“This is a big honour – we very much think of ourselves as a community organization as much as we are a sports organization, and this recognition feels extra special in that sense. We are so grateful to receive this kind of acknowledgement from the Ottawa Sport Council.”
– David Muddiman, GOV President
Diversity and inclusion is a fundamental pillar of sport that, if made a priority, can help increase participation in sport and grow a community.
Gay Ottawa Volleyball (GOV) has provided a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community within the Ottawa sport community, introducing many people to sport who might otherwise never have participated in sport.
LGBTQ+ inclusive volleyball had been organized in the National Capital Region since the mid-1980s, with organizations like Club Moustache and Time Out / Temps libres Sports & Recreation, from which GOV in its current form emerged around the year 2000.
“These sports groups were a way for LGBTQ+ folks to cultivate a sense of family for many who were rejected by their families for being queer,” said GOV president, David Muddiman. “That sense of chosen family remains strong among GOV players today.”
GOV’s main season runs from September to April. It primarily consists of drop-in volleyball on Monday nights and a structured league on Wednesday nights. Every year the organization also hosts weekend-long tournament and gala. GOV hosts 45 volleyball teams, travelling from Montreal, Toronto, Kingston, and occasionally from the U.S. The weekend includes a banquet dinner, silent auction, drag show and dance party, offering an inclusive environment and something for everyone to enjoy. For the first time this summer, GOV ran a beach volleyball league that it looks to make part of its standard programming, expanding to offer activities throughout the entire year.
GOV strives to bring an energy to the Ottawa sport community that is all about having fun, building confidence, and emphasizing that message of inclusiveness: sport is for everyone. Regardless of your athletic ability, you are encouraged to step onto the court and have a great time.
“Growing up as LGBTQ+, a lot of our players had negative experiences around sports, having been alienated, intimidated or even bullied in athletic spaces due to their gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Muddiman.
Because of the organization’s focus on fostering a space that integrates the positive aspects of sport culture with LGBTQ+ culture, many players come to GOV as adults trying a sport for the very first time in their life.
“Players often tell us that GOV was the first time they participated in a sport ever, and how much of a positive difference it has made in their life,” said Muddiman. “It is easy to take for granted that people had exposure to organized sports in their childhood and access all of those benefits, but that isn’t true for everyone, and it feels good to be able to offer that to folks as adults.”
Dan de Vette, a long-term member, joined GOV shortly after moving to Ottawa in 2001. As someone who had just come out and was looking to meet people, he connected with the organization and wanted to contribute more. He joined the executive board in 2005 and has since held a variety of positions.
“The league and the people in it are almost like a second family to me, and the sense of community I feel from being a part of it for the past twenty years is something I cherish,” he said. “It has brought out in me a level of confidence and acceptance of myself that I didn’t think was in me, and I’ve been able to bring that to all aspects of my life.”
Over the almost 25 years in its current form, GOV has received countless testimonies from members and participants, like de Vette, who express their appreciation for the organization’s presence. “It is such a boost, and it reinforces our raison d’etre! It is incredibly validating,” said Muddiman. “We are entirely volunteer-run, and it takes a lot of work to pull off, and it’s those expressions of appreciation that keep us going!”
GOV will look to continue to provide a safe space welcome to all going forward. The organization will be celebrating LGBT History Month in October, sharing on Instagram (@govleague) memories and stories from over the course of the 30+ year history of LGBTQ+ inclusive volleyball in the National Capital Region.