‘A great sense of togetherness’: How the Liberty Open encouraged LGBTQ+ inclusion and community on and off the court

After graduating college, Phillips was looking to get back into the game and find a social space, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. That’s when he found out about Metropolitan Tennis Group (MTG), a volunteer-run, non-profit community that unites LGBTQ+ people through the power of tennis. MTG recently hosted one of its biggest events, The Liberty Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. A premier tournament on the Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA) World Tour, The Liberty Open brought together approximately 150 players for an inspiring and welcoming singles and doubles competition. 

As a new MTG board member, Phillips was excited to volunteer and play the event. He felt inspired by the encouragement, happiness and safety the event exuded. 

“There was such a great sense of togetherness,” Phillips said. “It's really important to have a safe space for queer people … where you can play tennis with someone who is queer like yourself or as an ally. You see people expressing their gender or their sexuality in ways they might not feel comfortable in a different kind of competitive environment. 

“The sense of community in the queer community often comes from places that are less traditional. Queer spaces are smaller and harder to find, whereas straight spaces are everywhere,” Ko explained. “Having tennis and these sporting events, there's a shared purpose … a shared space where we're all striving towards the same thing.” 

Another tournament attendee, Thomas Wei, was floored by this year’s event. He’s played tennis for several decades and has been a part of MTG events for about 10 years, but this was the first Liberty Open he was able to join. The location, alone, was thrilling for him. 

“It's so special,” Wei said. “The fact that we are able to play on the same courts as the professionals who play in the US Open is just an amazing experience.”