Latest news with #LGBTQ-friendly
Local Sweden
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Sweden
Sweden's 'Soft Hooligans' promote better vibes at Women's Euros
Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to spread good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. Advertisement The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." Advertisement Political message The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. Advertisement They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson. By AFP's Agnes Johanna Wästfelt
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sweden's Soft Hooligans push better vibes at Women's Euros
Zurich: Swedish supporters' group the Soft Hooligans have brought their chants, drums and message of inclusion to Switzerland to support their national team at Euro 2025, to promote good vibes in the stands and better conditions for women's football. The idea for the Soft Hooligans came about in 2017 when Kajsa Aronsson, 61, and her daughter Estrid Kjellman, 29, attended the Women's Euros in the Netherlands. "It was just so incredibly dead. We shouted sometimes, we cheered, and people looked at us as if we were completely crazy," Kjellman told AFP. "We joked that we were hooligans. And then we were like: 'But we're not like other hooligans, we're soft hooligans'," she added with a big smile. The young woman then created a Facebook group to spread their message. "In the beginning, there was no defined cheering section," Aronsson explained. "We had to build everything from scratch and get people to want to stand in the stands. Early on, it wasn't even that much fun to attend the games. You were on your own," Kjellman said. Eight years later, with the Women's Euros now underway in Switzerland, the atmosphere has changed significantly, the two women noted, sitting in front of a ski lift in an alpine landscape wearing caps with the slogans "More Women in Football" and "Soft Hooligans". "There are many more Swedes here. I think there's a big difference with the other teams too," said Kjellman. "In England, there were several matches where the opposing team basically had no supporters. Now I think most teams have some kind of organised supporter group," she added. A change they welcome enthusiastically. "We definitely cheer for Sweden the most. But then you support women's football and want there to be more atmosphere, better football, better conditions," said Kjellman. "The culture in the stands is also a big part of making it more and more interesting to go to women's football matches." The Soft Hooligans stick to some core values: "Everyone should feel welcome," Kjellman stressed, underlining the inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly nature of the group. "There are many families and children in the stands," Aronsson explained. Their movement is not, however, without its detractors. "We receive mocking comments about our name," Kjellman said. "But we choose not to focus on that," her mother added. Kjellman lamented the ever-present political aspect of women's football. "Women's football is still very marginalised. In Sweden, we've come a long way. But there's still a long way to go," she said. "In other parts of the world, girls don't have the opportunity to play football at all." The two women are optimistic about younger generations. "Women's football is much more accepted today. Now we have children who have (Spanish double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana) Bonmati as their favourite football player," Kjellman noted. For the more immediate future, the Soft Hooligans are hoping for a Swedish victory in this year's Euros. In the stands, their massive banner proclaims "41 Years Since Last Time" on one side and "Bringing the Gold Home" on the other, referring to Sweden's triumph at the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984. They are through to the quarter-finals in Switzerland after a completing a perfect group stage campaign with a 4-1 win over Germany on Saturday. "I have never, as a national coach, experienced the kind of support we had," said Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson. "There was a whole section that was completely yellow with a little bit of blue, and we had people above our bench, so we were enclosed in a cool way." Sweden will stay in Zurich for their quarter-final against reigning champions England. "It feels great that we are playing here again on Thursday, almost like home advantage," said Gerhardsson. — AFP
The Star
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Hong Kong should have ‘real' dialogue on same-sex partnership plan: LGBTQ groups
