In 1994, some people in South Florida wanted to start a softball league for those who liked playing the game. They formed the South Florida Softball League (SFSL) with George Kessinger, Jim Stork, and Bob Hagen leading the way. It started small with mostly bartenders and servers but soon grew to 16 teams. In 1999, the league added a women's division and changed the name to the South Florida Amateur Athletic Association (SFAAA). This year marks the 30th anniversary of gay softball in Fort Lauderdale, where anyone from the LGBTQ community and their friends can join in. Since 1995, the league organized the Hurricane Showdown tournament during Thanksgiving weekend, with around 70 teams and over 1,000 players from all over the country participating. It has two playing seasons, fall and spring, with the spring season being the time when teams can qualify for the Gay Softball World Series. This year, 32 teams and over 500 players from the South Florida Amateur Athletic Association (SFAAA) are competing to represent their division at the series in Las Vegas. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, SFAAA has planned many events throughout the year. It will start with an Opening Weekend at Mills Pond Park, featuring exhibition games with Hall of Fame members, past and present board members, and other longtime players. The festivities will begin at noon on Sunday, on February 25, with games running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The community is invited to join in celebrating LGBTQ+ softball in South Florida and the league's milestone anniversary. #Queer Up Sports