Celebrate Pride 2023 with Athlete Ally
Happy Pride Month! As we step into the vibrant and empowering month of June, we want to take a moment to pause and reflect on our gratitude for each of you – our Athlete Ambassadors, coaches, fans, partner organizations, board of trustees, corporate sponsors, and donors – who make our work possible. With your collective support, we’ve made incredible strides in the fight for equality, but there’s more work to be done.
At Athlete Ally, we firmly believe that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to participate in sports with respect, dignity, and inclusion. Pride Month serves as a reminder of the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead in creating a more inclusive and accepting athletic landscape for all, both on and off the field.
Throughout the month, we have planned some exciting events, campaigns, and partnerships to uplift LGBTQI+ voices and foster a sense of unity among athletes, coaches, fans, and allies.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:
Playing for Pride
Last month, we kicked off our Playing for Pride campaign, our annual campaign bringing together athletes, teams, and leagues to support Athlete Ally’s mission of making sports inclusive for the LGBTQI+ community. This year, anyone can join the campaign, whether you are an athlete, coach, or an ally! Don’t forget to follow along on our Playing for Pride Twitter and Instagram feeds! You can also purchase Playing for Pride gear (pictured above), with proceeds supporting the campaign. All Playing for Pride supporters will get a special 10% discount code on merch.
Join us for a live-stream workout!
On June 15, Athlete Ally and Tone House are teaming up to host a live-streamed sports conditioning workout to support Playing for Pride! During the live workout, fitness enthusiasts of all levels will be led through a heart-pumping routine by Tone House coaches, and Athlete Ally will be on hand to provide motivation and inspiration, as well as to share personal stories about the challenges LGBTQI+ athletes have faced and overcome. We would love for you to be there and part of the conversation and sweat with us for inclusion in sport. Register today!
Athlete Ally is proud to be working in partnership with adidas year-round to champion LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion in sport, including at our upcoming Athlete Activism Summit June 22-25 in Seattle. The adidas x Rich Mnisi Pride collection is designed to celebrate freedom of self-expression in all spaces of sport and culture. Through relationships with organizations like Athlete Ally, adidas is committed to sport for all.
Athlete Ally is proud to be working with Gatorade year-round to ensure that comprehensive LGBTQI+ education is widely accessible to and throughout the athletic community. In support of Playing for Pride, Gatorade will be amplifying the campaign through social media channels featuring video messages from athletes on the Playing for Pride roster.
Athlete Ally is tremendously grateful to Gillette for their year-round support, specifically in growing our Campus Chapter program. Gillette Game Changer Grants have been equipping Athlete Ally Campus Chapter with resources to maximize their work for LGBTQI+ inclusion on campus and in their local communities.
We’re grateful to MLS for their ongoing partnership and support in our shared work to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sports.
Optimum Nutrition believes sports are better when everyone can play. They are proud to partner with Athlete Ally during Pride month and beyond.
MLS team New York City Football Club (NYCFC) will be spotlighting Athlete Ally during Pride month, including special highlighted content during their June 3 Pride match, which included video content from Athlete Ally and a call to fans to support Playing for Pride.
With Pride month on deck, the NWSLPA and Parkside Collectibles will be producing round 2 of their Pride themed set of NWSL trading cards. All proceeds from this trading card collection and from a special NWSLPA Pride shirt will go to Athlete Ally! Last year’s deck flew off the shelves – don’t miss your opportunity to get your own set this year!
Women’s sports wouldn’t exist without the LGBTQIA+ community, and neither would Just Women’s Sports. Every year, JWS celebrates the contributions and achievements of this core community through their annual Pride Collection. This year, they’re rolling out a fresh new t-shirt and hat and donating a portion of the proceeds to Athlete Ally.
Shop the Pride Collection!
In honor of Pride month, the NBA family is excited to collaborate with Athlete Ally and Fanatics on this exclusive line of Pride T-shirts featuring NBA/WNBA team logos. The NBA will donate all proceeds from the sale of each NBA/WNBA Pride t-shirt directly to Athlete Ally. In support of this important initiative, Fanatics will donate $25,000 directly to Athlete Ally. Visit the NBA store here and the WNBA store here.
Los Angeles Astra is a semi-professional ultimate frisbee team for women and non-binary athletes. They are dedicated to providing the largest stage possible for their athletes in order to showcase women and non-binary folks in sports. As a sports team, they want to use their platform to support and uplift trans women, especially given the recent legislative efforts to deny their basic human rights. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of their bandanas will go to Athlete Ally.
