Committee: Budget/Operations

Lavender League Roles: Player on Cosmic Cuties

Favorite Position/s: Defense

I started playing soccer at the age of 6 and haven’t stopped since. From waving at gophers and making daisy chain bracelets during games as kids, to eating pupusas on the sidelines and giving big group hugs after every win/loss in high school, soccer has always been more than just a sport for me; the game we love so much truly creates a home in which community cultivates and blossoms. There’s no better feeling than seeing your team become your family, and to hype them up for every pass, save, and goal. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found a league where I can fully belong as my authentic self, celebrate my newfound team/fam, and have the most fun playing soccer I’ve had since I was a kid.

I join the board with enthusiasm to cheer on every player’s growth on the field, support league logistics/community engagement off the pitch, and build this community into future years.

(Bio incoming!)

Committee: League Logistics

Lavender League Roles: Player on Blood, Sweat & Queers

Favorite Position/s: Goalie

Committee: Budget and Operations

Lavender League Roles: Blood, Sweat & Queers

Favorite Position/s: Defense

I'm Ash, and soccer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. One of my favorite movies growing up was the 99'ers documentary (I even had Mia Hamm posters covering my walls…). Before joining Lavender League, I hadn't played in six years, so returning to the game in a queer space felt both natural and safe.Currently, I'm a Programs Manager at a nonprofit, where part of my leadership role includes creating internal policies, managing budgets, and building meaningful external partnerships!

Committee: League Logistics

Lavender League Roles:
Player and Captain of Scissor Kickers, Referee

Favorite Position/s: Center Forward

Sun/Moon/Rising: Capricorn/Gemini/Libra

Howdy howdy; most folks call me Brookie! I've been playing soccer since I was 4. After a period of a few years not playing much in my early adulthood (gals like me can have complicated relationships with organized sports), I decided it was time to lace up the old boots once again! I searched "queer soccer PDX" online and a year later here I am on a leadership team!
It's an honor to facilitate the trans/non-binary/queer centered soccer community that so many crave in Portland! I bring a chipper demeanor and leadership experience but don't rest on my laurels; I strive to be approachable, listen attentively, and integrate feedback into leadership and policy.
Outside of Lavender League you can find me playing more soccer teams, making scavenger hunts, doing outdoors stuff, discovering new music, learning to dance and play volleyball, playing Stardew Valley, or hanging with my partner, two cats (Biscuit & Gravy), and my many house plants.

Committee: Community Engagement

Lavender League Roles: Player on Cosmic Cuties

Favorite Position/s: Midfield

As someone who grew up loving both playing and watching sports, I longed to play organized sports. Unfortunately, I was raised in a high-control group so my parents never allowed me to participate. Now as an adult, finding Lavender League has allowed me to fulfill that long-held hope of one day playing on a team. Even better that it's queer sports! 

I bring years of experience in training, coaching, and project management. With those skills, I can’t wait to provide strength training, injury prevention, and performance recovery resources to players so they can have more fun and worry less about getting hurt. I also love to empower people and hope to do that by continuously engaging with the community and meeting them where they are at. 

On the weekends you can find me at a Thorns game, reading graphic novels, or juggling a myriad of unfinished household projects because, “how hard can that be?”

Committee: Community Engagement

Lavender League Roles: Captain and Player on U-Haulers

Favorite Position/s: Center Mid, Keepers here

I started playing soccer when I was 22 and fell in love with the game. I played defense on both field and indoor teams, and even helped coach a team of 6 year olds. I moved to Seattle in my late 20s and didn't find time to pick it back up, focusing on parenting and other adventures. I did get to be that parent running along the sidelines cheering the game on and practicing with the team.
After I publicly came out a couple years ago, I found myself digging into who I was and where I felt myself the most. Through Flaggot Football I discovered Lavender League and instantly felt a connection to soccer in a way I never had before. I have subbed for all the teams and have deep respect for all the players, but U-haulers have my heart. I look forward to Sunday mornings each season.
You can always find me on my bike, catching all the local punk and emo shows, playing and writing music, and  feeding our unhoused neighbors. These spaces keep me grounded. I hope my experiences can contribute extra value to the league and the game.
The most important thing we have is community and each other. Many of us grew up without this sense of belonging, which can feel like such a weight on our hearts. I love being here with my fellow trans and queer family, and I hope you feel belonging here.

