LezVolley Returns To Fire Island

Featured Image: LezVolley photo by Liz Arocena.

Since 2011, LezVolley has been a haven for sporty lesbians and those who love them, looking to escape the city and soak up the Fire Island sun. For one weekend, queer women descend on Cherry Grove for a volleyball tournament filled with competition, fun, partying, and of course, bikini-clad sapphics. LezVolley has become an essential event for creating joy and fostering real community.

Last year’s games marked a massive turning point for LezVolley’s mission. 

After one team’s complaint over a trans man’s participation, the 2024 games erupted into confused chaos and were abruptly canceled. LezVolley founder Danielle Stanziale was left unsure how to move forward, and many longtime supporters wondered what the future held for the event. Rather than ignore her community’s voices, Stanziale decided last year’s cancellation would pave the way for LezVolley to make intentional inclusivity a real priority, ensuring that all trans and nonbinary players feel welcome at the tournament. 

This year, the team ‘Transgender Upset’ will take to the court with the goal of supporting trans and nonbinary inclusion in sports, one tournament at a time. 

“Transgender Upset is more than a team— it’s a movement,” their sponsorship deck states. “Transgender Upset’s presence at this year’s LezVolley reflects a growing movement to carve out affirming, empowering spaces in LGBTQ+ athletics where every identity is celebrated both on and off the court. Looking ahead, we are building a nationwide network of queer athletes, supporters, and safe spaces for competition.”

With these essential changes, LezVolley is taking a huge step towards a truly thought-out event with the larger LGBTQ+ community in mind. Ahead of this year’s tournament on August 9, GO sat down with Stanziale to discuss lessons learned, the importance of inclusion, the future of the tournament, and celebrating the joy of community. 

GO: We’re glad to hear that LezVolley is back, reincarnated as a fully inclusive event. Tell us about the journey of LezVolley from its first incarnation to now.

Danielle Stanziale: LezVolley began 14 years ago as a lesbian event with a handful of friends and eight teams playing for fun. Since then, it’s grown into a major event with 25–30 teams, a live beach DJ, sponsorships from LGBTQIA+ supportive brands, and regular media coverage. Our after party is legendary, and for the past few years, LezVolley has proudly been named one of the best lesbian events on Fire Island. It’s been amazing to see our community show up, grow, and make this event their own.

There are varying accounts of last year’s tournament and the chaos that followed. Can you tell us, in your own words, why last year’s LezVolley tournament was canceled? 

Up until last year, LezVolley was a women’s event, meaning cis men and trans men weren’t allowed to play, though trans women and nonbinary players were welcomed. One team had a trans man on their roster, and another team raised a concern. To follow the rules as they stood, we asked the player to step off the court. The crowd split—some saw it as exclusionary, others defended the policy. Emotions escalated, things turned hostile, and in the interest of safety, I made the decision to cancel the tournament on the spot.

Do you have any regrets about how the situation was handled?

Yes, absolutely. I wish I’d taken more time to de-escalate, to encourage calm and compassionate discussion. I also regret giving the mic to others during the conflict—it added tension instead of resolving it. That moment taught me to listen better, act with care, and protect the space we’ve worked so hard to create. I carry that lesson forward every day.

After last year’s event, there was a town hall organized to address the issues behind the cancellation, and to allow everyone to speak their mind, including trans men. How did hearing from these men, and from others who have participated in LezVolley for a long time, help you understand how to better approach this year’s tournament?

Hearing from trans men, many of whom were once part of the lesbian community, made me realize how much they missed feeling included. Some had even played in past tournaments, and being told they could no longer participate felt, to them, like erasure. Their words reminded me how important it is to listen, especially when we don’t fully understand. That conversation led us to expand, educate, and grow.

How can you ensure that participants will be willing and happy to play against trans men in the tournament?

We held space to listen—to trans men, to players, to the community. The town hall conversations and feedback were powerful. People want to play, and they want to play together. Since making the changes, we’ve had overwhelming support. We’re healing, we’re growing, and this year feels like a celebration of how strong our community really is.

What safeguards have you put in place to ensure this year will be a better, fully inclusive tournament?

We started by listening. Then we educated ourselves—and our entire staff, volunteers, and referees—on what it means to create a truly inclusive and safe space. I personally spoke with each team and staff member to make sure everyone knows this event is for all LGBTQIA+ people, and that everyone deserves to feel seen, respected, and celebrated.

How is LezVolley being categorized this year, and how is that different from last year?

LezVolley is still primarily a women-focused tournament, but now it’s fully open to anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, with the exception, respectfully, of cis men. This includes (but isn’t limited to) trans men, nonbinary folks, and gender-expansive individuals. In the past, while trans women and nonbinary folks could play, trans men had not been included. That’s changed—and we’re proud to welcome them this year and moving forward.

How many teams are playing in this year’s tournament?

We’re thrilled to have 25 teams playing this year—including, for the first time ever, a team comprised almost entirely of trans men. It’s an exciting and powerful milestone that shows just how far we’ve come. The support we’ve seen from players, spectators, and the broader community proves that inclusion makes us stronger, and we can’t wait to see everyone compete and celebrate together on the beach.

What can spectators expect from LezVolley this year?

An incredible, joyful day! Expect a high-energy beach tournament with music from our DJ, dancing in the sand, and a crowd full of love and laughter. This is a truly inclusive space where all LGBTQIA+ folks can feel welcome, safe, and free to be themselves. It’s a family and dog-friendly event that’s just as much about community as it is about volleyball.

We know that so many volunteers work with the staff to produce the event. What can you tell us about that? 

We love our volunteers—they help bring the heart and soul to LezVolley! Whether it’s helping with setup, selling raffle tickets, or gathering votes for our incredible Love, Shea Award, nicknamed the Team Favorite Award, we’ll find a role where you can shine. We couldn’t do it without our community pitching in.

Where’s THE party, post-LezVolley?

We’re back at our original home—Cherry’s on the Bay—for the official after party! It’s free for all players and open to everyone. This party has always been a highlight of the weekend: great music, amazing vibes, and a chance for our whole community to come together, unwind, and celebrate after a beautiful day on the beach.

And for those players and spectators making a full weekend of it…tell us about the Sunday parties following the tournament? 

Aside from our Cherry’s after party on Saturday night (which is always packed), Sunday offers the iconic afternoon pool show at the Ice Palace, and Cherry’s also hosts an amazing drag show later that night. Fire Island is full of inclusive queer spaces, and LezVolley weekend brings out the very best of them.

Are you happy with how LezVolley has evolved?

Absolutely! Growth is part of our responsibility as a queer community. We made mistakes, we listened, and we changed. I’m proud that LezVolley is now more inclusive, more loving, and more aligned with the values we stand for. We’re committed to creating a space where everyone—especially the most marginalized among us—feels welcome and celebrated.

You can follow LezVolley on Instagram @lezvolley and find directions to the tournament on Saturday, August 9 at https://www.lezvolley.com/directions.