Rainbow Fever 2.0 - Football is for everyone

The A-Leagues' Pride Round is back, and so is Rainbow Fever. Along with a sweet new tee design in a bunch of colours, we've added an enamel pin to add to your attire.

Designs are once again designed by Chris McDonald in consultation with queer members of the Yellow Fever community, shows that everyone is welcome in our beautiful game. 

All profit from the sale of the Rainbow Fever merch will be donated to a charity supporting the queer communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tees and pins are available at https://yellow-fever.myshopify.com/. To give us the best chance of delivery before Wellington Phoenix FC's pride game on 30 March, orders will need to be made by 11:59pm on Wednesday 13 March. Note: Pin may take longer and are subject to minimum order.

mint!

Had me nervous there that I couldn't get it in pink.  But yeeeeah boooooi it's on offer in pink.

Sexy pins ordered

Bananas

Had me nervous there that I couldn't get it in pink.  But yeeeeah boooooi it's on offer in pink.

After last years debacle it was nice to see that it was in stock!

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

Doloras

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

I'm sure its a little more nuanced that agreeing with you or not. I for one am wholeheartedly in support of people to live their best lives, whatever they may mean to them personally. When it comes to sport and fairness it can get very complex - not something to be discussed here though.

Doloras

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

... as opposed to every other topic, where we ALWAYS agree with you wholeheartedly.....:-)

Doloras

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm ready to back our trans fam (as much as I can from the Deep South).

Christo

Doloras

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm ready to back our trans fam (as much as I can from the Deep South).

I think that the Deep South is precisely the place where such allyship will be most needed.

Doloras

I really hate to raise this, but I think I have to.

If you're going to have the trans pride colours on that badge, we'd better be putting our money where our mouths are if New Zealand First come after trans footballers like they say they're going to.

I'm not confident that most of the replies to this will agree with me.

Hi Doloras, it's actually not a complicated situation at all. My position, and one as someone who is involved in the process of making that pins, is trans and gender-diverse individuals should be able to participate in community sport based on their gender-identity irrespective of the gender marker on any documentation, and without discrimination.

I am confident that the Fever collectively, and it's something that I'm more than happy to take a lead on, would stamp out any transphobic comments or abuse were they to materialise in an active support zone under the Yellow Fever Zone label, in the same way I and others have done previously when homophobic comments have surfaced. Additionally, if Andy Foster tries to turn up in the Fever Zone like he's done in the past, I will have no hesitation in telling him that he is not welcome, and I'm sure I won't be the only one. 

I don't think this is anything like the queer-washing from corporate like ANZ, it's a bunch of people who love football, love anyone who wants to also love football and make them feel seen and included, and want to raise a bit of money for charity to support our queer and trans communities. Hope this helps ease some of your concerns, but I'm happy to talk further in private if it hasn't. 

My take. Everyone deserves the right to be happy, and if something as simple as playing football makes someone happy let them do it.

To me it's not even really a matter for men to interfer with, let alone politicians looking for cheap populist points. Not that from Aussie, I follow much of what NZ First say.

My simplistic take it's an issue for the female football community. If they are happy for trans people to play their game at the community level, let it happen. More complicated at the professional level I acknowledge. But again I don't think it's an issue for men to meddle in.

Thanks for the clarification, Patrick. I suppose my sensitivities were raised by the AFLW using those colours for their own Pride celebration and then excluding a trans footballer. I realise the questions are more sensitive at elite level (esp. in games like AFL or rugby where size is a factor), but sometimes I think people use the colours "by default" without thinking about the hard questions in advance and end up disappointing everyone.

And coochie's position is a fine one. My personal take has always been "you're a woman when the other women say you are", lol. 

My personal take has always been "you're a woman when the other women say you are", lol.

Exactly. There are some issues that men really have no right to have a strong (negative) opinion on. This is one of those.

Even at the elite sports level, the question of whether trans people should be allowed to play or not, is one soley for females to judge. Not Andy Foster - who's name I did have to Google.

Just to echo some of the other comments here. Obviously can only speak for myself but I'm proud to say I already do and will continue to advocate for the trans community when it comes to being able to be involved in football. I truly believe football should be for all.

We are lucky here in Wellington that Capital Football and clubs already have supportive policies for community football but should anyone look at trying to change that I'd strongly and vocally oppose it. 

We've reached the minimum order threshold for the pins so they will definitely be going ahead.