22nd annual Lesbian soccer fest on tap this weekend

by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer

The annual Lesbian soccer mayhem known as the Festival of the Babes (FOB) kicks off Friday, August 31, and lasts through Sunday at Seattle's Maple Wood Playfield (4801 Corson Ave. S.). It is one of several such events taking place on the West Coast.

'Yes, it's a soccer tournament,' said Kara Gallemore, lead organizer of this year's FOB. 'But what it's more about is bringing community to all of these cities every year - having fun and spreading the love.' Basically, she said, 'It's about being 'FOB-ly.'

So what does it mean to be FOB-ly?

'It's kind of an attitude,' explains Gallemore. 'But its mostly just about really having fun while playing soccer.'

TOURNAMENT WITH A TWIST
While structured as a tournament, FOB is relaxed, fun, and perhaps most importantly, Gay. Keeping true to those tenets is what being FOB-ly is all about. It's about making friends and making out.

'We have official rules so it is definitely a soccer tournament,' says Gallemore. 'But the refs can make up little rules as they go, like holding hands to touch the ball.'

In addition, each team usually has a theme. Gallemore will be playing for the Oh!Gay Cupids, and her team is dressing for the part. Other teams include Licks N Kicks, The Hunger Gays, Troop 69, Hello Tittys, and & well, you get the idea.

FOB was founded in San Francisco by a women's soccer team who wanted to create a community-oriented tournament after they'd competed in the Gay Games. That was 22 years ago, and nowadays veterans and new teams alike join in each year.

FOB is all-inclusive, too: players can be LGBTQQIA - whatever. As Gallemore puts it, the tournament is for 'Lesbians and anyone willing to be mistaken for one.'

NEW TALENT NEEDED
Gallemore says that while registration is down a bit from last year, there are still enough players to make for a very good FOB - about 200.

'A lot of the women who started it are getting older and they have families, so we're trying to rally the younger crowd,' Gallemore says.

The closing party for FOB will be held on Sunday, August 2, at Cowgirls, Inc., where awards will be presented. The party is open to the public with a $10 cover charge, which helps fund next year's FOB.

Many of the awards are given for 'FOB-liness.'

'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how Gayly you play the game,' says Gallemore.

FOB takes place each year in San Francisco, Portland, and Vancouver, B.C., in addition to Seattle. For more information visit www.festivalofthebabes.com.

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