Soccer Champs Storm Canyon of Heroes
PHOTO ESSAY BY DONNA ACETO
The Canyon of Heroes
has played host to
Charles Lindbergh,
Amelia Earhart, Dwight
Eisenhower after leading the Allies
to victory in Europe, Queen
Elizabeth, the Yankees, and the
Mets, among many others.
Today, for the second time in
four years, the US women’s soccer
team traveled through ticker
tape from the Battery to City
Hall to the acclaim of throngs —
three days after winning the FIFA
World Cup .
The victory came amidst the
spectacle of the president of the
United States fi ghting — on Twitter,
of course — with the co-cap-
P E R S P E C T I V E : C e l e b r a t i o n
DONNA ACETO
Out lesbian co-captain Megan Rapinoe waves to
the crowd as the US women’s soccer team rides
through the Canyon of Heroes on Lower Broadway
July 10 to celebrate their World Cup victory
three days before.
DONNA ACETO
The fact that fi ve members of the team are
LGBTQ brought out the pride in the crowd lining
the route.
DONNA ACETO
Megan Rapinoe helps a teammate enjoy a beverage
during the ride.
DONNA ACETO
Christina Chapman leads the Dykes on Bikes contingent in the ticker tape parade.
DONNA ACETO
A youngster holds up as sign speaking to the
importance of determination and believing in
yourself — along with the affi rmation that love
is love.
DONNA ACETO
One sign made reference to the lawsuit that 28
members of the team have fi led against the US
Soccer Federation seeking pay equity with male
players.
DONNA ACETO
The city’s human rights commissioner, out lesbian
Carmelyn P. Malalis, takes a break from her work
day to give her two kids a chance to cheer for the
champs.
against the US Soccer Federation
for discrimination based on pay
disparities with male players.
All this political subtext aside,
it was a glorious day for a parade,
especially one celebrating
so great a victory — the team’s
second straight snagging of the
World Cup.
tain of his own nation’s team.
After out lesbian Megan Rapinoe
said she is “not going to the fucking
White House” in the event that
her team wins the World Cup,”
Donald Trump tweeted back,
“Megan should WIN fi rst before
she TALKS” and that she “should
never disrespect our Country, the
White House, or our Flag, especially
since so much has been
done for her & the team. Be proud
of the Flag that you wear.” The
president’s tweets on the matter
also noted — because he tied Rapinoe
to football and basketball
players taking the knee — that
“black unemployment is at the
lowest level in our country’s history.”
In gaining the victory Trump
warned she did not yet have,
Rapinoe fi nished the World Cup
competition with six goals and
two assists. She is joined on the
team by four other out LGBTQ
players —Tierna Davidson, Adrianna
Franch, Ashlyn Harris, and
Ali Krieger. Harris and Krieger
are engaged to be married.
The historic number of out athletes
on the US team brought out
pride among many in the crowd
on Lower Broadway. And the
Dykes on Bikes were among the
lead contingents in the parade.
Women generally were enthusiastic
about the victory, and some
in the crowd noted that 28 members
of the team have fi led suit
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