The Top Spin on Houston Tennis Club by Sally A. Huffer

Lyn Ramsey tears himself away from Brun Street Gallery and is one of the first to show up, ready to socialize a bit after spraying himself with mosquito repellant. Joel Johnson makes it to Memorial Park’s tennis courts from the theater district downtown, and David Akalal treks all the way from Galveston. On this day, newcomer Kevin decides he wants to start playing tennis again and hopes to be able to fit it into his busy schedule of marathon training and bowling.

Like many tennis players, they all love the game. All four are there to play tennis with Houston Tennis Club, an organization that promotes the enjoyment of tennis among Houston’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender population.

Founded in 1980, Houston Tennis Club reserves courts three days a week at Memorial for its members, who pay an annual membership of $25, and $3 or $5 in court fees when they show up to play.

One can’t help but notice the diversity of the men as they show up before the matches actually begin, spanning various age groups and ethnic backgrounds. According to the club’s social director, Danny Kallen, "We would love to have more women come out and play tennis, and for that matter, transgender people, too."

All that matters is that you have your own tennis racquet. Players are ranked A to D (A, as in "Able to leap center net in a single bound," versus D, "Don't fret about the rules, just keep the ball in play"), and the club tries its best to match players with similar skills. That is, unless it’s the "Promiscuous Doubles" games. The wordplay has to do with the fact that during the event, someone blows a whistle and the players trade doubles partners every 20 minutes, so everyone gets to play with everyone else, regardless of ability level.

David Akalal, 28, and Joel Johnson, 39, joined a little more than two years ago. Both men moved to Houston about five years ago–David from the Philippines and Joel from New York City–and both were pleased to find a place where they could fraternize with other GLBT players. Says David jokingly, who considers himself a "C" player, "I like playing [with the Houston Tennis Club] because I can prance around the court and just be myself, and if I squeal, nobody looks at me funny." Joel, an "A" player, adds that all of his friends are from Houston Tennis Club because they are real, down-to-earth people.

The players socialize throughout the year, not just on the tennis courts, although the members are careful to point out that it’s not a pick-up group. They have pool parties, dinners, game nights, and bowling nights. Last month they enjoyed a cruise together out of Kemah. This year they also held a garage sale and raised $500. David Heiland, Houston Tennis Club president, says the organization also gives back to the GLBT community. In the past, they have given $4,000 to AIDS Foundation Houston and $5,000 to the Assistance Fund.

Houston Tennis Club is gearing up for its annual tournament, the HOUTEX21, November 10-12, at the Memorial Park tennis courts. Sanctioned by the national Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA), Houston Tennis Club is expecting some 150 players–about half from cities around the country. All spectators are welcome, and admission is free.

Houston Tennis Club meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:15 p.m., and Sundays, 10:30 a.m. For more information about the tournament or Houston Tennis Club, check out www.houstontennisclub.org.