Actually, you don’t have to be a tennis fan to enjoy Shiv Paul’s new documentary short Queens at Court.

The delightful film follows four tennis players – some likely some unlikely – who have found community (and more, but why would I include spoilers?) through participating in the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance.

Queens at Court will screen in Winston-Salem Wednesday night, and Paul will be present for a Q & A session following the film.

What’s somewhat remarkable about the screening, given the reluctance of many major sports organizations to acknowledge much less embrace sexual diversity, is that this particular screening is sponsored by the United States Tennis Association, one of three cities where the USTA is showing the film this summer (the other two are Washington, DC and Toronto).

I know. Surprising. And, your ticket to the film also gets you an evening of tennis at the Winston-Salem Open.

Here’s the deal:

Wednesday, August 20
5 p.m.
Deacon Tower, 475 Deacon Boulevard

$20 gets you the film screening, Q & A, cocktails, hors d-oeuvres, and a ticket to the evening session of the Winston-Salem Open. Sounds like a great deal to me.

For tickets call 336.758.6409 and provide code QAC14 or visit www.winstonsalemopen.com, click on Tickets, click on Buy Tickets, click on Presales/Promotions and enter code QAC14.

I don’t think wearing tennis whites is mandatory. (Couldn’t resist that.)