New York (October 11, 2019) – Today, Athlete Ally announced that out FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions and professional soccer players Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris will be honored at the Sixth Annual Athlete Ally Action Awards. Athlete Ally is a nonprofit organization focused on fostering inclusive athletic environments and mobilizing the athletic community to champion LGBTQ equality. The awards ceremony, which will also honor out gay MLS player Collin Martin and out trans student athletes and activists Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller, will take place on Tuesday, November 12th at the New World Stages in New York City.
Ali Krieger is a professional soccer player, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion (2015 and 2019), and an Olympian. She has played all over the world for the Washington Freedom, 1. FFC Frankfurt of Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga, Tyresö FF of Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, Washington Spirit, and currently as a defender for Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League. She recently celebrated her 100th appearance for the US Women’s National Team.
In 2015, Ali became an Athlete Ally Pro Ambassador, writing: “I’m proud to be an Athlete Ally Ambassador, because it’s important to create an inclusive environment for all people both on and off the pitch and I know that the most successful teams support the unique and diverse contributions of all members.”
Ashlyn is also a FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion and has played for the Saint Louis Athletica, Washington Freedom, and Western New York Flash of Women’s Professional Soccer as well as FCR 2001 Duisburg of Bundesliga (women) in Germany and Tyresö FF of the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She currently plays as a goalkeeper for Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Together, Ali and Ashlyn have used their global platforms to champion the causes they believe in, especially in support of women, LGBTQ people, immigrants and other vulnerable groups. They’re also an out proud engaged couple, serving as powerful role models for LGBTQ youth worldwide.
“We’re thrilled to accept this award from Athlete Ally,” said Ali and Ashlyn. “It’s amazing to see the impact we can have on our fans, and if we can inspire others to persevere and to be kinder to one another, we feel we’ve done our part. Especially given the tremendous obstacles LGBTQ youth face every day, we want them to know that they’re never alone.”
“Ali and Ashlyn are showing the world what it means to be athletes with purpose,” said Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally. “From speaking out on bullying to ending stigma around mental health and addiction, Ali and Ashlyn have championed the spirit of athlete activism.”
To purchase tickets to the Awards, click here.
About Athlete Ally
Athlete Ally believes sport will change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people. As a leading national nonprofit working at the intersection of sport and LGBTQ equality, Athlete Ally works to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes and endangers LGBTQ people in sport. We educate individuals and institutions to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQ people and how they can build an inclusive culture within their athletic communities. We work to ensure sport governing bodies, teams and leagues adopt policies that reflect the diversity of their constituents. We incubate athlete activism to advance LGBTQ equality in and through sport.
The Sixth Annual Athlete Ally Action awards are made possible due to generous support, to date, from the National Basketball Association/Women’s Basketball Association (NBA/WNBA), HBO, Warner Media, Gatorade, Major League Soccer, Credit Suisse, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), TransPerfect, MillerCoors, and Tito’s Vodka in addition to individual supporters and other corporate support.
Learn more about the Action Awards here.
Press Inquiries: Joanna Hoffman, joanna.hoffman@athleteally.org