The New England Patriots announced yesterday that the reigning Super Bowl champs are sponsoring LGBTQ flag football leagues in both Boston and Providence: Boston FLAG (Friends, Lesbians and Gays) Flag Football League and Providence Gay Flag Football League. The sponsorship makes the Patriots the leagues’ largest sponsor.
The funds will go to making both the Boston league of 24 teams, with more than 350 players, as well as the Providence league more affordable to all players, and toward the leagues’ participation in the 2019 Gay Bowl in New York City.
“We’re happy to once again be partnering with the FLAG Flag Football league and are thrilled that there is now a Providence league as part of Patriots nation,” said Josh Kraft, president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. “Both leagues represent the vision of LGBTQ inclusiveness and marriage equality that the Patriots embrace.”
“It is truly an honor to be entering our 21st year of FLAG Flag Football with the unwavering support of the New England Patriots,” said FLAG Flag Football Boston Commissioner, Ken Westermann.
“Through the funding of our travel team program for this year’s Gay Bowl in New York City, to expanding the overall reach and impact on the local community that we make playing the sport of football, we are excited for the Patriots to join us in our league’s mission of transforming lives through sport for the LGBTQ and ally community,” Westermann said.
“Our league, in its first year, has already had an incredible impact on the Rhode Island LGBTQ community,” said Duane Gosley, Providence Gay Flag Football League Commissioner.
“With support from the New England Patriots, we will be able to increase our recruitment and outreach programs within our local community. The Patriots sponsorship sends a powerful message recognizing the benefits leagues like ours have to improve the health and well-being of the community we serve,” said Gosley.
According to a Sept. 26 press release:
The recreational football clubs strive to build relationships and break down stereotypes between LGBTQ and allied teammates and foster an environment where LGBTQ persons can learn about and participate in a team sport – many for the first time in their lives. This fall, 24 teams and more than 350 players in Boston and 11 teams and 162 participants in Providence will compete weekly in their respective cities. Additionally, 8 travel teams between the two cities will attend tournaments nation-wide, including Gay Bowl XIX in New York City.
For more on the Boston league: www.flagflagfootball.com.
For more information on the Providence league: www.pvdgffl.org.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