Beyond Sticks was founded in 2011 by Chrissy Summers with the core mission to empower young people through sport. Through Emet Marwell, alumni of their programs and current Athlete Ally staff member, Beyond Sticks connected with Athlete Ally and proudly donated their pride design that has raised thousands of dollars to date! Athlete Ally and Beyond Sticks share the belief that sport can bring people together and create teammates that fight for each other for life. Join us in creating a more inclusive sporting environment by purchasing the donated design or giving to Athlete Ally!
Inclusion is central to the arena brand’s purpose, driven by a passion and commitment to ensure the sporting community is a welcoming and accessible space for all. arena’s Pride-inspired “Let it Beat” capsule collection returns to celebrate Pride Month this June 2023, enhanced with a strategic partnership with Athlete Ally. The eye-catching and colorful Let it Beat range of swimwear and accessories from the global sportswear brand was inspired by the statement “For whoever your heart beats, Let it Beat” and will be available for purchase on arena’s website. A portion of profits will benefit Athlete Ally’s initiatives in education and advocacy for LGBTQI+ athletes.
This year, Bakline worked with Front Runners New York to create a pride piece for their running club. Check out Bakline’s pride collection – $15 from each item sold goes to Athlete Ally!
This year, when you purchase a Pride Product from BIKE Athletic, a portion of the proceeds will support Athlete Ally. The BIKE Pride line was created as a way to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community all year long, beyond the month of June. BIKE Athletic strives to be a brand for everyone, and celebrates Pride all year long.
Premier Lacrosse League and its non-profit affiliate, PLL Assists, are once again releasing a Pride line of “Lacrosse is for Everyone” merchandise with a portion of proceeds supporting our work. On June 16th and 17th, they will be celebrating Pride Weekend in Columbus.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) will support Playing for Pride throughout Pride month by contributing $200 per goal scored across the league in the month of June, and 10% of proceeds from NWSL Pride merch sales.
Orange County SC, OC’s own professional soccer club released their new ’23 County Pride Collection, launched in collaboration with their LGBTQIA+ fans. A portion of the proceeds from this collection will be donated to Athlete Ally. In addition, OCSC will be participating in OC Pride and a group of OCSC players and supporters are participating in Athlete Ally’s Playing for Pride.
To celebrate Pride month, Lift.Run.Perform is proud to support Athlete Ally for the second consecutive year! For all new athletes who start coaching in the month of June, they will donate 15% to Athlete Ally.
Provincetown Brewing Co. is founded on a passion for quality craft beer and building community. Their commitment to #DRAFTIVISM means they will always pour 15% of profits into progressive and local causes that reflect the values of Provincetown. They are generously donating 15% of profits from the Featherweight — a lean, mean light craft lager — to support Athlete Ally.
Athlete Ally Ambassador and Olympic cyclist Lea Davison led a Pride ride on June 2nd in Kansas in support of Playing for Pride, and encouraged fellow riders to donate to the cause.
Earlier this spring, Athlete Ally Ambassador Kedzie Teller launched fundraising efforts as part of his personal dedication to queer advocacy and support of the Athlete Ally mission. Kedzie will be competing on the GLTA tour throughout the year in preparation for the 2023 Gay Games in Guadalajara and is using the experience as a way to amplify Athlete Ally’s work and build brand awareness. All money raised will be split and donated to both Athlete Ally and the Federation of Gay Games. You can learn more about Kedzie’s work both as an advocate and as the founder of a Philadelphia-based marketing agency on his website.
In celebration of Pride Month, One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, is hosting a special Anchor Auction featuring limited-edition Kraken Pride hats worn and signed by our players. A portion of the proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Athlete Ally and their work in education and activation of athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports. This auction will launch at 9:00am on June 25th as a part of the close of the Athlete Activism Summit, and run until the end of the month closing at 11:59pm on June 30th. Learn more and participate by going to onerooffoundation.org/auction or by texting “anchorauction” to 76278.
We are proud to partner with TOGETHXR – a media and commerce company founded by Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird – for storytelling and content around our Athlete Activism Summit. TOGETHXR is the world’s fastest women’s sports brand and was created to set a new standard in storytelling as an unapologetic platform where representation and equality is the norm.
To learn more about TOGETHXR and join their Inner Circle for the latest content, merch drops and exclusive events, click here. And check out their Pride playlist on Spotify here!
And finally, if you’d prefer to make a direct donation, you can do so here. Stay tuned to this page for more partnership updates throughout the month.
Together, we can break down barriers and build a future where every athlete feels valued and supported. On behalf of the entire Athlete Ally team, I want to express our gratitude for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Let’s make this Pride Month an unforgettable celebration of love, acceptance, and equality.