As Pride month comes to an end, there was a moment in Brazil’s second tier I felt was worth highlighting. Vasco da Gama is one of Brazil’s biggest clubs despite being relegated to Brasileirao Serie B last season. The following Vasco da Gama flag celebration definitely falls under the “feel good” category.
On Sunday, the club hosted Brusque in a league game and was all decked out for LGBTQ+ Pride. The corner flags were swapped to the rainbow flags and the home team sported some of the cleanest Pride kits I’ve ever seen.
Similar to Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup kits, these Vasco da Gama Pride jerseys flew off the shelves. I hope they restock because I would love to get my hands on one of these bad boys.
Vasco da Gama won Sunday’s game 2-1, but it was the home side’s opening goal that got worldwide attention. Argentine striker Germán Cano grabbed the lead for Vasco da Gama in the 63rd minute. With the game taking place the night before June 28 (Pride Day), Cano celebrated by lifting and waving the corner flag in the air.
No dia em que o Vasco estreia uniforme especial em homenagem ao Orgulho LGBTQI+, German Cano comemora seu gol contra o Brusque levantando a bandeira de escanteio estilizada com as cores do arco-íris #RespeitoEDiversidade #Pride #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/KqDXL4hCb0
— ge (@geglobo) June 28, 2021
Vasco da Gama has a history of breaking down barriers for players. In 1924, Vasco da Gama was one of the first Brazilian clubs to include Black players on the team and was pressured by other clubs to ban the players. The club refused to bow to the racist demands and changed the face of soccer in Brazil to be more inclusive.
Nearly a century later, Vasco da Gama looks to do the same with LGBTQ+ athletes.
"Vasco in 1923 did not accept the racism naturalized. Twenty-first century's Vasco refuses to accept the homophobia and transphobia that was a mark of the twentieth century."
On June 27, we did an action launching this special shirt.For morehttps://t.co/egEeGF0QBg pic.twitter.com/jbzKO9d1q1
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) June 29, 2021
.@Germancanoofi made a historic gesture in his celebration after the goal in this game.
Regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, we are all the same. Vasco da Gama was born as a team for all and will continue to be so. pic.twitter.com/G3YMFmALkb
— Vasco da Gama (@VascodaGama) June 29, 2021
