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SPORTS Wednesday 10 July 2019

U.S. women’s team boldly embraces off-the-field activist role

By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Setting
itself apart from other great
American sports teams, the
U.S. women’s soccer team
is embracing a front-line
role in social justice causes
even as it savors a fourth
world championship.
The players are now world
leaders in the push for gen-
der equity in the workplace,
having sued the U.S. Soccer
Federation for equal pay
and treatment vis-a-vis the
men’s national team. With
a lesbian coach and sev-
eral lesbian players, includ-
ing World Cup MVP Megan
Rapinoe, they’re a proud
symbol of LGBTQ inclusion.
And they have stood firmly
behind Rapinoe after she
said she’d refuse to visit the
White House if invited by
President Donald Trump.
Far from being daunted by
these off-the-field roles, the
players seem to relish them.
“I feel like this team is in United States’ Megan Rapinoe, center, holds the trophy as she celebrates with teammates after they defeated the Netherlands 2-0
the midst of changing the in the Women’s World Cup final soccer match at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019.
world around us as we live, Associated Press
and it’s just an incredible and for all.” was Rapinoe’s girlfriend, Congratulations to the On Monday, the top Dem-
feeling,” Rapinoe said after Debra Katz, a Washington WNBA star Sue Bird. team came from a wide ar- ocrats in Congress invited
the team’s 2-0 victory over attorney who specializes “Science is science. Gays ray of celebrities and politi- the team to the Capitol “to
the Netherlands in Sun- in sexual harassment cas- rule,” Rapinoe tweeted on cians, including Trump and celebrate their inspiring vic-
day’s title match in Lyon, es, said the U.S. team had Sunday. many of the Democratic tory,” House Speaker Nan-
France. The team won all earned global support for A spokeswoman for the presidential candidates cy Pelosi said.
seven of its matches, scor- the causes it is embracing. largest U.S. LGBTQ-rights or- hoping to defeat him. One At the National Women’s
ing 26 goals, allowing just “Their message is, ‘You’re ganization, Matilda Young of them, New York Mayor Bill Law Center in Washington,
three. Individual athletes not going to divide us. of the Human Rights Cam- de Blasio, swiftly arranged the U.S. team’s victories
— notably Muhammad We’re united for nondis- paign, said the impact of for the team to have a vic- and outspokenness were
Ali, more recently Colin criminatory treatment for the team’s inclusiveness tory parade Wednesday welcomed by a staff that
Kaepernick — have risked all of us.’” would be profound. through the Canyon of He- has campaigned vigorous
their careers in the past The victory in Lyon, cou- “Young LGBTQ athletes, roes in Manhattan. for equality in the work-
by taking political stances. pled with the drive for who all too frequently are “Congrats to the record place and on the playing
Some teams in the NBA equal pay, will further en- made to feel unwelcome, breakers on the @USWNT, field. “This team is so domi-
and WNBA wore warm-up trench the U.S. team as a have seen themselves an incredible team that’s nant because they work
outfits a few years ago pro- symbol for female athletes reflected in these histo- always pushing them- together — they lift each
testing police brutality and elsewhere. Indeed, Title IX, ry-making champions,” selves_and the rest of us_to other up,” said Sabrina Ste-
supporting the Black Lives the 1972 federal legislation Young said. “Having Ameri- be even better,” tweeted vens, the center’s senior
Matter movement. But it’s that required equal sport- cans from every corner of former President Barack manager of campaign
difficult to think of another ing opportunities for girls our country embrace these Obama. U.S Rep. Alexan- and digital strategies.
high-profile U.S. team stick- and women, has benefited women who are unabash- dria Ocasio-Cortez, the “It resonates for so many of
ing its neck out, in the run- not only the top U.S. players edly proud of their country New York Democrat with us — women especially —
up to its most important but also many World Cup and of who they are sends a huge following on social to work your heart out and
competition, the way the players from other coun- a powerful message not media, tweeted “At this be so good at what do,
women’s soccer team did tries who honed their skills only to LGBTQ people, but point we shouldn’t even and still not get the pay or
by suing the USSF in March. on U.S. college teams. to sports fans around the be asking for #EqualPay for recognition you deserve,”
The two sides have agreed For LGBTQ Americans — world that we are here, we the #USWMNT. We should she said. “We’re rooting for
to mediate the lawsuit now many of them frustrated are queer, and we just won demand they be paid at them because we’re root-
that the World Cup is over. by the lack of openly gay the World Cup — again.” least twice as much.” ing for ourselves.”q
“These athletes generate players in major league
more revenue and garner baseball, the NFL, NBA and
higher TV ratings but get NHL — the women’s soccer
paid less simply because team has been a source of
they are women,” said Mol- pride and celebration. Two
ly Levinson, spokeswoman of its players, Ashlyn Har-
for the players in their law- ris and Ali Krieger, are en-
suit. “It is time for the fed- gaged to each other. On
eration to correct this once hand as a spectator in Lyon /arubatoday/