{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-of-world-cup-championship-match-baldwin-joins-colleagues-in-bicameral-letter-calling-out-fifas-anti-lgbtq-stance", "Ahead of World Cup Championship Match, Baldwin Joins Colleagues in Bicameral Letter Calling Out FIFA\u2019s Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined 29 of her colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, expressing outrage over the association\u2019s decision to censor support for LGBTQ+ rights by fans and players at the 2022 World Cup.\n\n\u201cWe write today with concern regarding FIFA\u2019s decision to penalize players in the 2022 World Cup for wearing \u2018OneLove\u2019 armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as reports that spectators wearing clothing in support of the LGBTQ+ community faced confrontation from officials at events,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cIt is our understanding that team captains from several European teams competing in the World Cup intended to wear OneLove armbands as a signal of support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity, but were instructed by FIFA that doing so would result in the issuance of in-game sanctions (e.g. yellow cards),\u201d they continued. \u201cThis is in contrast to the typical monetary fine issued for uniform violations, and ultimately deterred players from adorning their uniforms with the armbands.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 letter expresses deep concerns with the unprecedented actions taken by FIFA to silence players in their attempt to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights around the globe.\n\n\u201c[T]hese actions stand in stark contrast to FIFA\u2019s own commitments. FIFA has promoted its own \u2018No Discrimination\u2019 campaign, featuring different captains\u2019 armbands, and released a statement indicating that, \u2018FIFA is an inclusive organization and supports all legitimate causes, such as \u2018One Love\u2019,\u2019\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cIf FIFA believes itself to be an inclusive organization that supports causes like the OneLove movement, then its erasure of the movement\u2019s armbands and other LGBTQ+ symbols and apparel in support of its own campaign runs counter to its public attestations about the values it espouses.\u201d\n\nIn order to meaningfully reaffirm the principle that harassment and discrimination are not tolerated at FIFA sanctioned events\u2014including the next World Cup set to be held jointly in North America, including the United States, and the Women\u2019s World Cup kicking off in less than a year\u2014the lawmakers specifically ask the following:\n\nTo what extent will FIFA consider government\u2019s track record on LGBTQ+ rights when determining where to host future World Cups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to consistent future policies with respect to players\u2019 uniforms; fans\u2019 apparel, signs, and symbols; and other forms of expression that allows for individuals to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to reviewing its protocols for how it engages with host country governments?\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Mark Takano (D-CA-41), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15). The letter was also cosigned by Senators Edward, J. Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), David Cicilline (D-RI-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), and Grace Meng (D-NY-06).\n\nThis letter is supported by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Mr. Infantino:\n\nWe write today with concern regarding FIFA\u2019s decision to penalize players in the 2022 World Cup for wearing \u201cOneLove\u201d armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as reports that spectators wearing clothing in support of the LGBTQ+ community faced confrontation from officials at events.\n\nIt is our understanding that team captains from several European teams competing in the World Cup intended to wear OneLove armbands as a signal of support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity, but were instructed by FIFA that doing so would result in the issuance of in-game sanctions (e.g. yellow cards). This is in contrast to the typical monetary fine issued for uniform violations, and ultimately deterred players from adorning their uniforms with the armbands. We write to express our deep concern with these unprecedented actions taken by FIFA to silence players in their attempt to advocate for the worthy and legitimate cause of LGBTQ+ rights.\n\nSoccer is often called the universal language, but FIFA\u2019s position undermines the sport\u2019s power of transcending divisions and bringing people together. The association\u2019s practices have not been limited to the players, either. We are also concerned about reports that spectators wearing apparel or bearing symbols that show support for the LGBTQ+ community have been detained, harassed, denied entry to events, or have had their apparel or possessions confiscated. These actions have culminated in a message to LGBTQ+ people that neither they nor their allies are welcome at the World Cup, contrary to several public statements made about the tournament.\n\nMoreover, these actions stand in stark contrast to FIFA\u2019s own commitments. FIFA has promoted its own \u201cNo Discrimination\u201d campaign, featuring different captains\u2019 armbands, and released a statement indicating that, \u201cFIFA is an inclusive organization and supports all legitimate causes, such as \u2018One Love\u2019.\u201d If FIFA believes itself to be an inclusive organization that supports causes like the OneLove movement, then its erasure of the movement\u2019s armbands and other LGBTQ+ symbols and apparel in support of its own campaign runs counter to its public attestations about the values it espouses.\n\nSports are about belonging, well-being, and affirming one\u2019s place amongst their peers and fellow fans. Indeed, with the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted by in North America\u2014including 60 matches set to be played in the United States\u2014we cannot remain silent while this discrimination continues. Every person\u2014regardless of who they are or whom they love\u2014has the right to be treated with decency and respect, and to live their life free from fear of discrimination. No one should be denied the opportunity to participate in daily life or their love of a sport because of who they are, and no one should be silenced for standing up for those rights.\n\nWe implore FIFA to meaningfully reaffirm the principle that harassment and discrimination are not tolerated at their sanctioned events, consistent with the association\u2019s own campaign and public statements. Specifically, we ask:\n\nTo what extent will FIFA consider government\u2019s track record on LGBTQ+ rights when determining where to host future World Cups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to consistent future policies with respect to players\u2019 uniforms; fans\u2019 apparel, signs, and symbols; and other forms of expression that allows for individuals to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups?\n\nWill FIFA commit to reviewing its protocols for how it engages with host country governments?\n\nAs the most watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup has a responsibility to adhere to international rights and norms regarding freedom of expression. And with the next World Cup taking place in the United States as well as in Mexico and Canada, as well as the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup set to begin in just over 200 days, we will be watching closely to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups are treated with respect.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response and assurances that future FIFA events are inclusive to all.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-of-world-cup-championship-match-baldwin-joins-colleagues-in-bicameral-letter-calling-out-fifas-anti-lgbtq-stance"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.0702260080724955, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}