When Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to support a gay softball tournament, Houston area officials saved the day after Harris County Commissioners approved a $500,000 grant to International Pride Softball (iPride) to host the Gay Softball World Series in Houston, from September 21 to 27.
The iPride tournament is anticipated to gather teams from over 50 cities in Houston, Texas, attracting approximately 3,000 athletes and 2,000 spectators. This is the third time in a decade that the tournament has been held in Texas, and in the past, it has received incentive funding from the state to host the event there.
Public funding has been steadily offered in Texas to incentivize events expected to have a significant economic impact. The state allocates millions of dollars to help attract tourists there. Money has been earmarked for past events, such as Quidditch, youth soccer tournaments, and crypto events, as well as $500,000 to promoters to host a high-profile boxing match between YouTuber Jake Paul and boxer Mike Tyson.
However, this year, the Southern hospitality was noticeably absent. iPride Commissioner Jeff Sloan said the tournament this year was put in jeopardy when Abbott’s office rejected its application. Bob Choate, a county commissioner, questioned whether the tournament required funding, noting that several youth baseball tournaments happen without public funding.
“We were heartbroken because it made us feel like we weren’t welcome,” Sloan says. “It made us feel like we weren’t valued.”
The event states that it can no longer rely on the funding and may not return to Texas in the future. Nevertheless, despite the snafu, the organization is excited to return this year for the tournament.
While Sloan said the organization was “shocked” by Abbott’s rejection, he remains optimistic about moving forward with local support. “We’re just more emboldened and proud to show off our brand of softball in a welcoming community in about a month,” Sloan says.
