GLORY
-Open to trans and non-binary players of any orientation, as well as queer-positive women who want to learn and play flag football.
-The season runs May to September.
-Registration is from early March to mid-April
-Players are added to a pool and then teams are formed to ensure balance. Teams play against each other and then there are playoffs.
TUFF – TORONTO UNITED FLAG FOOTBALL
-Welcoming all queers and allies.
-The season runs May to September.
-Registration is in March.
-Players are divided into teams and play 14 games over the summer, with playoffs taking place in September.
HOCKEY
TORONTO GAY HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
-Welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer and heterosexual people.
-The season runs from September to end of April.
-Registration usually takes place in June and remains open until all spots are filled (this usually takes a few weeks)
-Players are drafted in such a way as to ensure teams are evenly matched.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY CLUB OF TORONTO
-This is a trans/non-binary/gender fluid-inclusive hockey league for queer women and female allies
-The season is from September to April. They play on Saturday nights.
-Sign up is in April for the following season. It remains open until the league is full, which generally takes a few months.
-There is no tournament.
ICE SKATING
QUEER ICE SKATING TORONTO
-Queers of all kinds and allies are welcome.
-Skating is on outdoor ice rinks from December to March. There are generally two meetups per month.
-No sign-up required, just show up; This is a drop-in.
PICKLEBALL
QUEER PICKLEBALL CLUB
-This is for queer women, trans and non-binary folk.
-The organization plays all year round, outdoor in summer, indoor in winter.
-People can join at any point (for regular play you sign up every Thursday at noon for the following Monday session and it is limited to eight spaces each time).
-Those who don’t know how to play need to sign up for coaching before they can do regular play.
TORONTO GAY PICKLEBALL
-Welcoming queers of all kinds and allies.
-Play is all year round.
-Sign up is in September each year.
PING PONG
QUEER TORONTO PING PONG CLUB
-For queer/2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and allies!
-They play all-year round, sometimes indoor sometimes outdoor.
-No sign up is needed; This is a drop-In.
-This is a new club and details may change as it takes shape. Contact organizers for more info.
ROWING
QUEER PADDLE
-Everyone is welcome (even if you have a disability that means you need someone to paddle for you).
-Paddle all day on Mondays between June and the beginning of October.
-There is no sign-up; This is a drop-in.
-There are a variety of activities available, from kayaking to paddleboarding.
RUNNING
EAST TORONTO GAY RUN CLUB
-This is open to queers of all stripes and to straights.
-They run on scheduled/select Wednesdays in any weather except thunderstorms and when it’s snowing
-Sign up is available at anytime
-All skill levels are welcome. There is a maximum of fifteen people per run.
FRONTRUNNERS TORONTO
-Everyone is welcome, including allies and dogs.
-They run year round except during “inclement weather.”
-Just show up; No sign up needed. There is a membership option with some perks but it’s not compulsory.
QUEER RUN CLUB
-This is a group that does queer runs that centre women, trans and non-binary folks.
-They run every Saturday morning.
-No sign up is required; This is a drop-in.
-Run for fun!
SPARQ RUNNERS
-This group focuses on queers of all kinds. Some allies may be allowed as well.
-They run all year, in any weather, Thursday evenings.
-There is no sign up required – just show up to the meeting spot.
SWIMMING
TORONTO PURPLE FINS GENDER FREE SWIM CLUB
-This is for “2STGNC+ and queer cis women.”
-Swims are from September to June indoors at Wellesley Community Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University pool. They also swim in “open water” in the summer.
-Sign up is in September, but they are open to drop-ins and folks joining at any time.
TORONTO QUEER SWIM CLUB
-This is for adults who identify as queer cis women, transgender or non-binary/gender diverse/gender fluid.
-They swim Monday nights indoors all year round. In summer they sometimes swim outdoors (not on Mondays).
-People can join at any point.
VOLLEYBALL
TORONTO SPARTAN VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE
-Welcoming 2SLGBTQI+ adults and allies.
-Fall season runs September to December, winter season is January to April, and spring season tends to be May to June (this can vary). Wednesday is for intermediate, Thursday is for recreational division.
-Sign up begins before each season – exact dates will be posted on their social media.
-At the end of each season there is a tournament.
We will continue to add more groups and info to this list as we find it. If we have left your sports group out, please get in touch and let us know at events@yohomo.ca!
WAITING ON INFO FOR…(if you know folks involved in these or are one of them, let us know!)
QUEER QUADS TORONTO
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