Buffalo Rising: What was the motivation behind starting a gay/gay friendly league?
Ron Degenfelder: I was not involved in forming the league twenty some years ago. I have been involved since 2001. I like the idea that our group provides a social alternative to be with other gay people with similar interests, which doesn't involve hanging out in a bar. Our goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for people, gay or straight, who enjoy playing volleyball. You don't have to be gay to play.
Eugene Harvey: I joined the league in 1992 and became a coordinator within a couple years. Even though I was not involved in the original development of the league, I was happy to have a recent conversation with Curt Beall, one of the league's "founding fathers," who shared with me the history of BAV. In the late 1980s, a group of gay, indoor volleyball players decided to start an outdoor league in Delaware Park.
So many people joined that they started having v-ball tournaments in Buffalo with all of the gay bars sponsoring different teams. Also in the late '80s, this core group of players joined the North American Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) and started playing in regional gay v-ball tournaments. The "league" grew over the years, and some players branched out and participated in the 1990 and 1994 Gay Games. In a sense, the formation of our league stemmed from these players' commitments to the local gay community while they created and shared their love and passion for the sport of volleyball. Like any organization, we've had ups and downs over the years in terms of attendance, but BAV continues to be one of the longest-running organizations in the Buffalo gay community today.
Buffalo Rising: In regard to the Gay Games (which is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists and musicians) does the organization ever plan to attend again?
EH: The 2014 Gay Games will be held in Cleveland, and I know I want Buffalo to have a strong showing both in terms of players and volunteerism. This event occurs only every 4 years, and basically it will be in our "back yard" in 2014. I can't think of a better or more fortunate opportunity to become involved and to show our support!
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