History of Team Seattle

Team Seattle was founded in 1986 for the express purpose of organizing Seattle's team to Gay Games II in San Francisco. With 153 athletes competing in 17 of the 17 offered at Gay Games II, Seattle entered the Games with the 2nd largest contingent outside California, except New York City. Since then, Team Seattle's mission has broadened to include all aspects of promoting and expanding opportunities for lesbian and gay participation in all forms of organized sport.

1987: Team Seattle organized the first Gay/Lesbian Summer Sports Festival as a way of sustaining the excitement and momentum of the Gay Games II. The Sports Festival is held annually except every fourth year, when the Gay Games convenes.

1990: We organized a team of 430 athletes for participation in Gay Games III in Vancouver, B.C. Canada making our team one of the largest in the world to attend.

1994: Over 325 Team Seattle athletes (representing all 31 sanctioned sports) journeyed to New York City to participate in Unity '94. Our athletes brought home 48 medals and ranked as one of the top ten teams to compete in the games.

March 1995: Team Seattle produced its 2nd Annual Gay/Lesbian Winter Sports Festival (also known as Slide for Pride). The event featured Alpine (slalom and giant slalom) and Nordic (cross country) skiing, men's and women's ice hockey and figure skating.

July 1995: The 7th Annual Northwest Gay/Lesbian Summer Sports Festival was held over the 4th of July weekend. Athletes representing each of the following sports attended: Croquet, Cycling, Golf, Ice Hockey, Running, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball.

March 1996: Team Seattle produced its 3rd Annual Gay/Lesbian Winter Sports Festival (Slide for Pride). The event featured Alpine (slalom and giant slalom) and Nordic (cross country) skiing, men's and women's ice hockey tournaments and men's and women's dance and pairs figure skating.

July 1996: The Northwest Gay/Lesbian Summer Sports Festival was held over the 4th of July weekend. Close to 1,500 athletes attended from around the country.

July 2002:  Team Seattle attends the Gay Games VI in Sydney Australia and takes home a large share of the medals.  Over 12,500 people attend the Gay Games in Sydney.

July 2006:  Team Seattle sends 150 athletes to Gay Games VII in Chicago, IL, USA. 12,000 people attend the games.  Click here for results from Team Seattle.  Click here to read shared stories from Team Seattle Chicago Gay Games participants.  Click here to read a review of the fantastic DVD.  

Click here for a Co-Chair glowing report on both summer games.

July-August 2006: 1st World OutGames in Montreal, Canada.  70 men and women from Seattle attend the 1st Outgames.  Seattle Frontrunners Track and Field take numerous medals.  Click here for the results.   The 1st Outgames end with a huge deficit of 5.3M.  Click here to read about the bankruptcy protection for the Montreal Outgames.