A Deep Dive into the Houston LGBTQ+ Volleyball Scene
An Asian American Heterosexual Male's Perspective
This past May I moved to Houston, TX for the summer for an internship but my real purpose of moving was not to get real world working expierence or to make money, but instead to play a shit ton of volleyball and win at intramurals for asu. My first week there I go to “The Loop” where they hold open gym volleyball sessions every wednesday, however there’s like literally a million people there and you spend three hours there to play 4 sets and it sucks dog balls
At the Loop, one person told me that theres a better place for open gyms at "The Zone” on Sunday nights, so next Sunday I show up. There I get introduced to the largest LGBTQ+ volleyball scene in Houston where everyone is very nice and welcoming to new players, but come game time their switches get flipped into game mode.
Now I’m a bit rusty at the sport, and it took me a few sets to get warmed up, but its a very frustrating feeling when you’re not playing as well as you want to. After shanking a ball I remember getting ticked, and the guy next to me was like “hey you’re good, its just gay volleyball”. I very quickly learn the Houston LGBTQ+ community is really good at volleyball and slays
like tops and bottoms there are aggressive players and less aggressive players, and there are no shortage of either on the court. Balls are being served, recieved, set, and spiked and it’s really fun and competetitve to play every week. I’ve made friends with the regulars and one even invited me to join his tournament team in Austin.
Things I’ve learned:
while playing, people used she/her/hers pronouns for me and called me sis. ex) “nice kill sis”
if anyone beats another team, someone will use the “you can’t win, its pride month” line
6’3 tops are very good at spiking
the houston LGBTQ+ community does not support the NRA or GOP
overall 9.5/10, am looking forward to playing this week.
Houston Boba Recs:
“Hella Boba”: 9/10, very soft boba, tea tastes so good, -1 for having to say “i want the hella boba milk tea” cause thats embarrasing to say as an adult
“hey you’re good, its just gay volleyball”
Sign me up for gay volleyball!!!