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The DC Strokes Rowing Club has held a Masters sprint regatta for 30 years. In 2020 and 2021, we held virtual events and have been working to rebuild the team and the Stonewall Regatta. In 2023 we were only able to host a small scrimmage, but we are so excited to be returning to the full expression of the Stonewall Regatta.
Join us June 2, 2024 for a great day of rowing!
Event Information
Registration
Due to the coordination with World Pride 2025, hosted in Washington DC, we are launching a pre-registration form to assist with planning. Regatta Central registration will be linked here when it is open.
INTERESTED IN STONEWALL 2025? Let us know HERE!
Regatta Schedule
Coming Soon for 2025!
Events
Coming Soon for 2025!
Course Map
2025 Stonewall Gender Policy
The event list for Stonewall XXXI continues to follow the redesign from 2024 to reflect the DC Strokes Gender Inclusion Policy. Ensuring that our programs and regatta are welcoming to all individuals is a core value of our organization and DC Strokes Rowing is proud to serve, encourage, and promote the accomplishments of all athletes! We welcome entries from athletes of all gender identities and gender expression.
First, Stonewall Regatta will offer a new nonbinary rower racing category for 1x, 2x, and 4+ boats. Second, mixed gender category masters races will operate under a policy specific to Stonewall Regatta that takes USRowing's gender policy and expands it to make it more inclusive, as described below.
Stonewall Regatta Policy for Mixed Gender Race Category Eligibility: USRowing's policy is that for a masters mixed event, "boat entries in this category must consist of 50% athletes of any gender and 50% athletes assigned as female at birth." Stonewall Regatta's policy is "boat entries in this category can contain EITHER 50% athletes of any gender and 50% athletes assigned female at birth OR 100% athletes of any gender, as long as (1) they are not all the same gender, and (2) each athlete is competing consistent with their other events at Stonewall XXXI, whether that be as their USRowing-identified gender or the gender category that aligns with their sex assigned at birth. Heats will be grouped according to similar entries. This regatta is still a US Rowing sanctioned regatta, and we have worked with US Rowing to pilot this more inclusive approach to events. It may not be perfect, but it is a first step toward increased inclusivity and affirmation.
Why do we have this policy?
The spirit of this policy is to ensure the inclusion of trans and non-binary rowers at Stonewall XXXI without any ambiguity or scrutiny on their part. We recognize there are a number of factors that contribute to an athlete's ability, stamina, and skill that go beyond gender, particularly in the masters rowing community. We recognize someone's self-stated identity is not dependent on whether they have taken any medical steps to align their bodies or hormonal milieus with their identity. Stonewall Regatta was founded first and foremost to make a space for rowers to be able to compete as their authentic selves, at a time when being openly queer still frequently risked personal safety, employment, family ties, and societal acceptance. In that vein, DC Strokes' gender inclusion policy is focused on maximal inclusiveness and affirmation for our trans and nonbinary siblings. Since DC Strokes' founding in 1991 and Stonewall Regatta's founding in 1994, huge strides have been made for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to be able to openly compete in sports. It is now our job to ensure that we work to extend that same freedom to trans and nonbinary athletes.
If you have questions or concerns about this policy or how it is being implemented; or you are uncertain how to apply the policy to your planned entries or if you have correctly done so; etc., please feel free to contact Stonewall Regatta Director Christina Dragon at stonewall@dcstrokes.org for assistance.
Below, we include USRowing's policy to highlight how it contrasts with our regatta's policy.
USRowing Gender Policy & Event Categories
The USRowing Rules of Rowing has only two gender divisions. Their Gender Identity Policy states that any rower "... over the age of 18, who is not considered a youth or collegiate rower, shall be allowed to participate in a rowing activity in accordance with his or her expressed gender identity irrespective of the gender listed on the athlete’s birth certificate and regardless of whether the athlete has undergone any medical treatment."
Event Categories
Starting March 1, 2023, domestic events hosted by USRowing will adopt the following categories for competition. For the sake of clarity, this excludes collegiate events, which are subject to following World Rowing’s policy.
• Women’s Events: Events exclusively for athletes who identify as a woman at the start of the rowing season and/or those who are assigned as female at birth.
• Men’s Events: Events exclusively for athletes who identify as a man at the start of the rowing season and/or those who are assigned as male at birth.
• Mixed Events [masters only]: Boat entries in this category must consist of 50% athletes of any gender and 50% athletes assigned as female at birth.
• Open Gender Event: These events are for athletes of any gender.
Ensuring that our programs and regatta are welcoming to all individuals is a core value of our organization, and DC Strokes Rowing is proud to serve, encourage, and promote the accomplishments of all athletes! We welcome entries from athletes of all gender identities and gender expression.
Read US Rowing's Full Gender Policy
Registration
PEDRO ALCOCER, REGISTRAR
Email: registrar@stonewallregatta.org
Standard registration closes May 5, 2025. Late registration closes May 15, 2025.
Event Shirts
2024 Shirts Still Available!
Fitted Shirts
Non-fitted Shirts
Our long time partner, Rowsource, also makes other rowing-themed shirts, totes, and magnets. Follow this link to see more.
Parking & Directions
The Anacostia Community Boathouse is located on the ancestral lands of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway People, the First Residents of the land that would become the District of Columbia.
