As it’s International Pride Day it would be so nice if all our news was GOOD NEWS, at least for today. Sadly, that doesn’t mean HE’s DEAD YET!  But judging from all accounts in the few media we can still trust, he’s as unhappy and angry as hell, which I guess is at least some minor consolation to us! Isn’t it?

Anyway, here’s the good news that caught our attention, and it comes from the most unlikely of sources: football.  We say ‘unlikely’ as it is still one of the last major bastions of homophobia where being out and gay can still cost you your life, like poor Justin Fashanu.  We have to look no further than the current World Cup Championship (read fiasco) to see that there is still no real progress.  

The Organisers in Seattle made plans …… quite unique in professional football…. to celebrate Pride at a match.   Full of good intentions,  but they had the great misfortune that the match that was chosen is between Iran and Egypt. Iran still executes people for consensual same sex relationships, whereas Egypt still throws them in prison.

Rainbow flags were expected to wave in the concourses during the contest, with the game designated as a “Pride Match” honoring the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle and beyond.  BUT  both Iran and Egypt’s soccer federations have condemned the decision to align their match with city-wide Pride demonstrations. We prayed for the safety of all those in Seattle in the Stands 

BUT NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS : Arthur Blank, the owner of two prominent Atlanta, Georgia sports teams, has reportedly donated $1 million to The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organization.   Retired NFL defensive end Carl Nassib, who is also the first NFL player to come out as gay while playing in the league, announced the donation on his LinkedIn page, praising the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for its “extraordinary” donation.

Blank owns both the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. His foundation has a history of supporting charitable initiatives, including donations for youth development, assistance to disadvantaged communities and mental health programs. In December 2025, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a $25 million investment into youth mental health and well-being.  (He is also the owner of Home (Homo) Depot which is nearest that this writer ever gets to sports!)

The Trevor Project is a leading non-profit organization concentrated on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people, according to its website.

“This donation helps fund counselor training, enhance volunteer services and ensure our critical programs reach LGBTQ+ youth in their most vulnerable moments,” Nassib wrote. “Thank you again to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, this gift will save lives.”