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Over the last nine years, the TC Jacks, a LGBT soccer club, have seen tremendous growth in the Twin Cities. Starting out with only a handful of members they now have over 200 participants which make up seven teams. They have provided an opportunity for LGBT individuals and allies to participate in soccer in a welcoming and inclusive community. The have also sent teams to compete in national and international tournaments while participating in local leagues and pick-up games.

The TC Jacks were founded by the late J.B. Becker in 2007 and was simply called “MN LGBT Soccer” and met weekly at Corner Kick Soccer in Maplewood. Only four participants showed up to the first event, but over the following months attendance grew to 25 and the first two league teams were founded: the Flamingos and the Pineapples. These two teams eventually merged to form the Orange Crush.

In 2009, the Orange Crush sent players to an international tournament in Washington DC and also hosted its first internal 7v7 soccer tournament. This success in competition and a growing organization led to the decision to rebrand the club to TC Jacks.

The Jacks’ inaugural tournament was the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany in 2010. The Gay Games in an international multi-sport competition organized by the Federation of Gay Games and takes place every four years. Together with members from the Austin (TX) Goldstars, the combined team took 4^th out of 32 teams. The Jacks also traveled to Vancouver for the 2010 North American Outgames, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association.

During this time the number of participants in the club grew to over 75, including current Club President Ryan Adams. Adams hadn’t played soccer in 10 years when he first heard about the team during a radio show, but decided to give it a shot. Utilizing his experience running a non-profit and an MA in sports management, Adams soon found himself heavily involved in the club. “I started playing pick-up soccer, then I started playing league soccer, then I started coordinating soccer teams, now here I am today leading soccer teams and being communications director for the international organization.”

Over the next two years the club grew from fielding one team to four playing throughout the year and by 2015 had grown to over 200 members and seven teams participating in the City Sports Connection and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Adult soccer leagues. The club offers opportunities for every skill level, including free pick-up soccer year-round for players new to the sport or those who have been playing for years. The Jacks are also planning on entering a team in the Minnesota Women’s Soccer League to provide another opportunity for its female members.

“They just want to play for the first time in their life as who they are. They are focusing on just playing and their footwork versus what someone may think of them.” – Club President Ryan Adams

Adams attributes the growth of the club to the experiences it provides LGBT players that they may never have been offered before in soccer. “They just want to play for the first time in their life as who they are. They are focusing on just playing and their footwork versus what someone may think of them. I think that is what is unique about this team.”

The success of the club is also due in part to the growth of allied members. “Allied players have just enjoyed playing on a team that is organized and they felt like they made a difference,” explained Adams. “They are okay with it being a LGBT and inclusive team and identifying with that because by [them] being a part of this it allows more numbers and it allows more opportunities to play.”

While the club is enjoying their continued success, they know there is still much more that can be done both in soccer and in society to educate about LGBT individuals and the discrimination they face and to promote change. “Sport is a prism into our society and we continue to see [discrimination] in sport. Even on adult teams that I’ve guest played on you still hear the masculine statements: ‘You play like a girl’ or ‘You play like a fairy.’ You hear a lot less of it, but that’s something we want to continue to say is not acceptable. Don’t bring people down by their gender [or] by their orientation.” By offering a variety of playing options, engaging in the community, and encouraging the work of current members to bring in new players from a wide range of backgrounds, the club hopes to continue to use soccer to promote public awareness and advance equality.

TC Jacks has planned a great deal for the remainder of the year both on and off the field. In the coming months the club will introduce a Hall of Fame to recognize the numerous volunteers that have helped the TC Jacks become what it is today. With AC Milan and Chelsea playing at US Bank Stadium this summer, the Jacks are also looking to host a fundraising event prior to the game which has already received interest from over 5,000 people connected to the club. The Jacks will also be initiating a Snapchat campaign around the event.

The club is also looking to build on its success on the field this summer. This weekend the Jacks will be sending a team to Chicago to participate in Pride on the Pitch, a one day 7v7 tournament that is backed by Chicago Fire SC. In August, a team will compete in the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association World Championships in Portland, Oregon. This tournament will be a week-long 11v11 competition that is sponsored by both Nike and Adidas and will feature 25 teams from all over the world.

For more information on TC Jacks and how you can become involved, visit their website or find them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.