SPOTLIGHT ON PRIDE SPIELS AS PRIDE MONTH BEGINS
Photo by: Tonya Henderson & Matt Kirchhoff
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, June 1, 2026] — When Robb Flaherty-Wilcox moved to the Twin Cities, he was invited by his aunt to join a team at Frogtown Curling Club. Initially, he was nervous about trying a brand new sport in a new area. As a queer person, he was concerned about the inclusivity of an organized sport. However, it wasn’t long before he fell in love with curling and sense of community that came with it.
The instant sense of belonging and the welcoming nature of our sport pervade stories of new curler experiences at clubs across the country. All of us who love our sport celebrate our hospitality and the culture we’ve built around our homes-away-from-home. But for the members of seven clubs in the United States, the need to provide a space for curlers to play as their true selves has produced truly exceptional events in their Pride bonspiels.
Having made the trip across the border to a pride spiel in Toronto, Potomac Curling Club’s Kyle Snyder immediately knew he wanted to bring that experience closer to home. He began planning what would become the Glitter Bombspiel, the first Pride Spiel in the United States, where Eric Reithel and Bryan Pittard would both later catch the bug. Reithel was also inspired to share the experience with his home club of Windy City Curling Club, where he started the Drag Effect.
“After years of being pretty-much the only LGBTQ+ curler at my club, it was an incredibly emotional weekend for me to finally meet, get to know, and curl with fellow members of my rainbow family.”
Conversely, Frogtown’s Pride Spiel was built from scratch, giving organizers such as Flaherty-Wilcox the freedom to build something entirely their own, leaning into the club’s “Fun Club” spirit with over-the-top hospitality, and a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere. Whether born from the passion and movement of a prior experience or the desire to create something brand new, the meaning of these events to their coordinators and participants is the same: the profound sense of community and belonging in our sport.
While Reithel championed the position of curling clubs as places of refuge, Snyder spoke about the importance of these bonspiels today, saying, “Discriminatory and exclusionary policies have caused much harm, and while a pride spiel cannot undo that harm, we can at least provide a safe space for everyone to feel seen, respected, and included.”*
Pride Spiels take special care to facilitate a celebration of the community, curling, and life, as places where curlers can come together with their rainbow family for a weekend of partying, competition, relaxation, and fun. The result of that care is undeniably evident in the atmosphere of each event. Players often remark on how meaningful it is to play where they feel safe, and welcomed from the moment they step through the doors. That atmosphere also fosters confidence and pride in oneself. Jonathan Ochoco noted The Ball at the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club has also, “…given people an opportunity to perform, something they don’t have where they live.”
Just like how these events are about more than just curling, the impact has spread beyond the bonspiel weekends themselves and permeated throughout the clubs that host them. At Granite Curling Club in Seattle, Pittard noted that since the start of their RainbowSpiel, overall queer membership at the club has grown, and the club has taken more active roles in the Seattle community supporting Pride events and organizations. Windy City members put so much volunteerism into The Drag Effect because they understand the sense of community and belonging they are able to provide.
“The Drag Effect is something I see people go "all-in" on year after year. Folks light up when they realize it's coming because of how excited they are to help. It's been overwhelming,” said Reithel.
Stevens Point Curling Club’s Taylor Christiansen saw her club’s Pride Spiel as an opportunity for allies to show up as well, “…and they did! It quickly became apparent that the supportive members shone through with endless support and enthusiasm.” Proactive inclusivity is one more reason these clubs find so much value in hosting Pride Spiels.
When these spiel organizers were asked what advice they have for clubs seeking to promote a more inclusive atmosphere, visible symbols of inclusion and mindful communication were recurring themes. Symbols like Pride flags can help indicate to new queer members the inclusive nature of your club, and that belonging extends beyond the LGBTQIA+ members represented on the flag. Listen with open minds—and hearts—to the needs of marginalized members and be willing to act on what you hear to help ensure the best curling experience for everyone. Ask questions, check in, and have important conversations—a club with a welcoming culture will be one that is vibrant, energized, and successful.
| Bonspiel | Host Club | Dates | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ball Bonspiel | San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club | June 12-14, 2026 | bayareacurling.com | 2027 dates: June 11-13 |
| Glitter Bombspiel | Potomac Curling Club | October 23-25, 2026 | curldc.org | |
| Frogtown Pride Spiel | Frogtown Curling Club | November 13-15, 2026 | frogtowncurling.org | Registration Opens June 30 and sells out quickly! |
| Rainbow Rocks | Stevens Point Curling Club | January 29-31, 2027 | pointcurling.org | |
| The Drag Effect | Windy City Curling Club | February 11-15, 2027 | windycitycurling.com | |
| Queen City Color Games | Charlotte Curling Association | April 10-12, 2027 | charlottecurling.com | Registration Opens January 16th |
| The Rainbow Spiel | Granite Curling Club of Seattle | May 14-16, 2027 | curlingseattle.org |
*In accordance with federal Executive Order 14201, USA Curling, like all other National Governing Bodies recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, did introduce a Competition Category policy that requires athletes assigned a male sex at birth who identify as a transgender female or non-binary to compete in USA Curling events in the gender category that aligns with their sex assigned at birth (i.e. male). This policy is applicable to USA Curling national championships and sanctioned qualifying events for national championships, regardless of age class, that have Women’s or Men’s categories or require an equal number of Women and Men on a team, such as Mixed Doubles and Mixed Fours.
This policy does not apply to any league, bonspiel (such as the events listed above), or other events that do not lead to USA Curling gendered competitions.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
