Women's World Cups are notorious for their sporting excellence, the unmatchable atmosphere within women's sports that they create, the rivalries, their solidarity, their badassery, their skill, their dedication, their sacrifice... and their kisses.
Abby Wambach set the precedent is 2015, going over to the stands and kissing her then wife, Sarah Huffman, after having helped the US to their third world cup title. She did it as any other couple would, with all the normalcy and assuredness that a player who has just won a world cup and wants to celebrate with their partner would. But this kiss wasnt like any other, it was a kiss that reverberated around the world. It was riding off the back of the passing of Supreme Court legislation a few days earlier over the legalisation of same-sex marriages in the US, making the moment all the more poignant and groundbreaking.
Such moments of symbolic importance were also present at the world cup 4 years later. Norway's Isabell Herlovsen was the first to kiss her wife last summer - not even after a match but in fact half way through one. After scoring a penalty she raced over to celebrate with her wife by kissing her in the stands, a celebration does not get more iconic than this. This kiss didnt get as much coverage as some of the later ones did, maybe because she and her wife are not as well known, maybe because no big photographer properly captured the moment, but that is a moment that wholly reveals the culture of normality and acceptance within women's football - both of themselves and each other.
The next of world renowned impact was the one shared between Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder after Sweden knocked out Germany in the round of 16. The photo made waves around the world not only because two women were kissing but also because of the fact that Pernille is Danish and was decked out in a swedish kit, swedish flag nails included, to support her girlfriend. This transcended gender barriers and became a photo of love and pride. A kiss also followed at the 3rd place play off, solidifying their place on the kiss wall of fame. In this case, it's not only about the kiss, it's also about the impact they've had afterwards, they took the power and visibility of the kiss to join common goal, to speak openly about their sexuality and become the ultimate role models for so many people
Also from Sweden was Lina Hurtig, who again kissed her wife in the stands after the match. With less of a wide reaching impact than her teammate's kiss, it still goes a long way to show the visibility and normalcy in such small yet powerful actions. Nilla Fischer, one of the greatest pioneers and advocators for lgbtq rights in itself, went one further than a stadium kiss and kissed her wife in front of the thousands of Swedes who had gathered to celebrate their team's world cup success.
The aftermath of the final was also filled with kisses, Netherland's captain Sherida Spitse still went up to kiss her wife - although out of consolation rather than celebration. Adriana Franch also went over to nonchalantly kiss her soon to be wife after winning the world cup for the first time resulting in a moment of elation which although in the moment would not have held much weight meant so many things to so many people watching on.
Next is Megan Rapinoe, the outspoken, strong willed, skilled purple haired warrior who had stood up to Trump and won not only the world cup but also the battle he'd begun to wage against her. There was no better way to seal her victory than to kiss her basketball superstar girlfriend Sue Bird. A momentous snapshot on all fronts. Another post-world cup kiss starred Dutch player Merel Van Dongen and her Spanish girlfriend Ana Romero who hadn't been able to go and watch her play as she'd been commentating all the Netherlands' matches on Spanish television. Ana surprising Merel and then kissing on camera without a care in the world is iconic behaviour, and is another important example of acceptance and normalisation.
The last one of the bunch is none other than Kelley O'Hara's. Not only was this moment meaningful for the kiss itself, it was revolutionary as it doubled up as her public 'coming out' moment. To be able to do something so big with such a small gesture is truly powerful. Publicly coming out with an interview or a statement is important, but moments like this which appear to be just a matter-of-fact action are equally essential in moving past the idea that all lgbtq people owe society a big coming out moment. It is the simplicity of the action which makes it so monumental. Plus, she not only won the World Cup and 'came out' by kissing her girlfriend that day, she also went on to party like a maniac despite a probable concussion - something which I thought deserved a mention
Woso Pride Month 2020 [Day 7/30]
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