- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=FOX Sports Partners With Play Proud During 2018 World Cup to Support Young LGBTQ Athletes https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/208511?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/208511?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/208511?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=FOX Sports Partners With Play Proud During 2018 World Cup to Support Young LGBTQ Athletes&body=ESG News from 21st Century Fox https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/208511?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Diversity & Inclusion](/CSR-News/diversity-inclusion) # FOX Sports Partners With Play Proud During 2018 World Cup to Support Young LGBTQ Athletes Aug 3, 2018 8:45 PM ET Campaign: [Sports & Well-being at 21st Century Fox](/news/campaign/sports-well-being-21st-century-fox) ![](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/playproud.jpg) [21st Century Fox Social Impact](https://impact.21cf.com/) To celebrate Pride Month and the FIFA World Cup in June, FOX Sports teamed up with [Play Proud](https://spark.adobe.com/page/vXGSSUV083jO5/) to share the stories of three remarkable young LGBTQ+ athletes who found support and community through the sport of soccer. Play Proud is an initiative of [Streetfootballworld](https://www.streetfootballworld.org/network-member/street-soccer-usa), a global coalition of nearly 130 soccer-based nonprofits in 80 countries working to address social issues impacting youth, from homelessness to gender-based violence to gang influence. Play Proud aims specifically to make soccer more inclusive by helping coaches protect and empower their LGBTQ+ players to reach their full potential, both on and off the field. FOX Sports helped broadcast this work by airing a mini video series multiple times during their coverage of the World Cup semi-finals and finals. The clips follow three LGBTQ+ soccer players—[William](http://video.foxsports.com/partners/img/foxsportslinks/PLAY_PROUD_WILL_FEATURE.mp4), [Melina](http://video.foxsports.com/partners/img/foxsportslinks/PLAY_PROUD_MELINA_FEATURE.mp4), and [Bella](http://video.foxsports.com/partners/img/foxsportslinks/PLAY_PROUD_BELLA_FEATURE.mp4)— as they share their stories of coming out in a challenging environment while finding a trusted support system in their soccer coaches and teammates. “Everyone deserves—no matter what you identify as, or who your partner is—at the end of the day, to go to a community and know that you’re loved, cared for, and supported,” concludes Bella in their video. At a time when 73% of LGBTQ+ youth feel that the sports world is not a safe or welcoming environment, FOX Sports and Play Proud are [changing the experience](https://vimeo.com/271088638) of those who believe their identities as LGBTQ+ and as athletes are diametrically opposed. “We believe you can be an out gay athlete,” says Streetfootballworld regional manager Lilli Barrett-O’Keefe. “For so many young LGBTQ youth, there is no safe space to be themselves and to be heard. We believe soccer can fill that void. Play Proud can save lives, literally.” *Learn more about [FOX Sports Supports](http://www.foxsports.com/supports/)’ nonprofit partners and programming, as well as parent company 21st Century Fox’s commitment to [Sports & Well-Being](https://impact.21cf.com/sports/).* [![21st Century Fox](/sites/default/files/Clients/21CF_Logo_Master_CMYK.jpg)](/profiles/21st-century-fox) ### More from 21st Century Fox ###### [Go Behind the Scenes of the Upcoming Adventure Film “Call of the Wild” and Learn How Twentieth Century Fox Went Green on Set](/news/go-behind-scenes-upcoming-adventure-film-call-wild-and-learn-how-twentieth-century-fox-went) Feb 25, 2019 7:00 AM ET ###### [Fox 2000 Goes Green Behind the Scenes of Upcoming Drama Film “The Woman in the Window”](/news/fox-2000-goes-green-behind-scenes-upcoming-drama-film-woman-window) Feb 21, 2019 7:00 AM ET ###### [GLAAD Media Awards Recognize “Love, Simon,” “Deadpool 2,” and More Fox Projects for Outstanding LGBTQ Representation](/news/glaad-media-awards-recognize-love-simon-deadpool-2-and-more-fox-projects-outstanding-lgbtq) Feb 1, 2019 3:00 PM ET ###### [21CF and U.S. State Department Host Second-Annual #HiddenNoMore Program, Helping Advance Women Around the World in STEAM Fields](/news/21cf-and-us-state-department-host-second-annual-hiddennomore-program-helping-advance-women) Jan 18, 2019 7:05 PM ET ###### [21CF Sponsors Nat Geo Photo Camps to Teach Young People the Power of Visual Storytelling](/news/21cf-sponsors-nat-geo-photo-camps-teach-young-people-power-visual-storytelling) Dec 20, 2018 7:30 PM ET ###### [21CF Meets Goal of Positively Impacting 1 Million People in 2018](/news/21cf-meets-goal-positively-impacting-1-million-people-2018) Dec 13, 2018 8:00 AM ET ###### [Fox Continues Green Production Efforts on Season Two of “Legion,” Reduces the Show’s Carbon Footprint by Nearly 50%](/news/fox-continues-green-production-efforts-season-two-legion-reduces-shows-carbon-footprint-nearly) Nov 6, 2018 7:00 AM ET ###### [Youth-Serving Organizations Can Apply to Receive Access to Free Screenings of ‘The Hate U Give’ Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film, Fox 2000 and AMC Theatres](/news/youth-serving-organizations-can-apply-receive-access-free-screenings-hate-u-give-courtesy) Oct 4, 2018 8:00 PM ET