Tag Archives: lesbian footballers

Abby Wambach’s Touching Goodbye Message Is Simple: ‘Forget Me’ (Video)

Abby Wambach accomplishments read like a laundry list of greatness.

She is seen, as THE most successful US soccer player the world has ever known.

For those who watched her play know she did things that won’t necessarily show up in the record books, but those things played such a massive part to the outcomes of countless games.

abby-wambach out100

But, Wambach’s era of dominance and brilliance has come to end. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion retired from soccer this week, playing her final game against China.

China may have won the match 1-0, ending the U.S. Women’s team’s 104-match unbeaten streak on home turf, but the real winner of the game was Wambach.

abby9

Named FIFA’s World Player of the Year in 2012, Wambach ends her career with 184 goals in international play, the most by any woman or man in history.

Abby Wambach 03

So many who walk away from a career, be it soccer, basketball or any other profession, want their greatness to be remembered forever.

They want to be etched in the fabric of their crafts for decades and centuries to come.

Not Abby Wambach.

As the 35-year-old Rochester, New York native walks away from the game for good, her farewell message is simple and poignant:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGQZ5FfvP3E

Selfless, humble and successful, there will never be another Abby Wambach.

And that’s perfectly fine with her.

 

Canadian Goalkeeper Erin McLeod Shuts Down Hateful Comments With One Perfect Post

Over the weekend, Women’s World Cup playing, goalkeeper Erin McLeod from Canadian, tied the knot with her girlfriend and fellow footballer Ella Masar.

Erin McLeod

Masar came out publicly ealier this year in an article focusing on her Christian faith, after receiving homophobic comments on a personal family photo.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that I am deeply in love with Erin Katrina McLeod. Yes, I know she is a woman. Yes, I hear you, it is wrong. Yes, I know I am sinning. Yet, please tell me who can throw the first stone? Wether you believe it is a sin or not, I will never apologize for loving someone, faithfully, with everything that I am, and honoring them daily.”

Again, Masar has had to respond to hateful comments on her wedding. She posted this response:

For all the congratulations, love, and support thank you. Erin and I feel overwhelmed and blessed with everyone that has reached out… Also, to the “other” messages, thank you. Thank you for praying for me and reinforcing my own prayers because as you pray, “Lord please help Ella, allow her to see her sin for loving that woman, for respecting her, being faithful, honoring her, etc …” Know I am saying the same thing, “My Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me find my better half, for finding someone that strengthens my faith and allows me to be the person I always imagined. Thank you for teaching me what truly loving someone and others is all about, amen.

https://instagram.com/p/49M8RssAFu/

Close Games, Unbelievable Goals, and Last-Minute Heroics: Why This Year’s Women’s World Cup Rocked

This year’s Women’s World Cup has been nothing short of awesome. We’ve seen close games, unbelievable goals, and last-minute heroics.

Even if you’ve missed some of it, here are the highlights.

1. It was a openly gay event and an inspiring model of inclusiveness in sports.

There will be at least 17 publicly out women – 15 players and two coaches – at the 2015 Women’s World Cup this year. Including four out players and a head coach in the world cup-winning American women’s team.

While the men’s professional game has been reluctant to be fully inclusive and supportive of anyone within the game who identifies as LGBT its generally regarded that football is much more accepting of women who are lesbian or bisexual.”

2. For the first time in Women’s World Cup history, the final was a rematch!

Just four years ago, the U.S. lost in a heart-breaking final match to Japan, decided on penalty kicks. However, on Sunday, the team lined up to do battle. This time team USA were the victors.

3. Record Breaking Matches matches

Carli Lloyd stunned football fans Sunday by scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the Women’s World Cup final against Japan.
It was the first hat trick in a Women’s World Cup final, as well as the fastest three goals for a single player in any World Cup game

Her secret to success?

I’ve just been training my butt off for the last 12 years,”

3. The English Team Proved Their Doubters Wrong

A Fara Williams penalty in extra time secures England the bronze medal in the third-place play-off against Germany at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Edmonton.

