Pride flags at DC United games

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Was this satire? If not you have problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

OP, great question. One, that I am sure, only a sociologist with a minor in athletics and LGBT studies could potentially address. I am a middle aged cis (a woke term lol) straight male with a family who has noticed the same thing as you. But, I have lived here in DC for 20 years now. I will say, your peculiar observation is really tied a lot more to the Spirit games -vs- the DC United games. But, even in the men's game, there is still a very active effort to root out our homophobic hatred. *See the FIFA rule to stop a games anywhere, but particularly in Latin American countries with the have Homophobic Chants occurring during the game. And as a result, MLS has been working hard to create a very welcoming atmosphere for everyone, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. -Which is great.

But, I will say, the NWSL and Spirit took the mantra and ran with it, even promoting LGBTQ+ themes such as Drag Queen pre-game festivals in the stadium before kickoff. Which, for most folks, just wanting to watch a soccer game, seems a bit much and out of place. I mean, I wouldn't even want to watch heterosexual male and female models on a catwalk strutting their stuff to trendy music before a game, in any sport, ever.

But, alas, we can all get along and find room for everyone. Which is all I think the LGBTQ+ crowd is trying to do.
It is what it is. Your observations are accurate. But, in the end, it's just one of those things. And DC, in its current state of activism, this seems to be par for the course.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE ALLIE WOMBAT!

[Anonymous]

I knew Allie Wombat when she was in middle school. You used to chew tobacco. Big time brut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Does it bother you?

[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.

Yes, every Spirit match, I fear it will be the one where they convert my kid.

[Anonymous]

People who pay to see women’s soccer are very strange. I mean they go into dc, pay for parking, the beer is expensive, and the soccer is not that good. Then you add all the flags into the equation and just becomes a very odd event. I’m glad they are having fun but not for me.

[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.

+1

+1!!!!

[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.

Yes, every Spirit match, I fear it will be the one where they convert my kid.

If your kid isn’t a geigh they’re not going to “convert” your kid. That’s not how it works! A flag doesn’t convert anyone from straight to geigh.

[Anonymous]

Why are all NWSL games a gay pride event whereas NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL about the sport?

I hate any and all kiss cams, proposals, etc. at all sporting events.

Don't ask for more money when your league does what it can to make it a hostile environment to anyone who isn't LGBTQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are all NWSL games a gay pride event whereas NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL about the sport?

I hate any and all kiss cams, proposals, etc. at all sporting events.

Don't ask for more money when your league does what it can to make it a hostile environment to anyone who isn't LGBTQ.

Yes, NFL games are about “sport.” That’s why they have military fly overs, celebrate the police state, and banned Colin Kaepernick for having the temerity to quietly kneel in hopes that our country could be better than it is.

If a couple rainbow flags make you think you’re in a “hostile” environment you’re a pretty big snowflake ❄️.

[Anonymous]

The other sports don't have seating sections for fans clubs where flags are allowed. The United's first fan club was Barra Brava, a primarily Latino club. Then the Screaming Eagles started up with mostly white members. (There were other clubs, but SE and BB were the main ones.) The SE started adding the rainbows about the time that the team was preparing to leave RFK, just one banner at first.

The groups got along at RFK, which was huge and gave them space. At Audi Field the SE started focusing more on the rainbow flags and less on the team. Which led to conflicts with the rowdy BB members. SE worked with the club and got BB members removed from the stadium and took over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Was this satire? If not you have problems.

Not at all. I’m sick of all the straight white people (so many men) who claim to support our community but who have never immersed themselves in it. Never tried a SS partner to see how it feels. Never actually worn the rainbow. Never explored whether they’re at home in their gender. Kudos to the Spirit for taking baby steps but it’s time to go to the next level. I want the full immersive experience, and sporting events are a great place for it. I would invite NFL/Commanders fans to consider doing the same. Only then can you really be an ally.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Thank you sis. I’m so sick of white cis men and women using the LGBT community to astroturf their “support” for my “rights.”

“I’m straight but I love seeing the pride flag at soccer games” is like saying “I have a black friend.”

You don’t get to buy in to the movement by just observing the cake. It doesn’t work like that and in fact it sets us back decades. Download the apps. Get your hands wet. Find a true experience rather than always glazing us.

D-C-U-NI-TED for life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Maybe it’s because that group of people feel welcome there. Wouldn’t you want to go where you feel welcome and are around many people like you? That’s a good part of the dc soccer fan base and so the stadium embraces it. Imagine if LGBTQ people felt this welcome everywhere.