US at World Cup: To support LGBTQ community, US used rainbow logo at Qatar World Cup

Qatar World Cup: To support LGBTQ community, US used rainbow logo at Qatar World Cup

Qatar World Cup

As they get ready for the World Cup later this month, the US men’s team is displaying a rainbow-themed emblem at their training facility in Qatar to show their support for the LGBTQ community.

Same-sex relationships are forbidden in Qatar, and as the World Cup nears, the country has come under fire for its LGBTQ regulations.

The artwork is a part of the “Be The Change” initiative the team adopted in 2020 with the aim of motivating action on social justice issues. It features seven rainbow-colored vertical stripes beneath “USA” in dark blue letters.

US coach Gregg Berhalter told about it on a conference “When we are on the world stage and when we are in a venue like Qatar, it is important to bring awareness to these issues and that is what ‘Be the Change’ is about, It is not just Stateside that we want to bring attention to social issues, it is also abroad. We recognise that Qatar has made strides and there has been a ton of progress but there’s some work still to do.”

The first World Cup to be staged in a Middle Eastern country’s organizers stress that everyone is welcome regardless of sexual orientation or family background, but they also advise avoiding public displays of affection.

Some players have voiced worries about the rights of World Cup attendees, particularly LGBTQ people and women, who rights organizations claim are subjected to discrimination under Qatari law.

“We are a group who believes in inclusivity and we will continue to project that message going forward, We have chatted and continue to have discussions as we lead into the games. We have leaned on the message of ‘Be the Change’. That is something that we have been proud of and continue to work towards, be impactful with ourselves, our presence and our platform, and we will continue to be so here in Qatar.” said US goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

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The rainbow badge has been often shown by US Soccer to encourage an inclusive attitude, however it won’t be worn by the squad during World Cup games.

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