MLS side Orlando City apologise for banning LGBTQ+ fans banner for using word 'Gay'
dailystar.co.ukOrlando City have been forced to apologise after the leadership of their women's team, Orlando Pride, banned a banner for using the word "Gay".The Black Swans fan group created the banner and displayed it at the club's Exploria Stadium home as part of a protest against Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.
The bill is awaiting governor Ron DeSantis' signature, but many believe that it is a clear step backward in LGBTQ+ rights.Both the men's and women's teams at Orlando have long championed LGBTQ+ rights, even issuing statements condeming the "Don't Say Gay" legislation.
But they faced fierce criticism at the weekend after the Pride removed a Black Swans banner that carried the word "Gay" ahead of the NWSL Challenge Cup clash with Washington Spirit.The group posted a statement on social media in which they alleged that the Pride had moved the banner on "political" grounds.
Orlando were blasted by LGBTQ+ rights groups and their own players, who flooded the comments section of the Black Swans' statement with the word "gay", for that decision.After meeting with the fan group, the club have now been forced to backtrack and in apologising for removing the banner, they reiterated their support for supporting equality and diversity.
