Who's coming out to play [electronic resource] : disruption and disorientation in queer community sports / Claire Carter.

"Queer community sports leagues, by their sheer numbers, have a presence that is changing the energy and space of school gyms and community recreational spaces. Some leagues are well-established, having been in existence for over 25 years, whereas others are relatively new, but their collective presence tell stories about the sizable and changing dynamics of queer communities in Canada. Within Toronto and Vancouver, the two major cities tied to this research, there are numerous queer leagues including, softball, hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball. Within other smaller cities, queer teams and/or leagues exist, but not with the same numbers or history. This book focuses on leagues that have previously identified as women's or lesbian and are now becoming trans and genderqueer inclusive. Queer community leagues are based in a commitment to community building - prioritizing fun, socializing, and inclusivity over competition and/or winning. As a result of these commitments, these spaces - and the bodies that come to play in them - reflect new ways of being in and with bodies, different ways of embodying gender, and new and/or different forms of engagement, notably different "rules of play" within sporting arenas. This book considers the disruptive potential of queer community sports on the embodiment of gender and sense of social belonging, with an awareness of numerous factors that limit this potential."-- Provided by publisher.