The World Cup belongs to LGBTQ+ fans too

I have lived in Seattle for more than 25 years, since my wife introduced me to the Northwest in 2000. We bought a home, celebrated our wedding, and have raised three children here, and we are incredibly connected to and grateful for our local family, friends, and community.

I’ve also been a soccer fan for most of my life. I played from age 5-18, became a college fan at the University of North Carolina, and have cheered on the U.S. Women’s National Team since 1999. In 2012, we became avid supporters of Seattle’s professional women’s team (Reign FC) and watched our son play for his school and club teams for many years. I could not be more excited about the FIFA Men’s World Cup coming to Seattle!

I have been delighted to witness our city and region welcoming teams and visitors from around the world with our passion for soccer and unique Northwest spirit. I applaud local officials who have created public spaces to gather together to experience the magic of the world’s “beautiful game” and the SeattleFWC26 local organizing committee for their hard work to make this rare and special experience joyful, meaningful, and inclusive for everyone.

For the past ten years, I have been fortunate to represent Outright International, a 36 year-old global nonprofit protecting the human rights and improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people around the world. I have attended countless Pride celebrations across the Northwest, the U.S., and outside our borders – including many Pride games for our local professional sports teams. These events reaffirm to LGBTIQ people that we belong everywhere and illustrate the values of acceptance and equality that are integral to Outright and our partners.

So I am especially proud of and inspired by SeattleFWC26’s commitment to uplifting and supporting Black and African American communities and LGBTIQ people through the Juneteenth (June 19) and Pride (June 26) Match Day celebrations.

From the beginning, SeattleFWC26 sought to create a World Cup experience with an inclusive, celebratory energy reflecting our region. This includes a Pride Match Day on June 26 that is a citywide celebration of visibility, belonging, and community; neighborhood watch parties; a Unity Loop to visit local LGBTIQ businesses and arts and cultural spaces; and the “How We Pride” campaign celebrating the voices, stories, and spirit of LGBTIQ+ people across our state.

Outright International has many friends in Washington and a long history of partnering with Seattle-based organizations like GSBA and Pride Foundation to support our local and global queer communities. We are proud to partner with SEAFWC26 and businesses like Stoup Brewing to amplify our shared values of safety, dignity, and equality for LGBTIQ people everywhere. This support matters because millions of queer, trans, and intersex people across the globe routinely face alarming persecution, discrimination, and violence.

65 countries still criminalize same-sex intimacy (including Iran and Egypt, who happen to be playing in the Pride Match), abusive conversion practices are prevalent in many parts of the world, and there is a rising backlash against trans and gender diverse people across borders (including in the U.S. and here in Washington state). Thankfully, there has also been incredible progress: more than 55 countries have decriminalized same-sex intimacy since 1990, nearly 40 countries now have marriage equality, and Pride is celebrated publicly in at least 101 countries.

Football is truly a global game: FIFA estimates that soccer has around 4 billion fans and 270 million players worldwide, making it the most popular and prevalent sport on the planet. In every country where people play and enjoy soccer, LGBTIQ people are a part of the community. In fact, an estimated 8% of the world's population - 665 million people - identify as queer, yet there is no place where we have achieved full equality. We need vigilance, support, and allyship to ensure that no matter where we live, all LGBTIQ people are safe, accepted, and can thrive.

I invite all fans around the world to join Seattle in our Pride Match Day celebrations this week. Wherever you’re watching the games, let’s show the world that we are inclusive, bold, joyful, and united across borders. Pride is all about lifting up our community and ensuring that no one is left behind. This is our opportunity to stand together for and with LGBTIQ people here in Seattle and across the globe. The most beautiful game in the world – and human rights - are for everyone.

Katie Hultquist is a Seattle sports fan and the Director of Leadership Giving at Outright International, an organization dedicated to protecting the human rights and improving the lives of LGBTIQ people around the world.

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