A League Of Their Own
There wasn’t always an abundance of LGBTQ-centered sports and activities in Richmond.
That is until Richmond’s Rainbow Bowling League came along. Started by just a few people in the late 70s/early 80s, it served as one of the only regular sports leagues for members of the LGBTQ community in the area for years, up until the 1990s.
“Back in the day, we didn’t have all the sports like they do now,” said Craig Phillips, member and Secretary of the organization’s summer league. “Bowling was the only thing. There was not very much representation. We didn’t have a really big center; Diversity was just getting started back then, and there was not a lot of extracurricular stuff to do, except going to the bar.”
Not a fan of spending his nights trying to meet others at bars, Phillips, who works in Cardiology at St. Mary’s Hospital, joined the Rainbow Bowling League in 1986. Since then, he’s spent his Wednesday nights under the neon lights knocking down pins at Sunset Lanes.
“I worked with a young lady downtown at Metropolitan Hospital. She bowled with her brother and his partner, and she asked me to come. That was during my time of coming out,” Phillips said. “I’m not the best bowler in the world, but I just come out to have fun. It was a way to meet people outside of the bars and form good relationships.”
Richmond has since expanded with other leagues such as Stonewall Sports, an LGBTQ sports organization offering dodgeball and kickball, as well as Richmond Volleyball Club.
The Rainbow Bowling League is the first and only bowling league for the LGBTQ community in Richmond. You can find them every Wednesday night at Sunset Lanes on West Broad Street kicking back, having some drinks, and sharing laughs—with some friendly competition, of course.
There are usually six to 10 four-person teams in the league. It’s $16 a week to participate, which covers bowling, officer pay, and prize money. There are two leagues, one in the fall, which ramps up just after Labor Day and runs until April. The summer league kicks off right after Memorial Day and runs until late July.
In the beginning, it was an all-male league and just a handful of people getting it rolling. Joe Hilterman was one of the original founding members, and first Secretary and Treasurer of the league. He’s since passed away, but two of the original founders still bowl in the league.
And being one of the first LGBTQ leagues in the area back then, Phillips said there was initially some friction between them and other leagues. However, over time, he said people and the city have become more inclusive and welcoming.
“That was back in the ‘80s, and they labeled us and didn’t bother to get to know us,” he said. “They’re more accepting, back in the day they were not. Richmond has really opened up and been more accepting.”
Despite starting out small and an all-male league, the Rainbow Bowling League has grown and expanded to include both men and women, all members of the LGBTQ community and a wide range of ages and professions.
“We have physicians, lawyers, doctors, health care professionals; we’ve got a little bit of everybody,” he said. “You have to be 18 to bowl, but we’re talking 20s to 60s 70s.”
But the league isn’t exclusive to the LGBTQ community. Phillips said they welcome everyone and encourage straight individuals and couples to play.
“In the summertime, I have a team that is two married couples,” he said. “Two husbands and wives. We have tons of straight people on our league, people that identify as cis-male, cis-female, some transgender, it’s the whole spectrum.”
The league competes in city and state tournaments, and since they became sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), they also compete in tournaments across the country.
And not to worry if you aren’t an experienced bowler, Phillips said you don’t need any, but to come out just for the camaraderie...and maybe a drink or two.
“Come here to have a beer, have a cocktail and meet new people,” he said. “We accept you as you.”
The Rainbow League bowls every Wednesday night at 6:30 pm at AMF Sunset Lanes located at 6540 W. Broad St. To learn more, join their Facebook page, Wednesday Night Rainbow League. To sign up, contact Craig Phillips at carevabear@comcast.net.
—Amy David