It represented their first win over Germany in 31 years, and secured the best World Cup finish by any England team since the men’s side won the competition in 1966.

4. The highest turnout in history

Over million people supports cheered their teams on, making this the best attended Women’s World Cup in history.

5. Plenty of Goals

Germany was the tournament’s top scores, scoring 20 goals in total. Sadly Ecuador conceded the most goals – 17 in this tournament.

 

 

Hello! Brittney Griner and World Cup-Winning Footballer Ali Krieger Get Naked for ESPN Body Issue Magazine

Once a year ESPN’s magazine convinces some very talented a beautiful people to get naked for their Body Issue addition.

In the mag, the world’s greatest athletes’ pose naked and talk about the skin they’re in.

The new issue (out July 10) includes two out female athletes: WNBA star Brittney Griner and the US’s World cup-winning footballer Ali Kriege

Brittney talked to out sports journalist Kate Fagan about labels and defying gender stereotypes.

I don’t like labels. But [gender roles] are instilled in you as a kid. I was told to pick which one I wanted to be-masculine or feminine. I’m like, well, I kind of want to be both, because that’s who I am. I mean, sometimes I’m feminine, sometimes I’m emotional. And then sometimes-you see me on the court, and I’m hard-core, and then how I dress is masculine. If I put on something “girlie,” I feel very uncomfortable. It feels like something I shouldn’t be wearing. I wore a dress for my high school graduation and it sucked. My mom wanted me to wear a dress so bad. I forced a smile in a couple of photos for her, but I was the most absolute uncomfortable person.”

In her interview, Kreiger says

It’s important to show your vulnerabilities. I’m proud of my body, I’m proud of my sport, I’m proud of being a female athlete. Being naked is just another aspect of that. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s honest.

…I think my confidence came when I turned 30. I don’t know, something about turning 30 has been unbelievable. I just feel a sense of freedom. My 20s were really tough, just traveling and living in different countries and doing all these things, and now I feel like I know what I want and know really what my goals and dreams are and what I want from my life.

See the full interviews and video on ESPN’s website.

Awwww, Abby Wambach Celebrates US World Cup Victory With A Loving Kiss With Her Wife

What a perfect way to celebrate the U.S. win over Japan, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalising gay marriage.

Abby Wamback, who has been called the “soul” of the U.S. team, celebrated her countries World Cup win by rushing to her wife, Sarah Huffman, to share a loving embrace.

Wambach told the Daily Mail:

To be quite honest, I felt like I was in a dream sitting there on the bench watching Carli Lloyd go off and I’m so proud to be on this team and proud to be a part of something that in my opinion is really special.”

She embraced her wife last night in front of the sold-out crowd in the BC Place stadium.

In October 2013, Wambach married Sarah Huffman – former midfielder for the Portland Thorns and United States national team – in Hawaii.

Huffman came out that year on the LGBT non-profit organization website, Athlete Ally.

The two were teammates on the Western New York Flash.

This was Wambach’s last chance at earning the title of World Champion, she entered her final international game in the 79th minute as a substitute, with fans chanting her name.

I would give up all my individual awards for what we just did tonight and it’s the truth. It’s the wholehearted truth.”

She claims two Olympic Gold medals, a record of most international goals scored in the sport’s history and the 2012 title of FIFA World Player of the Year.

Wambach was presented the captain’s armband by team-mate Carli Lloyd, before both Wambach and Christie Rampone raised the championship trophy- the first Americans to do so since 1999.

Congrats to Abby and the entire U.S. Team!

wambach-wife-kiss-01

Swiss World Cup Striker Opens Up About Her Relationship

Swiss striker Ramona Bachmann, who was harrowed by many as one of the breakout stars in the Women’s World Cup in Canada, didn’t disappoint in her World Cup debut.

Her team are now currently riding high after a strong 10-1 victory against Ecuador, with Bachmann scoring three goals in the latter half of the game.

