To celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, City in the Community (CITC) - the charity proudly supported by the Club - will team up with streetfootballworld to support Play Proud, a new curriculum for coaches that is designed to help young LGBTQ athletes feel safe and supported, both on and off the field.
Since 2014, CITC has been actively engaged with local teens in New York City through the Saturday Night Lights (SNL) program, a violence prevention and youth-development program that is funded by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to offer soccer during times when crime levels are at the highest. To add to CITC’s inclusive programming, the teens enrolled in Saturday Night Lights will receive the Play Proud curriculum this year.
The Play Proud curriculum will equip coaches, mentors, and educators in soccer-based programs with inclusivity training to promote anti-bullying and safe-space best practices. Play Proud will be piloted in New York City this year, with CITC leading the movement to promote inclusion at all levels of the game.
Saturday, June 2 will be the Club’s second annual Pride Night at Yankee Stadium against Orlando City SC. A portion of every ticket sold via this link will be donated to Play Proud.
Before the match on June 2, streetfootballworld will host a conversation and celebration around the power of soccer and inclusivity. Former USMNT player Ethan Zohn and former USWNT player Lori Lindsey will lead the discussion at Yankee Stadium before NYCFC kicks off. The conversation will feature voices from the New York City community, creating an intimate setting to discuss potential solutions on including youth of all genders and sexual orientation.
In addition, fans will have a chance to win a VIP experience at the June 2 match by taking part in a pre-match auction. All proceeds will go towards the Play Proud curriculum. Click here to participate.
The support of Play Proud is a part of a series of NYCFC-supported Pride initiatives, under the MLS Soccer For Allcampaign, to promote diversity equality and inclusion throughout the soccer community. This partnership follows the Club’s work last year with Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) to host a series of inclusivity workshops.
Also joining the NYCFC match to celebrate NYCFC’s 2018 Pride Night will be 150+ members of the New York Ramblers, the very first organized openly gay soccer club, who have a longstanding partnership with the Club.
A new Pride scarf will be unveiled at the Stadium and will be available year-round at games in the team store starting June 2.
President of NYCFC, Jon Patricof, said:
“We continue to work hard to ensure our matches are welcoming and inclusive. Pride Night on June 2 will be a great opportunity to celebrate soccer, community, and the power of our sport.”
