Football team unfurls huge LGBT banner to support pride month
A team from the National Women’s Soccer League has showed their solidarity for pride month by unfurling a huge LGBT banner.
Fans of Portland Thorns FC displayed the multicolour flag which read “we are family,” at a match against Sky Blue on Wednesday.
The design featured an assortment of different trans and queer symbols, including a trans and non-binary flag.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women’s soccer league, run by the United States Soccer Federation.
The NWSL tweeted the gif of the flag being hoisted around fans and to the top of the stadium during the game on Wednesday.
Even more soccer! And plenty more #Pride Live from Portland, right now.#PORvNJ | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/N1qtR7CZGN
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 28, 2018
There are multiple out gay women who play professional football in the NWSL league.
Washington Spirit player Joanna Lohman recorded a message for pride month which was posted by the NWSL league on Twitter.
"By living openly and honestly as a gay woman, I'm able to make an impact by making other people feel comfortable in their own skin."@JoannaLohman x #pride x @lifetimetv pic.twitter.com/3uo4XNtOBr— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 26, 2018
The display of solidarity comes as attention is on the men’s football World Cup. The competition, which is being held in Russia, has been criticised for being held in an anti-LGBT country.
LGBT people in Russia are worried that the relaxed policing towards the community will end after the World Cup is over.
The head of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation, Aleksandr Agapov said authorities have been relaxed in applying the country’s “gay propaganda” laws during the tournament, according to the Press Association.
Football fans, including England spectators, have been able to bring pride rainbow flags into stadiums so far – which was promised before the tournament by Fifa and the Russian football association.
