Players to dress as female nurses, first responders at controversial Delhi Skirt Game Friday

After months of heated debate, an annual game in Delhi Township featuring men dressing up like female celebrities and playing a game to raise money for charity will go on as planned.

On Friday at Delhi Park, male softball players will follow this year's theme and dress as female nurses and first responders to play the 45th Annual Delhi Skirt game.

The Delhi Skirt Game began in 1978 as a league softball game where the loser dressed up in women's clothes to raise money for a young child hurt in a bicycle accident. That first game raised $2,500.

Sherri DeMoss, on the Skirt Game Committee's board of directors, said over the years, Delhi Skirt Game events have raised over $1 million, assisting area families with special needs. "We have a lot of families in Delhi that we've helped, and if it weren't for the game, they would've been homeless," DeMoss said. "We do this to help our neighbors. All of the proceeds go right back to the community."

Community debate: Is the Skirt Game offensive?

As plans were underway for the 2022 Delhi Skirt Game, a resident expressed to the committee and members of the Delhi Township Board of Trustees that, as a trans individual, they found the game hurtful and offensive. Each year, Delhi Township authorizes a contract with the Skirt Game Committee that allows Delhi Park to be the venue. Some questioned why the trustees permitted the Skirt Game to use the park for an "offensive" event.

Some residents began advocating to trustees and the event committee the softball game shouldn't feature male players dressed as women. The proposed change was met with swift anger by other Delhi residents, leading to months of tense meetings and letters and emails to officials.

Some residents wanted to change the theme because they felt it was sexist and not family-friendly. The writers offered ideas on how the game could keep its mission of raising money without men dressing up as women.

Trustees received letters opposing the skirt game and letters advocating against changing the game's theme.

Demoss said she wasn't surprised that many people in Delhi felt strongly about keeping the game's theme.

"I live in Delhi. I know it is a big deal to people, especially those with a legacy in it where their grandpa or dad played," Demoss said. She said an overwhelming response from the community to keep the game's tradition of players dressing as women is why the committee didn't make a change. She said the committee took the time to get feedback from residents because they wanted everyone's voice to be heard.

"I think if there is one person that feels insulted, we owe people that opportunity to speak and give us their opinion and feedback," DeMoss said. "The community was very supportive of the men dressing up. There's nothing bad meant by it."

DeMoss said they have more businesses sponsoring the event this year and a few more volunteers compared to previous years. She thinks the discussion around the game has spread the word of its charitable mission.

The game will go on. So will the debate.

She said she wouldn't be surprised if there's further debate in the future about the Skirt Game. Her main hope is the game stays for years to come and continues to raise money for her community.

"There are always ways to improve. As more volunteers or younger people are involved, they'll have new ideas," DeMoss said. "The whole goal is to raise money, to give back to needy people in our neighborhood. As long as we do that, I think it could last forever."

The 45th annual Delhi Skirt game starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at Delhi Park, 5125 Foley Road, followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Male players to dress up at Delhi Skirt Game on Friday after criticism