Milwaukee Gay Sports Network promotes getting active and inclusivity

GREENFIELD, Wis. — The Milwaukee Gay Sports Network (MGSN) is promoting inclusivity and getting active.

Once a week during the spring and once every two weeks in the fall, Peter Nys participates in the MGSN’s bowling league at Classic Lanes in Greenfield, Wis. 

Nys said he joined the league years ago for one simple reason.

“It was about trying to meet new friends,” said Nys. “In fact, I met all of my friends through all of the sports that I’ve joined.”

For Nys, the biggest benefit of having the MGSN is making sure all of the LBGTQ sports leagues in the Milwaukee area feel connected.

“Prior to MGSN, every sport was on their own as far as trying to recruit new people and that type of stuff and I think what MGSN did was make it a family,” said Nys.

Jake Putman is the current president of MGSN. He said MGSN prides itself on getting more people to play in its leagues — with sports such as bowling, darts, rugby, softball, volleyball and tennis — and supporting LGBTQ causes.

“Athletic competition is great for health and wellness for anybody that is able to participate and especially for members of the LGBT community who have traditionally been excluded from those types of environments,” said Putman.

Nys said the network provides a welcoming space for LGBTQ people and anyone who likes sports

“We really emphasize on having everybody participate. No matter what their level of expertise is and that makes it nice and the older generation helps the younger generation as far as being inclusive and everything,” said Nys.

Both Nys and Putman said they have found their community through the MGSN and hope others are able to do the same.