Posted on 06/22/2021 12:15:41 PM PDT by Olog-hai
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has declined a request to allow Munich’s Allianz Arena to be illuminated in rainbow colors in support of LGBTQ+ rights, saying it would represent a political statement.
LGBTQ+ activists and the Munich City Council had requested the action for Germany’s Euro 2020 match against Hungary on Wednesday, after legislation was passed through the Hungarian parliament banning LGBTQ+ content for minors.
In a statement on Tuesday, UEFA said the action would have signaled a political message and suggested alternative dates.
“UEFA, through its statutes, is a politically and religiously neutral organization. Given the political context of this specific request — a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament — UEFA must decline this request,” the statement read.
“UEFA has nevertheless proposed to the city of Munich to illuminate the stadium with the rainbow colors on either 28 June — the Christopher Street Liberation Day — or between 3 and 9 July, which is Christopher Street Day week in Munich.”
Several German politicians have reacted with disappointment to UEFA’s decision, with the mayor of Munich slamming the idea to show the colors on another day as a “ridiculous counterproposal.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
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