In a meaningful nod to community, Stonewall Sports DC was named this year’s “Local Hero” by The Washington Blade. The recognition, announced in the paper’s 2025 “Best of LGBTQ D.C. 2025,” celebrates Stonewall Sports DC on the occasion of our 15th Anniversary.

In honoring Stonewall Sports DC, The Blade highlighted more than just the Chapter’s athletics: our commitment to fostering inclusion, belonging, and community through sports. In the words of Stonewall Sports DC President Stu Wales, the goal is “to provide a place where people feel comfortable in their own identity – to participate fully without having to worry about who they are.”

Over the years, Stonewall Sports has also distinguished itself through philanthropy, raising significant funds for local charities that support health care, youth services, and other community-centered causes.

The Local Hero Award from The Washington Blade underscores how Stonewall Sports has helped reshape the idea of sports in DC — not just as competition, but as a foundation for community, acceptance, and positive change.