The Canyon of Heroes has played host to Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Dwight Eisenhower after leading the Allies to victory in Europe, Queen Elizabeth, the Yankees, and the Mets, among many others.
Today, for the second time in four years, the US women’s soccer team traveled through ticker tape from the Battery to City Hall to the acclaim of throngs — three days after winning the FIFA World Cup.
The victory came amidst the spectacle of the president of the United States fighting — on Twitter, of course — with the co-captain of his own nation’s team. After out lesbian Megan Rapinoe said she is “not going to the fucking White House” in the event that her team wins the World Cup,” Donald Trump tweeted back, “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS” and that she “should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear.” The president’s tweets on the matter also noted — because he tied Rapinoe to football and basketball players taking the knee — that “black unemployment is at the lowest level in our country’s history.”
In gaining the victory Trump warned she did not yet have, Rapinoe finished the World Cup competition with six goals and two assists. She is joined on the team by four other out LGBTQ players —Tierna Davidson, Adrianna Franch, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger. Harris and Krieger are engaged to be married.
The historic number of out athletes on the US team brought out pride among many in the crowd on Lower Broadway. And the Dykes on Bikes were among the lead contingents in the parade.
Women generally were enthusiastic about the victory, and some in the crowd noted that 28 members of the team have filed suit against the US Soccer Federation for discrimination based on pay disparities with male players.
All this political subtext aside, it was a glorious day for a parade, especially one celebrating so great a victory — the team’s second straight snagging of the World Cup.
