Pride flags at DC United games

[Anonymous]

I have a sincere question, not trying to debate anything or set anyone off, so trolls please stay away.

My family recently moved to this area and attended a few DC United and Washington Spirit games. We have also been to Caps, Nats, and Wizards games. I noticed at the soccer events there are many pride flags - way more than I see at the other sports. Like more LGBT flags than even DC United flags.

What is the connection between soccer—more than other sports—and the LGBT community? I understand some of the culture on the women’s side with figures like Abbie Wombat but what on the men’s side.

Helpful answers only. Tyia

[Anonymous]

DC has lots of gay people and lots of them like sports. Teams do pride nights and other events. Teams will market to any group with disposable income and there are a lot of rich gay people here.

[Anonymous]

But why isn’t this true at Wizards games?

[Anonymous]

Wizards have been around longer and already had a fan base. United is the newest men's major league team here

[Anonymous]

With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

+1

[Anonymous]

We're going for the first time this evening, and looking forward to it even more!

Signed, Straight cis-gendered parent bringing two young teens.

[Anonymous]

See I have the opposite view. I think NWSL should go further and have LGBTQIA2S-only nights (to make up for the decades of discrimination we faced) or at least hand out pride flags at the gates and force people to adopt our messaging. If you refuse to drape yourself in the pride flag or wear a NWSL rainbow shirt you’re a bigot as far as I’m concerned. I don’t want to risk being around straight people that are unwilling to love me and my partner for who we are. Thank you to NWSL for going this far but it’s time to take it to the next level. I also think we should have medical testing and gender specialists at the games for people who are exploring or who need critical services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

Tell me you are a privileged cis white person without telling me.....

Question - how do you feel about the kiss cam at sporting events? If they were regularly featuring gay couples kissing, would you be railing against that too? Because if you've never railed against a kiss cam at a sporting event, you don't support gay rights the way you claim. You are comfortable with heterosexuality only.

I have been to many Spirit games and had a rollicking good time and the number of pride flags wasn't even something that crossed my mind. I was too busy enjoying the game and having fun. It must be so tiring to be so obsessed with suppressing other people's civil rights and expression.

[Anonymous]

It is a better place than a stadium full of drunk and rowdy hetero cis males.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

I also go to sporting events to watch sports and don't want to be distracted by gay rights or other political issues. I manage to succeed in that by watching the game and not bringing any signs or flags of my own. So far, no one has complained that I wasn't paying enough attention to their pride flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a better place than a stadium full of drunk and rowdy hetero cis males.

Came here for the misandry. Was not disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

Tell me you are a privileged cis white person without telling me.....

Question - how do you feel about the kiss cam at sporting events? If they were regularly featuring gay couples kissing, would you be railing against that too? Because if you've never railed against a kiss cam at a sporting event, you don't support gay rights the way you claim. You are comfortable with heterosexuality only.

I have been to many Spirit games and had a rollicking good time and the number of pride flags wasn't even something that crossed my mind. I was too busy enjoying the game and having fun. It must be so tiring to be so obsessed with suppressing other people's civil rights and expression.

OP here. I can understand this point, but why is this more pronounced at soccer games than say at Nats or Wizards or Commanders games? I’m just curious what it is about professional soccer vs other sports. Purely sociological question, no judgment!

[Anonymous]

I’ve lived here now for more than half my life so my sports “teams” are more varied than DC.

That said, I’m not gay, but that’s a huge part of our DMV culture. Accordingly, I love that our team supports that part of this area. I don’t find it “over politicized”, I find it to be a safe and inclusive place and am glad my kids see it. Had never felt overdone to me, just the same as NBA playing hip hop during games, etc. It’s a normal extension of the product the fanbase wants and pays for.

If you don’t like it, whatever. Don’t go. I tend to think you’re in the minority though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the NWSL, it isn't just the pride flags. All the political messaging too. Some people just want to escape politics and enjoy sports. I hate bringing my daughter to a game because of it, even though I support gay rights. Just asking for one place that isn't hyper politicized.

I know a bunch of other families feel the same way on my daughter's team. The NWSL should allow promote LGBTQ+, host Pride days etc. but it doesn't need to have it everywhere in the stadium and make that the focal point of the sport. It is a terrible decision to market and dedicate your product to a small group of consumers.

Man, I hate wading into these debates, because there's really no winning them. So, You hate taking your DD to games because folks are waving pride flags and there is other, most likely liberal, political messaging, yet you support gay rights? Wow. That's rich. Would you feel equally bothered if folks were waving Turning Point and Trump 2028 flags? It's all or nothing right? Maybe only team flags should be allowed. That would end it for sure, right.

And to the OP that started the topic on this thread - you knew exactly what you were doing. Throwing gas on a fire.