Committee: Fundraising/Sponsorship

Lavender League Roles: Player on Dandylions

Favorite Position/s: Midfield

Call me Hannah, or call me Cheese! I love cats, staying up too late playing scrabble with my wife, and glitter. The dance floor is my true siren call. I’m a social worker who values community as a crucial component to our holistic health. I grew up playing a little of all the sports, loving the cheering and camaraderie the most. That special feeling of working together towards a shared goal, discovering pride in personal growth, festive game day snacks, and doling out high fives - Yes please!

For the last 10 years I’ve skated roller derby with The Rose City Rollers holding roles with sponsorship, fundraising, and community partnership committees. My drive to join the LL board aims to support sustainability and continue making all this goodness accessible to our community.

Committee: League Logistics

Lavender League Roles: Player of Scissor Kickers

Favorite Position/s: Midfield

Howdy! My name is Jo and I simply adore soccer. It has been something that has consistently allowed me to feel great and an avenue for starting so many meaningful friendships. When I moved to Portland for grad school, I knew I wanted to keep playing soccer and was incredibly thankful to find Lavender League. While I’ve always felt at home playing, navigating situations with other players and refs as an openly queer nonbinary person has made me think about giving it up on many occasions. It is so lovely to have a space where we can all just play and don’t have to worry about transphobic refs and players.

Outside of soccer, I’m a therapist and a lover of cats. You can often find me having silly times in the outdoors, reading, doing ceramics, and painting. I’m a Wisconsin native, but am super thankful for my life in Portland, and the opportunity to be a part of such a grand community.

Committee: Community Engagement

Lavender League Roles: Player on U-Haulers

Favorite Position/s: Defense or midfield

I grew up playing soccer and love the game so much! After finding the Uhaulers team as an out adult, I realized just how important it is to have a queer soccer family, and how so many others were seeking the same family here in PDX. In Lavender League, I want to support all the queer soccer folks here in Portland, and give them a safe, fun, community-ran space to thrive and play. I bring 10+ years of SEO, digital marketing and social media experience and am currently an Audience and Commerce Director at a gaming and entertainment publisher. Plus, I love volunteering! I hope to apply my professional skills and people skills to the league through community engagement, outreach, marketing and more!

Committee: Budget & Operations

Lavender League Roles: Player on U-Haulers

Favorite Position/s: A little bit of everything!

I started playing soccer almost as early as I could walk. Soccer was life! Like many a queer teen, I began struggling with mental health issues (very much related to gender/sexual orientation) and stopped playing. For over a decade, I deeply missed the feeling of running around a field, authentic and care-free. Upon joining the U-Haulers, we discovered a shared vision for the queer/trans soccer league of our dreams.

Building Lavender League has been an experience like none other. This is our chance to heal as a community that has been pushed out of athletics. Together, we can reclaim joy! If you’ve also found this league, welcome to our family!

Committee: League Logistics

Lavender League Roles: Player on Scissor Kickers

Favorite Position/s: Center defense/stopper

Sun/moon/rising: Aquarius/Aries/Pisces

My preferred spot on the field indicates a fair amount about my personality. I love to facilitate and ease communication between folks so they can understand the underlying needs to be met. I seek to provide support & security for those around me, both on and off the field. What I’ve loved most about being part of the Leadership Team in a queer & trans centric league is watching members improve week-to-week and strengthen connections with their teammates. It’s provided a sense of fulfillment I’ve never known before and I’m thrilled to continue to watch it grow.

Committee: Community Engagement

Lavender League Roles: Referee, sub

Favorite Position/s: Defense, outside wing

Can always have a convo about: Social justice, foraging, ceramics, travel, parenting, gender

When I moved to Portland in 2016, I decided to pursue all the activities I did in high school, only gayer. That meant queering my friend groups, my jazz and symphonic bands, and, of course, my soccer teams. After playing on queer and trans teams in leagues that were not specifically built around the transgender and non-binary community, having to work with league administrators to change rules, train refs, and still running into transphobia and an inability to keep our players safe, it was clear that we needed a league for us, by us. I was lucky enough to attend the very first meeting that would lead to the formation of Lavender League, and am so stoked to be part of building an inclusive, welcoming community where we take care of each other.