She also wasn’t disappointing off the pitch when she revealed is in a committed relationship with Camille Lara, a 21-year-old student based in Sweden.

Babe❤️

A photo posted by Ramona Bachmann (@bachmannr10) on

 

hahahaha #1 😍❤️

 

A photo posted by Ramona Bachmann (@bachmannr10) on

In the interview with Sonntagsblick she stated that she is pleased that Camille could accompany her to Canada for the World Cup. The couple have been together for nearly a year; although they both live in different countries, one in Switzerland and one in Sweden (Ramona plays for FC Rosengård since 2012).

Our long distance relationship works very well. It’s harder for me to go back and to Switzerland because of the games, it’s possible that when I several consecutive days rest, which is rare. So she comes to Sweden. “

Camille is a student, with a schedule more manageable, said Ramona.

 

Fotbollsgalan 2014 @camille_lara ❤️😘

 

A photo posted by Ramona Bachmann (@bachmannr10) on

The footballer also compares how her marriage is seen as it is in Switzerland or Sweden.

In Sweden, it is quite normal to ask” Do you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend? “In Switzerland, it is accepted, but not as much as in Sweden. When I walk hand in hand with Camille, people turn in Switzerland. This does not happen in Sweden, not here in Canada. “

Unlike in men’s football, there are a number of openly gay and bisexual female footballers at this years world cup.

Italian Women’s Cup Final Cancelled After Lesbian Comments from Official

The Italian women’s cup final has been called off as a result of alleged comments by Felice Belloli, the president of the county’s amateur football association, referring to female players as a “bunch of lesbians”.

Patrizia-Panico-01

Brescia were due to play Tavagnacco last weekend, but the match has been scrapped, the association representing female players and coaches, has confirmed.

Also read: Homophobia in Sports: When Poor Sportsmanship Becomes a Problem

Belloli allegedly made the comments when discussing funding for women’s football in Italy. At a meeting of the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti he is alleged to have said:

That’s enough, we can’t always talk about giving money to this bunch of lesbians.”

Belloli was quick to deny making the comments, making a statement to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

I never signed those minutesCan you see my signature on them? No, and I can tell you why – because minutes can be taken and amended by anybody. I know how the minutes are taken at the LND. All I am saying is that I did not utter that phrase.”

Patrizia Panico, the veteran Verona and Italy forward, said that if the comments were accurate then they were “sexist, male chauvinist and ignorant”.

Luisa Rizzitelli, president of Italy’s national association for female athletes, said:

To be honest I thought it was a joke but when we realised it wasn’t a joke we immediately wrote to the federation to ask for an immediate investigation. It’s hugely damaging. We have a women’s football movement with 11,000 athletes in Italy, you can imagine we have one million playing men’s football. All the players have said to the federation that they don’t want to play the final, so now the game is not going ahead. If he (Belloli) resigns the game could still be played.”

Watch | Out US Soccer Stars, Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach Share Their Stories of Success

This year the women’s world cup comes to Canada, and we can’t wait to see the superb female athletes do their thing.

To gear up for the massive event, the U.S. Women’s National Team have created some great videos for fans to learn more about them.

The series is called “One Nation. One Team. 23 Stories.”, and features out US athletes Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe.

Both women discuss their families and the influence they have had on their careers.

‘The Uncomfortable Ride to the Top’ An Inspiring TEDxTalk by Out Women’s Footballer, Joanna Lohman

Out women’s footballer and defensive midfielder for the Boston Breakers Joanna Lohman, recently gave a TEDX talk about the challenges and victories she’s faced along the way to a successful career as a professional athlete.

Lohman is engaged Lianne Sanderson (fellow Boston Breaker) and together they are the only out LGBTQ couples in professional sports.

This video is both heartbreaking and inspiring, with Lohman very honest about the realities and difficulties of being a pro athlete. However, despite this she continues to have an undying passion for the sport, which she has played in for over a decade.

Finding ‘Out’ footballers at the World Cup maybe a challenge, but not in Women’s Football

Finding “out and proud” male footballers can be difficult. In men’s profession it is unheard of, but in female football we are seeing glimpses of out professional player stepping forward and out of the closet.

