A season with the same teammates is an easy route to new friends.
Updated October 2026
If you have not played a sport since school, or never did, the thought of joining a league at 35 or 45 can feel like a lot. It is also one of the most reliable ways to make friends as an adult: a schedule, a shared goal, and a built-in reason to see the same people again. New York has several long-running LGBTQ+ clubs, and most welcome beginners. For more ideas beyond sports, see our guide to queer activities in NYC.
Below are the clubs we could confirm are active, what each offers, and how to get started. Registration windows and fees change by season, so use each group's own site for current details.
If you would like teammates before you have a team, 10th Muses, a community for queer and lesbian women, trans and nonbinary folks, 30+, has a Run Club group "for runners & those who want to", a Womens Sports Teams group for players and fans, and a Fitness, Health & Wellness group, all on WhatsApp. Joining is free.
Front Runners New York, founded in 1979, is the city's LGBTQ+ running club. It welcomes runners of all speeds, ages and abilities, says identifying as LGBTQ+ is not a requirement, and runs a beginners clinic. It also organizes the annual LGBT Pride Run, traditionally held on the last Saturday in June.
OutCycling is a New York LGBTQ+ cycling community that says riders from brand new to seasoned will find encouragement and friendship there. Check its site for current rides, training and membership details.
The Big Apple Softball League, which dates to 1977, is a nonprofit LGBTQ+ social softball league. Its W+/WTNB Conference is open to cis women, trans men and women, and nonbinary players, and its divisions range in skill from "experienced" to "never played". Registration details are posted on the league's website.
Gotham Volleyball was founded in 1981. It offers division play, clinics and training classes, open play and tournaments, for every level from beginner to long-time competitor. Participation is open to everyone over 18, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally.
Start with the format built for newcomers: a clinic, a class, or an open-play night. Say you are new when you sign up, so organizers can point you to the right level. Show up a little early on the first day so you can introduce yourself before play starts.
Stay for the part after the game. The drinks, the group chat and the end-of-season party are where teammates become friends. Take a look at our events calendar if you want a social night in the meantime.
Commit to one full season before deciding whether a sport is for you. Skills show up slowly, but seeing the same faces at each game makes introductions easier. If one club is not the right fit, try another; each has its own personality, from competitive to purely social.
Keep a social home base alongside the league: explore the current 10th Muses calendar for upcoming socials, so the sapphic friends you make on the field have somewhere to see you off it.
Each card links to the club's page in the 10th Muses community directory.
Yes. Front Runners New York runs a beginner clinic, Gotham Volleyball offers classes and open play at all levels, and the Big Apple Softball League has teams that range from experienced to never-played.
The Big Apple Softball League, which dates to 1977, has a W+/WTNB Conference open to cis women, trans men and women, and nonbinary players, alongside an OPEN Conference.
Not necessarily. Front Runners New York says identifying as LGBTQ+ is not a requirement, and Gotham Volleyball is open to everyone over 18, LGBTQ+ or ally. Check each group's site for its current membership policy.
Join a full season, stay for the post-game social time, and say you are new when you sign up. Seeing the same people over a season does most of the work.
Front Runners New York welcomes LGBTQ+ runners of every pace. 10th Muses, a community for queer and lesbian women, trans and nonbinary folks 30+, also has a Run Club group on WhatsApp for runners and those who want to be.
Queer Activities in NYC · All 10th Muses guides · Join 10th Muses
10th Muses — Social Club for Queer Women and Nonbinary Folks in NYC. Founded in September 2025 by Andrea Himmel.