LGBTQ organisations in Hong Kong have called for 'real consultations' on a government-proposed framework to recognise same-sex partnerships, even as widespread opposition from lawmakers threatens to derail the plan. The groups said on Sunday that the reaction from legislators was 'not surprising' but the 'hostility' had prompted some people to leave the city altogether. In a paper submitted to the legislature last week, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau proposed allowing same-sex couples to apply to have their relationship recognised in Hong Kong if they had first registered it in another jurisdiction. While the framework was in accordance with a landmark ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023, lawmakers in the Legislative Council hit out at the plan, fuelling speculation that it could hit a dead end. So far, at least 41 members of the 89-strong legislature – including those from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Business and Professionals Alliance, the Federation of Trade Unions and the Liberal Party – have indicated their objection to the proposal. One of the only lawmakers to express support was Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, the convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council, who has said she and five other members of her New People's Party will vote in favour of the eventual legislation. Francis Tang Yiu-kwong, founder of advocacy group Gay Harmony, said he was not surprised about the resistance to the proposal in Legco, as he felt most lawmakers in recent years were opposed to same-sex marriage. Lobbying efforts over LGBTQ issues had also become increasingly difficult, he added. 'Almost all the council members share ... a similar position,' he said. Among the few political parties in Hong Kong to have openly supported LGBTQ issues in the past was the League of Social Democrats, an opposition group that disbanded last month after 19 years, citing political pressure. Activist Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, who was a member of the party, had filed the judicial challenge that eventually led to the top court finding the government had violated the city's Bill of Rights by failing to provide some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples. But Tang said that some in the LGBTQ community did not feel the government's proposal went far enough to ensure the basic needs of same-sex couples were met. Given the widespread opposition, Tang said he felt the most probable scenario would be for the government to postpone the legislation. He hoped 'real consultations' could then be conducted. 'Actually, we may have the chance to have a real conversation with the government on this, because we haven't had the chance yet,' he said. On Friday, Covenant of the Rainbow, a coalition of LGBTQ-friendly Hong Kong religious organisations, also called for the government to immediately launch consultations with same-sex couples on the proposed framework and for Legco's Bills Committee to hold public hearings on the matter. Pastor Cheng Tsz-Hong of the Blessed Ministry Community Church, an LGBTQ-friendly congregation and member of the coalition, said it was 'deeply disappointed' by the lawmakers' reactions and 'deeply concerned' about the proposal being vetoed. 'But beyond the policy itself, what has truly wounded our community is the hostility of the public debate,' he said. Members of the congregation had expressed worries in the past few days, while some had decided to simply leave the city, Cheng said. 'This is not just a policy issue. It is a message about who belongs in this city,' he said. Cheng said the ministry appreciated authorities' efforts to respond to the apex court's ruling, but it was concerned about the lack of direct consultations with the LGBTQ community. He urged the government to establish an independent advisory body including LGBTQ individuals, rights advocates, legal professionals, and religious voices from diverse perspectives. 'Such a platform would enable meaningful dialogue and more inclusive policymaking,' he said. The government's proposed mechanism would grant same-sex couples some rights, such as those related to medical and after-death matters, but the government paper submitted to Legco expressly stated the framework would not be equivalent to marriage. In Hong Kong, gay sex was decriminalised in 1991, but same-sex couples have never had legal recognition, owing to a strict legal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. But numerous judicial challenges over the past decade have resulted in some protections. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
NBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Some international LGBTQ+ travelers pull back on U.S. trips: 'Why would I go there?'
