US Men's National Soccer Team Captain Michael Bradley showed up to a match against Ecuador on Thursday wearing a rainbow armband in support of the LGBT community and the victims of the Orlando massacre.
Bradley donned the rainbow armband instead of the yellow armband he traditionally wears as team captain. Written on the rainbow armband were the words, “One Nation.”
“Obviously it's an incredibly sad week for our country, for the LGBT community,” Bradley said following the game. “You know, we all feel a big sense of responsibility every time we represent our country, and I think wearing that armband was the best way to represent our country tonight.”
#USMNT star Michael Bradley wearing a rainbow captain's armband during tonight's match: pic.twitter.com/5raeOCDhd2
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) June 17, 2016
Mad respect to Michael Bradley pic.twitter.com/CYRtAk7G2j
— USWNT reactions (@USWNTreactions) June 17, 2016
Rainbow armband on The Captain. Class move by Bradley. pic.twitter.com/YaoYrFGhKY
— Steve Cavendish (@scavendish) June 17, 2016
Outsports' Cyd Zeigler adds, “Bradley didn't just wear it for the pre-match ceremony but wore the captain's arm band throughout the match […].”
Zeigler also blasted media coverage that has minimized if not erased the fact that the Orlando shooting was specifically an attack on the LGBT community. Said Zeigler, “It's crazy to me that places like Sports Illustrated are reporting about the rainbow band with no reference to the LGBT community. Why can't the sports world just say the words “gay” and “LGBT” in conjunction with the assault on our community in Orlando?”
Hillary Clinton praised Bradley for wearing the armband, writing on Twitter, “You don't have to be LGBT to stand with the LGBT community. We all have a stake in equality. Thank you, Michael.”
You don't have to be LGBT to stand with the LGBT community. We all have a stake in equality. Thank you, Michael. https://t.co/EfEMVugWCp
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 17, 2016
Watch a news report on Bradley's show of support on the field as well as a video from the USMNT offering their support to the LGBT community and the victims of the Orlando massacre, below.
[Top photo via Twitter]
