Seattle World Cup Pride Events Set to Shine Despite Egypt, Iran Backlash | LGBTQ Rights in Spotlight
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{ "title": "Seattle World Cup Pride Events Set to Shine Despite Egypt, Iran Backlash | LGBTQ Rights in Spotlight", "article": "Tensions are rising ahead of the World Cup as Seattle organisers push forward with Pride events outside a match between Egypt and Iran, despite objections from the two nations where homosexuality is criminalised. The World Cup committee in Seattle has designated the June 26 match as a 'Pride Match' to showcase the city's annual Pride Weekend and support LGBTQ rights. However, the move has sparked controversy, with the Egyptian and Iranian football associations urging FIFA to ban any LGBTQ Pride-related activities during the game. According to Hana Tadesse, vice president of communications for the Seattle committee, the 'SeattleFWC26' events will go ahead as planned, with community programming taking place outside the stadium throughout the tournament. The committee has stressed that it is not responsible for events inside the 72,000-seat stadium where Egypt and Iran are scheduled to play. The complaints highlight the tension between World Cup rules promoting anti-discrimination and inclusivity, and the tournament's aim to respect the cultures of host countries. In response, the Seattle committee has stated that the Pride events are a celebration of LGBTQ communities in Washington state and a once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate their activism. The controversy echoes the dispute over 'OneLove' armbands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where FIFA threatened yellow cards for players wearing the armbands to protest Qatar's laws against same-sex relationships. The Pride Match has sparked debate over LGBTQ rights and cultural values, with Amnesty International noting that authorities in Egypt harass and prosecute individuals for their sexual orientation, while under Iranian law, same-sex relations can be punished by flogging and, for men, death. "