Canadian citizen Robert Sharp was planning to visit Provincetown, Massachusetts — one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places in America — for his friend's milestone birthday in July. But against a backdrop of ongoing trade tensions sparked by President Donald Trump 's tariff policies and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies in the U.S., he said his plans changed. 'Do we want to have that stress before going on vacation? Or do we want to support our own country?' Sharp said. The group he was planning to travel with decided to cancel the trip and will instead visit Montreal, he said. Sharp and his partner were also planning to visit Chicago or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a separate trip this year, but they shifted their plans to a Canadian road trip between Calgary and Vancouver. 'We've been hit hard in Canada with tariffs and there's been a real sense of patriotism up here. So, we ultimately decided to explore our own country, and do a road trip to the Rockies and spend money within Canada to help our economy,' Sharp said. Sharp's change in plans reflects a larger trend of international travelers rethinking where they are spending their travel budgets and pulling back on visits to the U.S. The number of foreign visitors to the U.S. by air dropped 10% in March from a year prior, according to the International Trade Administration, part of the Commerce Department. Including land border crossings, the number of inbound visitors to the U.S. fell 14% in March from the same period last year, according to industry group U.S. Travel Association. Oxford Economics estimates spending among international visitors to the U.S. will fall $8.5 billion this year, as negative perceptions of the U.S. tied to trade and immigration policy lead travelers to other destinations. Among the LGBTQ+ population, bookings for queer-friendly housing accommodations in the U.S. on the LGBTQ+ travel platform misterb&b saw a 66% decline among Canadian users and a 32% decline among European users from February to April, compared with the same period last year. The company said it had a 22% increase in bookings in blue states and a 9% decline in red states during that time period. It also saw declines in cities within red states including Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas. Misterb&b CEO Matthieu Jost said overall bookings on the platform are not down globally but are increasing. LGBTQ+ individuals appear to be continuing to spend on vacations, but they're changing their destinations, Jost said. The company said the majority of misterb&b users it surveyed this year said they use their travel budget as a form of activism — supporting inclusive destinations and economies. The rainbow dollar Sharp, who owns LGBTQ-friendly travel company Out Adventures, is not alone in changing his travel plans. In February, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada issued a statement saying its members would not participate in person at conferences or events happening in the U.S. this year, including WorldPride, which took place at the beginning of June in Washington, D.C. The decision was made primarily to protect individuals' safety, said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada. In his second term, Trump has signed several executive orders targeting transgender people, including preventing them from serving openly in the military and trying to keep transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports. Another executive order, which says the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, prompted several countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, to issue official cautions for LGBTQ+ travelers visiting the U.S., particularly transgender travelers. Canada has also updated its travel guidance with specific advisories for people with an 'X' gender listed on their passports. Kennedy said another reason for the decision not to travel to the U.S. was to push back on what she views as 'economic warfare' from the U.S. toward Canada. 'People talk about Canada and the U.S. having a long history of being incredible neighbors. And yes, we do, but that's based on economic interests a lot of the time,' Kennedy said. 'When you put that human element with the economic element, then you think, well, OK, why would I go there?' Kennedy said members of Egale Canada who are involved in nongovernmental organizations would normally spend anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 per person during a trip to attend a conference or event. Corporate travelers usually spend at least $5,000, she estimated. 'We do spend a fair chunk of change in hotels,' she said. 'We do excursions, we rent bikes, we do all of the things that everybody else does.' The LGBTQ+ travel market is significant. The purchasing power of LGBTQ+ consumers overall is estimated to be $1.4 trillion, according to a 2022 study by the market research firm Pride Co-Op. In 2023, the global LGBTQ+ tourism market size was $296.8 billion, and it's expected to more than double in 10 years, reaching $634.9 billion in 2033, according to Research from Arival Travel shows that LGBTQ+ travelers are more likely to be affluent, with a household income of over $150,000, compared with other travelers. When traveling, LGBTQ individuals book more activities and tours and spend more on these experiences than other populations, the Arival research found. John Tanzella, CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said his organization is already sensing a pullback in international LGBTQ+ travel to the U.S. He said he has heard hesitations from international members about attending the organization's global convention in October in Palm Springs, California. 'They don't feel welcome here, so why come and spend their money here?' Tanzella said. 