Pride flags at DC United games

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Tell me you never sat in Fenway bleachers without...

[Anonymous]

NWSL targets their fan experience to 2% of the general population then complains and screams at the 98% who are turned off by the atmosphere. Yet the 2% complain when stars go to Europe for more money.

There's a reason why NWSL games struggle to fill the lower bowls of a stadium. Can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want it to be a drag party don't expect paying customers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWSL targets their fan experience to 2% of the general population then complains and screams at the 98% who are turned off by the atmosphere. Yet the 2% complain when stars go to Europe for more money.

There's a reason why NWSL games struggle to fill the lower bowls of a stadium. Can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want it to be a drag party don't expect paying customers.

Spirit attendance is great. They arent complaining or screaming about anything. Last nights game sold out. NWSL has been the fastest growing (growth rate obviously not absolute dollars) sports league for several years. In attendance and revenue. The only league growing faster is the WNBA. Sponsors follow the eyeballs. People are interested and following the stars and the games. Maybe it’s not for you or other traditional sports fans. But that’s not the market they are going after. It’s thenon-traditional sports fans like women, girls, families, lgbt, etc which are a huge market of people who aren’t interested in NFL or MLB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWSL targets their fan experience to 2% of the general population then complains and screams at the 98% who are turned off by the atmosphere. Yet the 2% complain when stars go to Europe for more money.

There's a reason why NWSL games struggle to fill the lower bowls of a stadium. Can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want it to be a drag party don't expect paying customers.

I've never seen a drag party at a sporting event
But, if there was a drag party in section 420 not blocking my view, what do I care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pride flags are a symbol of an oppressive mindset. It says we will cancel you and hate you if you don't like us. Similar to MAGA hats

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWSL targets their fan experience to 2% of the general population then complains and screams at the 98% who are turned off by the atmosphere. Yet the 2% complain when stars go to Europe for more money.

There's a reason why NWSL games struggle to fill the lower bowls of a stadium. Can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want it to be a drag party don't expect paying customers.

Boston’s debut match today had over 30k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Some of us don't need to "explore" to find out if we're "at home in our gender."

We also don't wear or display the rainbow in association with gay rights, as we believe in the true meaning of rainbows. The rainbow is a symbol of God's promise to humanity, not gay rights.

Oh, and I couldn't care less about being an "ally."

Was that promise a pot of gold? Bc I thought that was a leprechaun 🍀 not god, although I can see how such fairy creatures might be confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pride flags are a symbol of an oppressive mindset. It says we will cancel you and hate you if you don't like us. Similar to MAGA hats

Snowflake ❄️

[Anonymous]

Just a quick shout out to the friendly Audi Field staffer who helps the Grindr community find “safe space” on game days iykyk

[Anonymous]

The team has lost its fan base long ago. Just let the people who know nothing about the game show up with the flags they choose, it’s the only fans left aside from families who bring their kids to have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Some of us don't need to "explore" to find out if we're "at home in our gender."

We also don't wear or display the rainbow in association with gay rights, as we believe in the true meaning of rainbows. The rainbow is a symbol of God's promise to humanity, not gay rights.

Oh, and I couldn't care less about being an "ally."

Was that promise a pot of gold? Bc I thought that was a leprechaun 🍀 not god, although I can see how such fairy creatures might be confused.

I thought it was just light reflecting prismatically through water but if it reflects god’s promise of acceptance to everyone that’s fine with me.

There’s a reason Jesus hung out with harlots and prostitutes instead of judgmental Pharisees. And he spent most of his adult life hanging out with twelves other dudes. You do the math what was happening there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick shout out to the friendly Audi Field staffer who helps the Grindr community find “safe space” on game days iykyk

I found my friend Lana at a game there one time, I thought that was just pure luck didn’t reallize it is a thing?

[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.

Being gay isn't policitcal. A soccer team celebrating its gay fans isn't political. It's business and marketing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Washington Spirit no longer has Pride Night or Juneteeth as of 2026.

Nothing for any group should be celebrated anywhere at anytime on any day

Since nothing will make everyone happy

There are all kinds of annual celebrations and parades for groups that I'm not a part of and I haven't been affected by any in my 45+ years

Don't you cancel my St. PAatrick's Day parade!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NFL Cheerleaders would like a word.