RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that the club is observing Pride Month – which runs throughout the month of June – with a variety of special activities to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Alongside official Pride partner Starbucks, this month the Rave Green highlight their commitment to Stand for LGBTQ+ Equality, one of the four main tenets of the club’s Social Justice Framework.
As a people-focused company, Starbucks mission is simple: with every cup, with every cup, with every conversation, with every community, we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection. For more than three decades, Starbucks has stood as an ally for the LGBTQIA2+ community. From offering inclusive health coverage, to partner (employee) – inspired community investments, to using their voice to advocate in support of civil rights and equality – Starbucks is proud to support and celebrate the LGBTQIA2+ community every day.
GENDER DIVERSE SOCCER CLINIC
The Rave Green officially kicked off Pride Month earlier this week with a soccer clinic on Tuesday, June 4 at the Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse in Renton. During the event – hosted in partnership the club’s Pride partner Starbucks and Seattle Reign FC – a group of gender diverse youth and their siblings from Trans Families, a nonprofit organization that has been supporting transgender people and their families since 2008, were invited to the Clubhouse for a special afternoon of programming.
The youth and their families had the opportunity to play with and learn from Sounders FC and Reign FC players including midfielder Paul Rothrock, goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, forward Tziarra King, midfielders Nikki Stanton, Olivia Van Der Jagt and Maddie Mercado, as well as goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
Tuesday’s event also included a Q&A session and free soccer balls that were disturbed to attendees courtesy of RAVE Foundation. In addition, Starbucks provided Pride-themed swag bags that included a t-shirt and a water bottle for youth in attendance.
PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG RAISING
On Friday, June 21 at 2:00 p.m. PT, Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC players join representatives from Starbucks – the Official Pride Month partners from both clubs – and Trans Families to raise a giant Progress Pride flag over Lumen Field in celebration of Pride Month.
MEDIA NOTE: Members of the media are welcome to attend the flag raising event for interviews and b-roll opportunities with Sounders FC and Reign FC players. Please RSVP with Gisselle Pichardo of Sounders FC Communications [GisselleP@SoundersFC.com] for additional details.
Taking part in the flag raising are Sounders FC players Raúl RuidÃaz and Danny Leyva, Seattle Reign FC players Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock and Tziarra King, as well as baristas from Starbucks and members of Trans Families.
The flag begins flying over Lumen Field for the weekend, which includes Sounders FC’s official Pride Match against FC Dallas on Saturday, June 22 and Reign FC’s official Pride Match against Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, June 23. The flag will stay up through the end of the month, including Seattle’s 50th annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30.
The Progress Pride flag design is a variation of the classic Pride flag and was created by graphic designer Daniel Quasar in 2018. The Progress Pride flag adds a chevron to the classic Pride flag design, with colors representing marginalized communities of color and trans pride, placing emphasis on inclusion and progression.
ANNUAL PRIDE MATCH AT LUMEN FIELD
As Seattle Sounders FC prepares to face FC Dallas on Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. PT on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field, the club celebrates its annual Pride Match presented by Starbucks, which features a variety of special matchday activities celebrating inclusion as the club reaffirms its commitment to Stand for LGBTQ+ Equality, one of the four main tenets of the club’s Social Justice Framework.
The club’s Dream Team – the youth who walk out with each team’s starting lineup – on June 22 is composed of gender diverse youth from Trans Families. The local organization is also the beneficiary of Sounders FC’s 50/50 raffle earnings during the Pride Match.
In addition, Starbucks partners (employees) will proudly represent the LGBTQIA+ community in a pre-match ceremony carrying the Pride Flag onto the field.
Once in the stadium, fans can enjoy the continuation of Sounders FC’s BIPOC and diverse-owned food trucks. Curated by Intentionalist, these local small businesses align with Sounders FC’s social impact and cultural calendar, giving fans the opportunity to discover new culinary delights with food trucks in Lumen Field’s North Plaza, as well as hand-crafted Starbucks beverages served in Lumen Field.
The featured North Plaza food trucks are Zuri’s Gourmet Donutz, giving fans a chance for a sweet treat with a variety of unique doughnut flavors and MexiCuban, a local restaurant that combines Mexican and Cuban cuisines to create a fusion of flavors that represent both cultures.
In celebration of Pride Month, Sounders FC and fellow Seattle professional sports teams are working with Intentionalist to encourage fans to #SpendLikeItMatters at LGBTQ-owned businesses. Fans can upload receipts from any LGBTQ-owned small business through the month of June and be entered to win a variety of prizes from their favorite sports teams and Intentionalist.
Tickets to attend the club’s match against FC Dallas on Saturday, June 22 can be purchased HERE.
To learn more about Sounders FC matchdays, health and safety and how to be prepared to attend a match, visit SoundersFC.com/Matchday/Know-Before-You-Go.
SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE 2024
As Seattle Pride commemorates the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Seattle, Sounders FC joins its fellow Seattle professional sports teams to celebrate this year’s Seattle Pride Parade 2024 taking place on Sunday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. PT, starting at Westlake Park.
This year’s parade route again runs through downtown Seattle along 4th Avenue between Pike Street and Denny Way, with the step off taking place at Westlake Park. The parade is a free, fun, community-wide celebration advancing awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and promoting mutual respect and equal human rights for all.
For additional information on any of the mentioned Pride Month events, please contact Gisselle Pichardo of Sounders FC Communications [GisselleP@SoundersFC.com].
- SOUNDERS FC -
