This year, Pride Month was not the joyous, massive fest it had been the last few years, but instead had a lot of dark undertones. From plenty of corporations not changing their profile pictures to rainbow logos like they used to — which might seem like performative activism, but is still important representation and at least signals the support of queer people — and a general political shift in a lot of Western countries like the U.S. not celebrating homosexuality like they used to or even opposing it, it seemed like the direction gay rights are going in is not as straightforward as many believed it to be the last few years.
It was only nine years ago that gay marriage became legal in the United States in the first place, so I think it’s important to celebrate by shedding a spotlight on one of the most famous lesbian couples.
And that is the real world version of “Red, White and Royal Blue” — Leah Williamson, the English soccer captain, and Elle Smith, former Miss USA. Despite this dark year for the gays, they have not been scared into hiding but instead have been out and proud, which is now more important than ever. Even in queer spaces in pop culture, lesbians are oftentimes neglected, and there are not as many books and movies about women loving women as there are about gay men. It is the same with high-profile celebrity couples; there simply is not enough sapphic representation.
It is so incredibly encouraging to see one of the most famous female soccer players in the world, to be in a public, queer relationship. For younger lesbians who are interested in sports, it must be really inspiring to see their idols be out of the closet and gain the confidence to do that as well. But, because Elle Smith is a model and even Leah Williamson has become a more public figure through advertisements and billboards, their relationship is not only uplifting for younger athletes but also for young people in different fields who usually do not have a lot — if any — lesbian role models in the public eye to look up to.
Why is it that when a straight couple kisses in public, nobody bats an eyelash but when it is lesbians, they constantly have to worry about getting disgusting catcalls or homophobic slurs yelled after them? It is the same emotion, so why do some people not accept it when it is not a man and a woman dating? This stigma surrounding homosexual relationships needs to stop because it is unequal and makes people live a lie out of fear.So the fact that it is now becoming normalized to have high-profile, public, lesbian relationships is huge.
The reception online has been absolutely amazing and so kind and accepting towards every piece of content the two of them post together, inciting them to, for example, share public displays of affection. Obviously there is still a very long way to go until gay people are going to be truly treated equally and get full equal opportunity, but the fact that there are very few negative comments on their relationships is a good sign, which I hope encourages more queer couples in different fields to come out and be more public, so that it becomes as normalized as straight relationships. Of course, one couple alone will not fix homophobia, but when more and more couples are out and proud, we get closer and closer to equality.