Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC kicks off its annual Pride celebration this month, saluting local champions and advocates from the region’s LGBTQ community, as well as supporting the work of various organizations promoting equality and inclusivity. The celebration begins this Saturday, June 4, when Republic FC welcomes San Antonio FC for the club’s annual Pride Night match at Heart Health Park.
“As a club and a city, it is our responsibility to protect each other and maintain a community that is supportive of everyone,” said Republic FC VP of Community Investment Scott Moak. “Throughout June and the remainder of 2022, we are thrilled to resume giving back to Sacramento’s LGBT Community in more ways than one and help continue the ongoing strive for equality.”
On Saturday, the team will honor local community members before the match and at halftime, as well as share Pride symbols with rainbow corner flags and goal nets, as well as the captain’s armband. Defender Duke Lacroix will join Athlete Ally’s national Playing for Pride campaign for the second season in Sacramento – marking the club’s 5thconsecutive year of participating in the programand Lacroix’s second consecutive season.
Based on his statistics accumulated on the pitch, Lacroix and Republic FC will donate $1 for every minute he plays, $50 per goal, $25 per assist, and $10 per successful tackle in each of the club’s June matches, including the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal against LA Galaxy on June 21. Fans can support Duke’s donation goal by contributing online at AthleteAlly.org to help Athlete Ally build inclusive communities in sports across the country. In 2021, Lacroix combined with teammates Cameron Iwasa and Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu to raise over $700.
On June 11, Republic FC’s front office and fans will also join the LGBT Center’s annual Pride March and Festival through downtown Sacramento. At Saturday’s game, the club will welcome local artist Shannan O’Rourke to create a one-of-a-kind banner that the organization will proudly display during the march.
In partnership with the center, the club will also present a $1,000 scholarship – part of the annual Indomitable Scholars series – to a local student at this weekend’s match. LGBT Center leadership and Republic FC staff will review the finalists selected by the LGBT Center and announce a winner on Saturday. The club has presented a local student with scholarship awards as a part of its Pride celebration each season since 2019.
The club will also launch its annual Pride merchandise collection this week. Fifteen percent of sales from a new scarf, shirt and pride sticker will support the work of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. Proceeds from the 2022 collection will assist the Center’s ongoing efforts to provide individuals with often difficult to access health care items and counseling, provide cultural competency and diversity training, provide free support groups to both youth and adults, and much more. The collection will launch later this week at Shop.SacRepublicFC.com.
Since Republic FC’s inception in 2014, the club has worked closely with LGBT organizations and allies in the Sacramento region – from marching in annual parades, providing scholarship resources, highlighting community champions, and supporting LGBT businesses impacted by the pandemic. Last year, the club and its partners were honored with the league’s first-ever USL Impact Award for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, as well as praise from Football v. Homophobia America – saluting the work of professional clubs.
Saturday’s match against first place San Antonio FC, the first of two matchups between the clubs this season, is set to kickoff at 8:00 p.m. from Heart Health Park. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/single-match-tickets, and the match will be broadcast live on FOX40, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, and streaming on ESPN+.
