Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Players Who Decline to Wear LGBT Gear Should Not be Harassed!

Wed, May 22, 2019 4:24 p.m.
Players who decline to wear LGBT gear should not be harassed!



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gregory Mertz | CitizenGO <petitions@citizengo.org>
Date: Wed, May 22, 2019 at 8:17 AM
Subject: Players who decline to wear LGBT gear should not be harassed!




The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup starts in 16 days.
Some national team participating in this soccer tournament plan to require players to wear the LGBT rainbow symbol on their uniform. In past international soccer matches, the United States required players to wear an LGBT rainbow on their jerseys.
SIGN
Dear ........,
Sign the petition to say no to the use of the LGBT rainbow political symbol on uniforms during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and during international soccer matches.
Not everyone agrees with the causes represented by the LGBT rainbow.
Players who have declined to wear the LGBT rainbow in international and league play have been harassed and now risk being disadvantaged in their careers.
Please sign now.
This unfortunate story has been told before.
When Jaelene Hinkle, a professional soccer player, was called up to play on the United States Women's National Team in June 2017, she wasn't aware the U.S. team was going to require players to wear an LGBT rainbow on their uniforms to celebrate "LGBTQ Pride month."
She declined to play because she, as a Christian, felt she should not wear a jersey celebrating the meaning of the LGBT rainbow.
This was an unfair ask to her. No player should be subjected to a political test to be considered for a team.
How can we protect the next Jaelene Hinkle who may feel intimidated to come forward?
Each time the petition is signed an email will be sent on behalf of the petition signers to FIFA's President and the International Football Association Board to ask they guarantee all are welcome.
FIFA and IFAB have a responsibility to assure players are judged by their soccer skills, not by their political or religious views. No one should be required to wear a political symbol with which they disagree.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup starts in 18 days. Some national team participating in this soccer tournament plan to require players to wear the LGBT rainbow symbol on their uniform.
In past international soccer matches, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, and some professional teams have required players to wear an LGBT rainbow on their jerseys. England required players to wear LGBT rainbow laces on their cleats. Some teams have required captains to wear an LGBT rainbow captain's armband. Some have placed the LGBT rainbow on corner flags. This is all outlined in a detailed report below.
Sign the Let All Play petition to ask FIFA's President and the International Football Association Board to stop the use of political symbols, including the LGBT rainbow uniforms.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup is just the start to this call to action.
Thank you,
Gregory Mertz and the entire CitizenGO team
P.S. According to the detailed 2019 Let All Play report, The Laws of the Game from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) state, "Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images" (Law 04.5). FIFA's Equipment Regulations add that this includes a ban on any "political or comparable symbol" (Article 8.3).
FIFA and IFAB need to enforce their own rules.
FIFA and IFAB have a history of disciplining teams for breaking these rules, including FIFA's decision to enforce disciplinary proceedings against all four United Kingdom national teams for use of a symbol to remember fallen soldiers.
How is an LGBT rainbow any different in regards to how the rules should be enforced?


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sorta like a reverse pay respect when the national anthem is played. You must make a political statement. But heaven forbid a player would be punished for take a knee or raising a clenched fist when the national anthem is played.