Austin da Luz, and other US players, Playing for Pride in 2017
North Carolina FC midfielder Austin da Luz has recently launched the Playing for Pride campaign, which will help raise awareness for equal rights for the LGBTQ community and donate funds to the Human Rights Campaign.
"It’s been a difficult year in North Carolina, with all the controversy surrounding HB-2 and, couple that with the volatile political atmosphere, I got caught up in all that negativity," said Austin da Luz.
“I wanted to do something positive. I wanted to do two things. I wanted to show my support for the LGBTQ community here in North Carolina and, as a state, we aren’t what we have been portrayed to be in the media.
“The good outweighs the bad here and I wanted to further that message as a proud Carolinian.”
The idea to start the campaign was born during the preseason, but it only kick-ed off during North Carolina FC. Since then, over 20 players in every professional league in the United States, as well as da Luz’s former teammate, Jamie Dell, who plays in the Swedish second division, have joined in.
"The reaction from players has been pretty awesome," added Austin. "What’s cooler is that I haven’t gone to anyone personally and asked them to participate. I just kind of put it out there and said I’d like to get more players involved."
The reaction from the community and the fans has been equally welcoming. After games, when da Luz greets the fans, they’ll "shout out that they are joining me with Playing for Pride."
"People like having this interaction with the players and feeling like their values line up with players they are seeing on the weekends."
The players that have joined the Playing for Pride team will donate 2 USD for games played, 3 USD for a start, 4 USD for an assist, and 5 USD for a goal. Fans are encouraged to match a player, but have the option to just donate what they want, when they want.
"I just kind of asked fans in joining me to match those donations," said da Luz. "People are free to come up with their own thing and donate on their own schedule, that’s totally fine too. I just wanted to get as many people involved and everyone united around this cause."
From NASL.COM
Excited to be a part of the team! Follow for updates as we raise money for a great cause! #PlayingForPride https://t.co/1YCHHoYNEs
— Matthew Bahner (@Bahnes_2) April 26, 2017
Excited to have made the first donation to @playingforpride hoping to make many more. You can match my donation @ https://t.co/aes7FjpVL4 pic.twitter.com/mxSmUE6whq
— Matthew Watson (@mattwatson8) April 25, 2017
Thrilled to have joined the #PlayingForPride team! https://t.co/kBIMXf0EPH
— Stephanie McCaffrey (@smccaffrey9) April 19, 2017
❤️ #playingforpride https://t.co/3MJaRc6moq
— Lynn Williams (@lynnraenie) April 20, 2017
Latest News Articles

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.