League history

Our Roots, Our Reach

Our Journey: From Spark to a Legacy

The story of the Palm Springs Gay Softball League began in 2005 with a vision shared by our founding fathers, Tommie Douglas and Jim Hurst. What started as a modest gathering of four teams and fifty pioneers has blossomed into a cornerstone of the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQIA+ community. By 2006, the league’s spirit was already doubling in size, creating a home for iconic teams like the Barracks, Blame It, and Toucans-Hawks. Today, that original spark has ignited a thriving league of 18 teams and over 200 participants. We are proud to be supported by a diverse network of local businesses that believe, as we do, that our strength lies in our visibility and our unity.

Our impact stretches far beyond the desert sands. As a proud member of International Pride Softball (iPride Softball), we are part of a global family of over 20,000 athletes across 58 cities. Through this brotherhood and sisterhood of sport, our players have the opportunity to compete on the grandest stages, from the elite iPride Cup to the Gay Softball World Series—the largest LGBTQIA+ single-sport event in the world. From our humble beginnings to our international presence, the PSGSL remains a 501(c)(3) non-profit powered by volunteers who believe that every time we take the field, we aren't just playing a game; we are honoring our history and pitching toward a more inclusive future.