Here is our list of top ten professional women footballers who are out and proud.

Lianne-Sanderson-011. Lianne Sanderson

Country: England
Position: Striker
Age: 26

Lianne Sanderson, hails from Lewisham in England, and has played for the English national team from 2006 – 2014. Professional she has played two seasons with the Philadelphia Independence, Arsenal Ladies and currently plays for Boston Breakers.

Jessica-Landström-012. Jessica Landström

Country: Sweden
Position: Forward
Age: 29

In 2008 Landström came out in the pages of Swedish magazine QX, where she spoke about being out to family and friends and why she felt it was important to also come out publicly.

Isabell-Herlovsen-013. Isabell Herlovsen

Country: Norway
Position: Forward
Age: 25

Isabell Herlovsen has footballing DNA body, as her father is former football player Kai Erik Herlovsen. The 25-year-old made her debut for the Norwegian national team at just 16. In 2011 she came out in an interview with Norwegian TV2. She said she came out to family and friends as a teenager and felt it was important to be open about it.

Trine-Ronning-014. Trine Ronning

Country: Norway
Position: Defender
Age: 31

The Norwegian defender made her debut for her national team in 1999, and in 2009 she became team vice-captain. In January 2009, she married teammate Kristin Blystad Bjerke shortly after same-sex marriage became legal in Norway.

Nadine-Angerer5. Nadine Angerer

Country: Germany
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 35

Angerer made her international debut in 1997 and gone on to be in Germany’s starting goalkeeper in the 2007 Women’s World Cup and 2008 Olympics. She told the German newspaper Die Zeit 2010 that she is bisexual, saying, “I am very open about this, because I am of the opinion there are nice guys and nice women. Besides, I find it totally silly to have a general definition… I see no problem for me to come out of the closet. This is nothing new for me, so I can deal with the issue in a totally relaxed manner.”

Linda-Bresonik6. Linda Bresonik

Country: Germany
Position: Defensive Midfielder, Wing Back
Age: 30

Linda Bresonik is a German footballer. She plays as a defensive midfielder and sometimes wing back for Paris Saint-Germain and the German national team. In 2010 she was involved with a bizarre Love Triangle with former West German international and Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Holger Fach and German women’s team mate, Inka Grings. Grings and Bresonik had been together for five years, but when they broke up, and then Fach started seeing Grings. Then Bresonik appeared back on the scene, saying: “Inka was my first love and I will fight for her. The pain in my soul overwhelms. Fach came between us: now Inka must decide.” In the end, Grings split up with Fach – and he ended up with Bresonik.

Inka-Grings7. Inka Grings

Country: Germany
Position: Striker
Age: 35

Inka Grings is a German international footballer. She played sixteen years as a striker for FCR 2001 Duisburg, and today she plays for FC Zürich Frauen. She has also played for the German national team, and was involved in a well-publicized love triangle with Linda Bresonik and Holger Fachs. The teammates have since broken up but continue to compete together on the World Cup stage.

Ursula-Holl8. Ursula Holl

Country: Germany
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 31

Holl is a German footballer. She plays for FCR 2001 Duisburg and the German national team as a goalkeeper. In June 2010 she married her partner – Carina. She told the German newspaper Bild that her family were very happy when they heard the couple would marry and their wedding was a joyous affair. She also said her being out has “not been an issue at all” with fellow players and opponents.

Joanna-Lohman9. Joanna Lohman

Country: USA
Position: Midfielder
Age: 31

Joanna Lohman is an American professional soccer player who plays for Cypriot First Division club Apollon Limassol, on loan from the Boston Breakers of the American National Women’s Soccer League.

Sarah-Walsh10. Sarah Walsh

Country: Australia
Position: Forward
Age: 31

Sarah Walsh is a retired Australian football player who most recently captained Western Sydney Wanderers FC in Australia’s W-League. She is a former member of the Australia women’s national association football team.