Sports
The Beckham effect
Soccer legend rewrote the book on masculinity
David Beckham in 2010. Sometimes straight public figures who exude comfort and confidence help curb LGBT stereotypes without intending to. (Photo by Photo Works; courtesy Bigstock)
The effect of David Beckham on Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States is said to be incalculable. His impact ranged from increases in team expansion fees, television broadcast rights, merchandise sales to fan attendance. Those changes were felt by all MLS teams, not just the L.A. Galaxy for which he played from 2007 to 2012.
It has been two years since his last match as part of Paris Saint-Germain and his legacy continues to resonate. While sports icons before him like Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi showed the value of branding, Beckham took it a step further by showing a sensitive side to the sports hero.
His soccer career, the marriage to Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) and the arrival of their four children, along with sponsorship deals with Adidas, Samsung, Pepsi, Gillette and H&M, brought Beckham to the front and center of international pop culture.
Is it possible that his presence has helped the LGBT sports movement?
Without standing up and calling himself a straight sports ally, did he further the public opinion of acceptance for LGBT athletes? Did his brand change the long-standing perception of masculinity in sports?
Yes, on all counts.
When Beckham began his career as a professional soccer player in 1992 at age 17 for Manchester United, the sport was known for its harsh and often hostile players such as Paul Gascoigne, also known as Gazza, who played from 1985 to 2004. He was a spectacular player defined by his off-field antics which included misbehaving in press conferences, public intoxication, temper tantrums and spousal abuse. Gascoigne’s outrageous behavior delighted soccer fans.
Enter David Beckham whose polished looks, good boy image and sensitivity coupled with his athleticism, toughness and sportsmanship ushered in a new perception of what kind of man can be successful in the jock culture of athletics.
Truett Vaigneur is a professor at City University of New York and was the producer of the educational film “The University Pool,” which explored the experiences of three former college athletes and the stigma of being gay in the jock culture of university athleticism. Vaigneur has also done extensive research for presentations at conferences and for academic journals on identity formation and masculinity in sports.
“David Beckham’s presence stimulated a new breed of athletes that are OK with showing a sensitive side,” Vaigneur says. “The masculine presentation of an athlete is fading and it is becoming OK to show personality traits that were once perceived as weakness.”
Vaigneur goes on to say, “Beckham’s image was protected by his heterosexuality; the fact that he wore a ponytail and modeled underwear brought about assimilation in the culture of sports. Any positive shift in the perception of what makes an athlete, whether they are gay or straight, is going to help the culture of athletics.”
During Beckham’s soccer career, the media often focused on the fact that he was a doting family man. He even cited the need to spend more time with his family as one of the factors for the timing of his retirement. He sometimes missed media events to stay home with his kids.
As for the impact on the LGBT sports community, there seems to be a blurring of the lines when it comes to defining an athlete. More and more straight athletes are stepping forward in support of accepting anyone who wants to play.
“Gay athletes don’t want to be called gay athletes, they want to be called athletes,” Vaigneur says. “We have approached a level in gay culture where gay men can stand up and say, ‘I am a man, not a gay man.’”
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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