Parking for rowers and spectators
Parking for rowers and spectators will be at Maritime Plaza Upper Parking Lot on M Street SE DC, which is approximately 0.5 mile from the boathouse and race course. Upon entering M Street, Regatta volunteers will help direct you to the appropriate location. A free shuttle will offer pick up and drop off service for rowers and spectators between the parking lot and the boathouse. Rowers and spectators may be dropped off closer to the boathouse at the designated drop off location. Boat trailers, car top scullers, race officials and handicapped parking is available at the ACBA Boathouse, 1900 M Street SE, Washington, DC.
REQUIRED: Parking pass must be displayed on all parked vehicles. (Available here!)
THERE WILL A FREE SHUTTLE! Running from 7AM until 4PM.
NOTE: Vehicles parking at non-designated area along northeast direction of M Street SE, DC will be towed or ticketed by the DC Metropolitan Police.
Directions
Enter “38.8782, -76.9796” as your destination.
To the Anacostia Community Boathouse
From I-295 SOUTH: Take the exit (on right) toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Turn right onto O Street SE/Water St SE (first right after the bridge). Turn right onto M Street SE. Continue to the boathouse
From I-295 NORTH: Take the exit (on right) toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Keep left at the fork to continue toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn right onto O Street SE/Water St SE (first right after the bridge). Turn right onto M Street SE. Continue to the boathouse.
From I-395: Take the 11th St SE exit. Turn right on 11th St SE. Turn left onto M Street SE. Continue to the boathouse.
To the Parking Lot at Maritime Plaza
From 295 SOUTH: Take the exit (on right) toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Turn right onto M Street SE. At the circle, turn right into the parking lot. Continue to the end of the parking lot, then turn left into the upper lot.
From 295 NORTH: Take the exit (on right) toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Keep left at the fork to continue toward Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Turn right onto M Street SE. At the circle, turn right into the parking lot. Continue to the end of the parking lot, then turn left into the upper lot.
From I-395: Take the 11th St SE exit. Turn right on 11th St SE. Turn left onto M Street SE. Keep going toward the traffic circle after 11th Street. At the circle, turn right into the parking lot. Continue to the end of the parking lot, then turn left into the upper lot.
Additional
Questions
Can I borrow a boat for myself or my team?
Our club has a limited number of boats (1x, 4+, and 8+) but we will work with you and other clubs and vendors to ensure that you and your team will be able to participate. Please reach out to Emma at operations@dcstrokes.org for more information.
What time could I start bringing boats and equipment to the site?
The boathouse will be opened for trailers from 12 noon to 5pm on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Please contact the regatta director for an arrival time. Trailers for large boats must be at the site no later than 6:30 AM on regatta day, and gates will be open starting at 5:30 AM regatta day. Car tops for singles will be accommodated all day on a first come first, serve basis. All boats and trailers must vacate the site no later than 6 PM on regatta day. Please contact the regatta director if you plan on arriving outside of these times or plan to leave trailer or boats overnight before or after the regatta.
Could we practice on the race course?
The course will be available for practice from 12 noon to 3pm on Saturday, June 1, the day before the regatta. All boats must follow established river traffic pattern.
Can I give you money to sponsor this event?
Yes! Contact Peter Heisler at development@dcstrokes.org.
I have a question that isn't answered here, can I contact the Regatta Director?
Yes! Email the director, Christina Dragon, at stonewall@dcstrokes.org. Please note our new email!
Stonewall Sponsors 2024
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History
Every summer, rowers and spectators from around the greater Washington DC area, nation, and globe gather in Washington, DC for the Stonewall Regatta, hosted by the DC Strokes Rowing Club (DCSRC). Stonewall is the only regatta in North America hosted by a Gay & Lesbian rowing team.
The first Stonewall Regatta was held in 1994 during Gay Games IV in New York City. About a year before the Games, DC Strokes Rowing Club (DCSRC) learned that the host committee for the NYC Games was dropping rowing from the sports line-up, and subsequently decided to organize an independent regatta to run concurrently with the Games.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village in 1969, considered the start of the gay civil rights movement, this regatta was named "Stonewall Regatta."
The original regatta occurred at the Orchard beach Race Course in Pelham Bay State Park, site of the 1964 Olympic Rowing Trials. The event was such a success that DCSRC decided to bring it home to Washington, D.C., where it has since been held every June, typically coinciding with DC Pride festivities.
Stonewall Regatta follows the commitment of DCSRC to bridge gaps between communities by building an inclusive environment and educating the public not only about rowing, but also contributions by the LGBTQI+ community and DCSRC. The event promotes true sportsmanship in an open and inclusive environment, created not only by the participants themselves, but also by the event sponsors and volunteers.
Stonewall does not just highlight and promote rowing in the LGBTQI+ community. The regatta also kicks off the circuit of adult sprint race competitions in the mid-Atlantic region and draws serious rowers of all stripes from throughout the area.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the regatta pivoted to virtual events but we are excited to again host all rowers and spectators to the ACBA boathouse in what we hope will be a return to the before times!
Contact Us
CHRISTINA DRAGON, REGATTA DIRECTOR
PETER HEISLER, SPONSORSHIPS