Melbourne City star and Pride Ambassador, Hannah Wilkinson, has opened up on what the A-Leagues Pride Celebrations mean to an openly gay professional athlete.
Wilkinson highlighted the importance of having visible role models in a code 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 said.
“We can serve to show how amazing it is to express our identity and empower and celebrate who we are.”
In a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, the A-Leagues Pride Celebrations signify the ongoing commitment to make football accessible and inclusive for everyone.
City will celebrate pride at the Club’s two home fixtures this weekend.
Our A-League Men take on Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Saturday 9 March, before our A-League Women host Newcastle Jets at the City Football Academy on Sunday 10 March.
“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,” Wilkinson said.
“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,” she added.
“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.”
