Posted on Aug 19, 2023
Fifa 2023 Women's World Cup: 'Good, queer joy' on and off the pitch
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Immediately after winning the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup game against the Netherlands, now-retired champion Megan Rapinoe ran towards the sidelines and kissed her long-time girlfriend, WNBA star Sue Bird. The moment was seen around the world – and it took the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community to a new level.
Rapinoe is not the first openly gay football player – that was Lily Parr in the 1920s – and more than 96 athletes in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup are out today. Experts and viewers alike say the door has increasingly swung open for LGBTQ+ athletes to express their true selves.
They are eagerly walking through it. This year, the competition has become a display of inclusivity and representation.
TikTok influencer Jackie J (@jcubehax) refers to this series as “good, queer joy”. Throughout the Women’s World Cup, Jackie J has posted videos of the best moments of the games and sideline romances, including a dramatic montage of the controversies, plays and relationships in the Spain v Netherlands knock-out round; and a heart-warming proposal to Australia’s Emily van Egmond by girlfriend Kat Thompson after a 4-0 win against Canada.
Rapinoe is not the first openly gay football player – that was Lily Parr in the 1920s – and more than 96 athletes in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup are out today. Experts and viewers alike say the door has increasingly swung open for LGBTQ+ athletes to express their true selves.
They are eagerly walking through it. This year, the competition has become a display of inclusivity and representation.
TikTok influencer Jackie J (@jcubehax) refers to this series as “good, queer joy”. Throughout the Women’s World Cup, Jackie J has posted videos of the best moments of the games and sideline romances, including a dramatic montage of the controversies, plays and relationships in the Spain v Netherlands knock-out round; and a heart-warming proposal to Australia’s Emily van Egmond by girlfriend Kat Thompson after a 4-0 win against Canada.
Fifa 2023 Women's World Cup: 'Good, queer joy' on and off the pitch
Posted from bbc.com
LGBTQ+
Soccer
Posted 9 mo ago
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Celebrate the excellence and the win. Choose what that celebration looks like and enjoy the moment!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Live & Let Live...
..."A platform for visibility
In a 2017 essay for Outsports, a site that covers LGBTQ+ issues and news in the sports community, footballer Hannah Wilkinson – who scored the first goal of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, marking the first victory for New Zealand in both women’s and men’s competition – wrote about the importance of using her platform as a pro athlete to advocate for inclusivity.
An increasing number of LGBTQ+ athletes are doing the same. It’s a change from the past, as athletes have historically had to conceal their sexual identities for fear of harassment and discrimination.
Researchers from the US Center for American progress suggest half of gay, lesbian and bisexual players hide their sexual identities from their teams. Yet change is evident – with women players leading the charge. In a strong show of representation, roughly 13% of players in the 2023 Women’s World Cup identify as LGBTQ+. Outsports reports Australia leads the way with 10 openly gay players, which Jackie J dubs "The Gayest Team 2k23".
While there is already a certain level of acceptance in countries including the United States, players from more historically conservative countries, such as Colombia, are now out about their sexual identities on the field, too."...
..."A platform for visibility
In a 2017 essay for Outsports, a site that covers LGBTQ+ issues and news in the sports community, footballer Hannah Wilkinson – who scored the first goal of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, marking the first victory for New Zealand in both women’s and men’s competition – wrote about the importance of using her platform as a pro athlete to advocate for inclusivity.
An increasing number of LGBTQ+ athletes are doing the same. It’s a change from the past, as athletes have historically had to conceal their sexual identities for fear of harassment and discrimination.
Researchers from the US Center for American progress suggest half of gay, lesbian and bisexual players hide their sexual identities from their teams. Yet change is evident – with women players leading the charge. In a strong show of representation, roughly 13% of players in the 2023 Women’s World Cup identify as LGBTQ+. Outsports reports Australia leads the way with 10 openly gay players, which Jackie J dubs "The Gayest Team 2k23".
While there is already a certain level of acceptance in countries including the United States, players from more historically conservative countries, such as Colombia, are now out about their sexual identities on the field, too."...
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