Football Ferns and Melbourne City striker Hannah Wilkinson says the A-Leagues Pride Celebrations are important in a sport that celebrates the importance of being who you are.
“Playing football in the A-Leagues as an openly gay female athlete can be really inspiring for those, especially in the rainbow community themselves, watching,” Wilkinson told Melbourne City’s website.
City celebrate pride at their two home fixtures over the weekend of March 9-10, 2024, when they host Wellington Phoenix in the men’s A-League on Saturday, and play Newcastle Jets in the women’s A-League on Sunday.
“We can serve to show how amazing it is to express our identity and empower and celebrate who we are,” said Wilkinson who is a Pride Ambassador.
“A message that I would send to a young person from the rainbow community is to come along and obviously enjoy the football, and of course take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate our openly gay athletes and to celebrate pride alongside sport,
“I think it’s a beautiful thing, and we should all be celebrating everybody and their identities and the way we can celebrate those identities through sport.
“I think, especially if you’re young and you’re figuring yourself out, it’s really important as recognisable players to stand up and show that it is awesome to be yourself and awesome to celebrate that.”
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday March 9, 2024
Men’s A-League
Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix
AAMI Park, Melbourne, 9pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Sunday March 10, 2024
Women’s A-League
Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
City Football Academy, Melbourne, 7pm (NZT)
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