The Central Coast Mariners are proud to be supporting the 2024 A-League Pride Celebrations. The round is aimed to celebrate diversity and inclusion, helping to make football accessible, inclusive and safe for all.
The second season of the official league wide Pride Celebration, Central Coast Liberty A-League captain Taren King is proud to see the 2024 edition be back bigger and better.
“I’m really excited for Pride Round this season. Last year we saw a number of clubs make a big effort to show their support for the LGBTQI+ community and I look forward to seeing more clubs get around the initiative this season,” she said.
“I think it is so important that both clubs and players use their platforms to show our fans that everyone has a place in our game and all individuals are accepted for who they are.”
Just 6% of LGBTIQ+ young people feel safe to play sports, with the A-Leagues and Mariners partnering with Pride Cup to help ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome to play the world game.
“Pride Round for me is about ensuring that members of the LGBTQI+ community, both young and old, can see that they are represented and accepted in the football community,” King said.
“It’s about celebrating and taking pride in the person that you are and encouraging that in others. Inclusivity and diversity are important to the future of football because that’s what makes our game so special.
“Football brings so many different people and cultures together, so it’s important that we understand the power of our actions within the sport and use it as a platform to support minority communities.”
The Central Coast Mariners will take on Brisbane Roar this afternoon in the Liberty A-League, with both clubs proud supporters of the 2024 Pride Round.
For more information on the Pride Round celebrations this weekend, click HERE, and to learn more about Pride Cup and the incredible work that they do, click HERE!
