CHARLOTTE — It’s a common scene around town, the sound and sight of a cornhole bag hitting the wooden board at a brewery. But there’s one cornhole league -- while very much as simple as it looks, a group of people gathering for cornhole -- that’s also a significant place of safety, inclusivity and happiness in our community.
“The focus is to have inclusion in all the sports that we can,” says Lauren Bendig, Stonewall Sports Charlotte Commissioner. “So we want everyone to come, LGBTQIA, everyone is welcome, allies, everyone is welcome. So we just are a safe space for people to try new sports -- or some people are really good at the sports and not just trying them -- but we just want a safe space for everyone to come play.”
Stonewall Sports Charlotte offers bowling, cornhole, dodgeball, kickball and volleyball to over 2,000 annual sports players each year.
“I love it here,” Decklan Kempka told us, “I can’t imagine being where I am without the people I met.”
Kempka is one of the cornhole sports officers, and current UNC Charlotte student studying to become a teacher.
>> He shared his journey and connection to the sports league with us in the video above.
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