Team Liquid have announced they will continue to celebrate Pride month and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights after confirming their participation at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia later this year.
The organisation’s pro players will continue to wear Pride jerseys throughout June and July across the globe and Liquid will donate proceeds to LGBTQ+ organisations in North America, Europe, and Brazil.
Team Liquid will also continue donating $50k (£38k) to Rainbow Railroad, a not-for-profit organisation that helps at-risk LGBTQ+ people get to safety worldwide.
The EWC has previously been criticised for sportswashing or “esportswashing” by using these events to improve Saudi Arabia’s global image and distract from its human rights record.
In their most recent statement, Liquid admits that competing in the $70m (£54.8m) EWC event is “vital to sustaining the health and growth of our industry as well as our organisation” and believes the EWC answers some of the biggest challenges currently facing the esports scene.
And no staff at Liquid will be strangers to any backlash. This is the second time the organisation have worn Pride jerseys at an EWC after receiving approval from the Esports World Cup Foundation before the inaugural event in 2024.
At that time last year, openly gay Team Liquid co- CEO Steven ‘LiQuiD112’ Arhancet defended the organisation’s attendance and explained his perspective: “I believe we are making the right decision, all things considered.
“We will face the controversy and discontent that will justifiably come our way, and continue to support the causes that are important for TL… We at Team Liquid believe that the best way to create change is to include others and show them that progress is possible.”
Arhancet also revealed that Liquid executives had held conversations with women and individual members of the LGBTQ+ community in Saudi Arabia and added: “As a gay man, I understand the pain of exclusion. However, as a U.S. citizen, I know my struggles pale compared to what LGBT Saudis face daily.”
In their latest statement, the organisation claims they are seeing “rapid progression” but will continue to push for even greater change in Saudi Arabia.
Team Liquid will be one of 40 organisations competing at this year’s EWC as part of the Esports World Cup Club Program, an initiative designed to promote sustainable planning for esports teams.
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