Kids’ footy kits with rainbows condemned for ‘forcing social matters on six-year-olds’
Troubled parents have been demanding answers after learning that a children’s football team will be wearing rainbow kits as part of a Pride celebration match.
The primary school-aged team will take to the field at half time during a clash between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory as part of Australia’s A-League’s second annual Pride Celebration, but parents have expressed concerns over the decision.
One of them argued that the kit was forcing children as young as six into “social and cultural matters” which they should be kept out of, while another branded the stunt “deeply disturbing”.
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“While I personally agree with the concept of pride and the safety of all LGBTQI+ persons to participate in sport, primary aged school children are not the correct avenue to express these sentiments,” one parent said.
Another added: “It’s deeply disturbing that Melbourne Victory is forcing six-year-old children to be moving billboards.”
On the match registration form, seen by Australian outlet The Herald Sun, parents were told that their children will not be able to take part in the match if they do not agree to them wearing the rainbow-coloured shirts.
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(Image: Getty Images)
However, a spokesperson from Melbourne Victory insists no such ultimatum was made, and that the kids “do not have to wear the jerseys if they don’t want to.”
The Pride Cup first kicked off in 2022 after Adelaide’s Josh Cavallo became the first openly openly gay player in senior men’s football.
Adelaide and Melbourne players, who will face off on the day, will wear rainbow-themed shirt numbers and armbands as a display of support for the LGBT+ community in football.
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