‘Celebrating inclusivity’: Sydney FC defender Charlotte McLean on importance of A-League Pride Celebration

The A-League Pride Celebration is back and better than ever, with a focus on inclusivity and positivity. Sydney FC’s Charlotte McLean said it’s amazing how far it’s come.

With a focus on making football accessible and inclusive for everyone, the A-League has gone all out this year for its Pride Celebration.

The weekend’s events will be headlined by the now traditional Pride Cup double-header between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, with staff, players and officials across the league undergoing LGBTIQ+ training and holding their own take on pride celebrations for fans.

It’s the third season in which the league has held a pride event and Sydney FC defender Charlotte McLean said it’s amazing to see how far the competitions have come in promoting accessibility and inclusion.

“For the whole league to get around it is absolutely amazing and I’m so glad we get to be a part of it,” McLean said.

“Sport is just another institution that influences social change and I think that people can see that change across the Australian community.”

Sydney FC defender Charlotte McLean said the Pride Celebration is about inclusivity. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

The event has been mostly positively received by clubs and fans alike since its inception in the 2021-22 season when Adelaide United hosted Melbourne Victory and the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Men’s and Women’s competitions respectively, just four months after Reds’ defender Josh Cavallo publicly came out as gay, making him the only active male professional to do so at the time.

However there has been some backlash against the initiative, with Cavallo’s Adelaide United teammate Musa Toure this week stating in a social media post that he didn’t support Pride Round, citing his Islamic faith. He has since deleted the post and apologised for his comments.

McLean said that although people are entitled to their own beliefs, she believes the Pride Celebration isn’t about isolating people but rather lifting up minorities and giving them a voice.

“I never understand why, when people are trying to do a good thing, other people just try to find negatives,” she said.

“I just think it’s about celebrating inclusivity and celebrating love.

“I think there’s nothing negative that needs to be taken away from this weekend. I think any negativity is just against the point.

“People are always going to try to find the negatives, but I think that everything that we’re celebrating this weekend is positive and brings nothing but good things into the world.”

For McLean, she’s always felt supported as a footballer who’s part of the LGBTIQ+ community.

“The female football community I feel has always been so accepting, it’s always been a really safe space for me,” she said.

“I can only speak for myself, but for me it’s always been good.

“I’m just really happy that now the clubs and the league, which are the institutions rather than just my teammates, are really getting on board and seeing it as their responsibility to spread that acceptance.”

Her Sydney FC team is set to take on ladder leaders Western United at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night and McLean said having a top-of-the-table clash as part of the event will help to bring more eyes to the message.

“To have Pride Round when it’s a really big game like that is great because it draws attention to it,” she said.

“There are more eyes on games like this so hopefully that means there’s more people to see that the league is doing this great initiative and feel that great sense of inclusion.”

Sydney FC have encouraged members and fans heading to both A-League Women’s and Men’s clashes this weekend to wear bright colours and bring rainbow flags to be a part of the action, with the men taking on Brisbane at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Originally published as ‘Celebrating inclusivity’: Sydney FC defender Charlotte McLean on importance of A-League Pride Celebration