AbFab: More than a club, a human story since ’98.
AbFab was founded in September 1998 in Lausanne, at a time when LGBTQIA+ visibility in sports was still limited. The idea emerged in the wake of the Gay Games in Amsterdam, with the conviction that it was essential to create an inclusive, safe, and pride-inspiring sports environment.
The objective was simple but ambitious: to offer a place where everyone could play volleyball without judgment, without having to hide, with the freedom to be fully themselves.
From the outset, AbFab was not built solely around sports. The project was based on a strong belief: sports are a vector for integration, cohesion, and empowerment. It wasn’t just about playing volleyball; it was about creating a community. A community where diversity is a strength, where commitment is sincere, and where conviviality is part of the club’s DNA.
The early years were about building. Finding venues, gathering players, structuring the association, convincing, reassuring. At the time, creating an openly LGBTQIA+ club was almost an activist challenge. But motivation and determination allowed the project to grow. Little by little, word-of-mouth worked, training sessions developed, and bonds were formed.
Over time, AbFab has evolved while remaining faithful to its fundamental values: • Inclusion • Respect • Solidarity • Performance with pleasure • Community engagement
About fifteen years ago, the club took another important step by also opening up to non-LGBTQIA+ individuals. This evolution happened naturally, driven by the club’s values. This diversity is now a real asset. It demonstrates that sports bring people together far beyond orientations and identities.
AbFab remains an LGBTQIA+ club, affirmed in its history and identity, open to anyone who adheres to its values. What unites its members is not a label; it’s a state of mind.
The club has always strived to maintain a balance between competitive spirit and a welcoming atmosphere. Yes, we play to win. But never at the expense of respect. The court is a space for effort and self-improvement, but also for laughter, mutual support, and sharing.
Over the years, AbFab has helped strengthen LGBTQIA+ visibility in the sports landscape of Lausanne and Switzerland. By participating in tournaments in Switzerland and Europe and by collaborating with other organizations, the club has demonstrated that an LGBTQIA+ association can be successful, structured, and fully integrated into the local sports fabric.
A significant turning point in its history was the creation of a league team. This project marks a new stage. It symbolizes the club’s maturity, stability, and ambition. Entering a league means asserting that inclusion and sporting excellence are not incompatible. It also sends a strong message: diversity has its rightful place in competition.
For over twenty-five years, AbFab has not just been a volleyball club. It is a space for encounters, sometimes the starting point for lasting friendships. For many, it is a place where they found their niche. For others, a framework for self-improvement and fulfillment.
The club has navigated societal changes, shifts in mentality, and organizational challenges, while remaining true to its mission: to promote sports in an inclusive, open, and respectful environment.
Today, AbFab looks to the future with ambition: to continue developing its teams, strengthening its competitive presence, welcoming new members, and consolidating its local roots.
Since September 1998, AbFab has been writing a story of commitment, courage, and cohesion. What started as a bold initiative has become a solid and recognized structure.
Because ultimately, volleyball is important. But what we build together is even more so.
Thomas Bloch Club Founder and Honorary President