Gay Flag Football League to Publish Calendar

Move over, Gods of Football, and make way for the DC Gay Flag Football League’s upcoming calendar benefiting gay and lesbian youth.

Featuring photos of both straight and gay players, the 24-month calendar will be available August 9 and will follow on the heels of two It Gets Better Videos made by members of the league.

According to the DCGFFL’s press release, the calendar and the videos were inspired by the recent surge of LGBT suicides. “While the bullying epidemic came as a shock to many,” it said, “the struggles of growing up gay were all too familiar for many members of the DCGFFL. Inspired by the tragic events, the group, consisting of members from Washington’s LGBT community and straight allies, have come up with a creative tactic for raising awareness and money to prevent teen suicide. And it will require them to give the shirts off their back. Literally.”

So far, the league has raised close to $4,000 for a scholarship given by Team DC to local gay high school athletes and the organization says approximately half the funds from the sale of the $20 calendars will benefit LGBT youth based programming.

“There are so many gay kids out there that think they’re alone. We’ve been there and if there’s anything we can do to save lives, then we’ll do it,” says J.J. Johnson, president of the DCGFFL.

Read more here.