In celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month, HMI and City in the Community - the charity proudly supported by NYCFC - will partner to provide local teens a safe, inclusive space to openly discuss LGBTQ-specific topics through a pioneer series of HMI-led inclusivity workshops.
With the longest history in the nation in creating and sustaining practices that build competencies on integrating an LGBTQ inclusive frame into pedagogical approaches, HMI will provide the young men and women in these workshops with resources, specific guidance and practice strategies to integrate into their daily practice.
The teens are all part of CITC’s Saturday Night Lights program, a violence prevention and youth-development program, funded by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, offering soccer during times when crime levels are at the highest.
The workshops are a part of a series of Pride initiatives, under MLS’ ‘Don’t Cross the Line’ campaign to promote diversity equality and inclusion throughout the soccer community.
- Saturday, June 17 will mark the Club’s first-ever Pride Day at Yankee Stadium. This will be the only time this year that NYCFC will take on the reigning MLS Cup champions. Every ticket sold via this Pride link will see a $5 donation to support the HMI and CITC initiative.
- An auction will be held following the match to support the HMI-led workshops, including NYCFC first team gear and jerseys, as well as the rainbow colored corner flags which will be on display at the Stadium on June 17.
- Also on June 17, there will be a pregame event at Boxers, the first gay sports bar to become part of NYCFC’s pub partnership program. Boxers will host a pre-game meet for the New York Ramblers, the very first organized openly gay soccer club, who NYCFC have supported for four the last four years, as well as the general public. This event follows the Club’s away match viewing party at Boxers back in May.
- Additionally, the NYCFC street team will be out at the 21st Brooklyn Pride Festival on June 10.
President of NYCFC, Jon Patricof, commented: “NYCFC is committed to using soccer to promote equality, inclusivity and respect. We work hard every day to make sure that New York City FC is a welcoming place for all, ensuring that our soccer Club reflects our diverse city.”
About Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI):
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) believes that all young people ‑ regardless of sexual orientation or identity ‑ deserve a safe environment in which to achieve their full potential. Sadly, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth face pervasive societal stigma and overwhelming challenges. HMI offers these young people a supportive community that fosters positive youth development with pioneering programs that promote physical health and mental well-being, emotional resilience, academic achievement, job readiness, and artistic/cultural creativity. We do this in ways that embody our profound belief in these young people, deep respect for who they are and confidence in their untapped potential. Founded in 1979, HMI is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit leader in LGBTQ youth service programming. Today, we serve more than 2,000 at-risk youth each year from over from 350 zip codes in New York and New Jersey, and an additional 12,000 young people through outreach efforts – as well as countless lives changed by our advocacy around the world.