'On the surface, it affects airlines and hotels. But if you dig a little deeper it does affect other businesses, whether it's barber shops or restaurants, bars, spas. A lot of communities rely on tourists to come in and spend their money,' he added. Pride celebrations carry on Despite concerns of waning visits from international LGBTQ+ travelers, as well as some pullbacks in corporate sponsorships for Pride celebrations, Pride organizations across the U.S. said attendance was strong at Pride Month events, many of which take place on the last weekend of June. But many organizations said it's still too soon to get official attendance numbers or difficult to estimate, given that many Pride celebrations are non-ticketed and open to the public. Matt Şenız-Cheng, associate director of partnerships for NYC Pride, said attendance for its Pride events last weekend is expected to total 2.5 million — in line with its typical numbers. He said NYC Pride lost approximately 25% of its corporate sponsorships initially this year, due to the economy, tariffs and pullback surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. But he estimated the number of people and contingents participating in the Pride march this year will be bigger than in previous years. Ryan Bos, executive director for the Capital Pride Alliance, which ran WorldPride this year, said organizers were 'pleasantly surprised' that people still showed up amid concerns about the Trump administration's policies. Bos said he had heard calls to cancel the event this year due to political tensions in Washington, he said. 'If we were to retreat, what message would that have sent to all the other Prides who are also experiencing similar challenges?' Bos said. While WorldPride doesn't have official attendance numbers yet, Bos said he believes attendance was strong. However, Tanzella, of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said he heard numbers for WorldPride were down this year. Cities in red states have also continued on with their pride celebrations. Attendance rose from about 28,000 last year to 33,000 this year at Phoenix Pride's annual Rainbows Festival in April, Executive Director Michael Fornelli told CNBC in a statement. Its Pride parade will be celebrated in October due to the summer heat. In Salt Lake City, SLC Pride estimated its celebration last weekend brought in 17,000 attendees, more than the 10,000 it saw last year, according to Bonnie O'Brien, festival director. 'We are in a little bit of a blue bubble here in Salt Lake,' O'Brien said. 'We're not expecting people to come from big, big cities or foreign countries. But will we get people from Wyoming? Yes. Will we get people from rural Utah or rural Idaho? Yes.' 'It's not about travel. It's not about red or blue,' she said. 'It's about the closest place that they can find community. And that they know that they're safe, if just for a weekend.'
CNBC
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Some international LGBTQ+ travelers pull back on U.S. trips: 'Why would I go there?'
Canadian citizen Robert Sharp was planning to visit Provincetown, Massachusetts — one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places in America — for his friend's milestone birthday in July. But against a backdrop of ongoing trade tensions sparked by President Donald Trump's tariff policies and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies in the U.S., he said his plans changed. "Do we want to have that stress before going on vacation? Or do we want to support our own country?" Sharp said. The group he was planning to travel with decided to cancel the trip and will instead visit Montreal, he said. Sharp and his partner were also planning to visit Chicago or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a separate trip this year, but they shifted their plans to a Canadian road trip between Calgary and Vancouver. "We've been hit hard in Canada with tariffs and there's been a real sense of patriotism up here. So, we ultimately decided to explore our own country, and do a road trip to the Rockies and spend money within Canada to help our economy," Sharp said. Sharp's change in plans reflects a larger trend of international travelers rethinking where they are spending their travel budgets and pulling back on visits to the U.S. The number of foreign visitors to the U.S. by air dropped 10% in March from a year prior, according to the International Trade Administration, part of the Commerce Department. Including land border crossings, inbound visitors to the U.S. fell 14% in March from the same period last year, according to the industry group. Oxford Economics estimates spending among international visitors to the U.S. will fall $8.5 billion this year, as negative perceptions of the U.S. tied to trade and immigration policy lead travelers to other destinations. Among the LGBTQ+ population, bookings for queer-friendly housing accommodations in the U.S. on the LGBTQ+ travel platform misterb&b saw a 66% decline among Canadian users and a 32% decline among European users from February to April, compared with the same period last year. The company said it had a 22% increase in bookings in blue states and a 9% decline in red states during that time period. It also saw declines in cities within red states including Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas. Misterb&b CEO Matthieu Jost said overall bookings on the platform are not down globally but are increasing. Jost said LGBTQ+ individuals appear to be continuing to spend on vacations, but they're changing their destinations. The company said the majority of misterb&b users it surveyed this year said they use their travel budget as a form of activism — supporting inclusive destinations and economies. Sharp, who owns LGBTQ-friendly travel company Out Adventures, is not alone in changing his travel plans. In February, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada issued a statement saying its members would not participate in person at conferences or events happening in the U.S. this year, including WorldPride, which took place at the beginning of June in Washington, D.C. The decision was made primarily to protect individuals' safety, said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada. In his second term, Trump has signed several executive orders targeting transgender people, including preventing them from serving openly in the military and trying to keep transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports. Another executive order, which says the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, prompted several countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, to issue official cautions for LGBTQ+ travelers visiting the U.S., particularly transgender travelers. Canada has also updated its travel guidance with specific advisories for people with an "X" gender listed on their passports. Kennedy said another reason for the decision not to travel to the U.S. was to push back on what she views as "economic warfare" from the U.S. toward Canada. "People talk about Canada and the U.S. having a long history of being incredible neighbors. And yes, we do, but that's based on economic interests a lot of the time," Kennedy said. "When you put that human element with the economic element, then you think, well, OK, why would I go there?" Kennedy said members of Egale Canada who are involved in nongovernmental organizations would normally spend anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 per person during a trip to attend a conference or event. Corporate travelers usually spend at least $5,000, she estimated. "We do spend a fair chunk of change in hotels," she said. "We do excursions, we rent bikes, we do all of the things that everybody else does." The LGBTQ+ travel market is significant. The purchasing power of LGBTQ+ consumers overall is estimated to be $1.4 trillion, according to a 2022 study by the market research firm Pride Co-Op. In 2023, the global LGBTQ+ tourism market size was $296.8 billion, and it's expected to more than double in 10 years, reaching $634.9 billion in 2033, according to Research from Arival Travel shows that LGBTQ+ travelers are more likely to be affluent, with a household income of over $150,000, compared with other travelers. When traveling, LGBTQ individuals book more activities and tours and spend more on these experiences than other populations, the Arival research found. John Tanzella, CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said his organization is already sensing a pullback in international LGBTQ+ travel to the U.S. He said he has heard hesitations from international members about attending the organization's global convention in October in Palm Springs, California. "They don't feel welcome here, so why come and spend their money here?" Tanzella said. "On the surface, it affects airlines and hotels. But if you dig a little deeper it does affect other businesses, whether it's barber shops or restaurants, bars, spas. A lot of communities rely on tourists to come in and spend their money," he added. Despite concerns of waning visits from international LGBTQ+ travelers, as well as some pullbacks in corporate sponsorships for Pride celebrations, Pride organizations across the U.S. said attendance was strong at Pride Month events, many of which take place on the last weekend of June. But many organizations said it's still too soon to get official attendance numbers or difficult to estimate, given that many Pride celebrations are non-ticketed and open to the public. Matt Şenız-Cheng, associate director of partnerships for NYC Pride, said attendance for its Pride events last weekend is expected to total 2.5 million — in line with its typical numbers. He said NYC Pride lost approximately 25% of its corporate sponsorships initially this year, due to the economy, tariffs and pullback surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. But he estimated the number of people and contingents participating in the Pride march this year will be bigger than in previous years. Ryan Bos, executive director for the Capital Pride Alliance, which ran WorldPride this year, said organizers were "pleasantly surprised" that people still showed up amid concerns about the Trump administration's policies. Bos said he had heard calls to cancel the event this year due to political tensions in Washington, he said. "If we were to retreat, what message would that have sent to all the other Prides who are also experiencing similar challenges?" Bos said. While WorldPride doesn't have official attendance numbers yet, Bos said he believes attendance was strong. However, Tanzella, of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said he heard numbers for WorldPride were down this year. Cities in red states have also continued on with their pride celebrations. Attendance rose from about 28,000 last year to 33,000 this year at Phoenix Pride's annual Rainbows Festival in April, Executive Director Michael Fornelli told CNBC in a statement. Its pride parade will be celebrated in October due to the summer heat. In Salt Lake City, SLC Pride estimated its celebration last weekend brought in 17,000 attendees, more than the 10,000 it saw last year, according to Bonnie O'Brien, festival director. "We are in a little bit of a blue bubble here in Salt Lake," O'Brien said. "We're not expecting people to come from big, big cities or foreign countries. But will we get people from Wyoming? Yes. Will we get people from rural Utah or rural Idaho? Yes." "It's not about travel. It's not about red or blue," she said. "It's about the closest place that they can find community. And that they know that they're safe, if just for a weekend."
