Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC proudly came together to celebrate Pride by joining the Salt Lake City Pride Parade on Sunday June 8th, creating a vibrant and unified presence alongside fans, coaches, and staff. Decked out in rainbow colors, flags and team spirit, the group marched through downtown in a powerful show of support for love, inclusion, and equality.
As the Vice President of People and Culture at Real Salt Lake, Lita Quero remembered why it is so important for the organization to be visible at events like the Pride Parade.
“We exist to support the community so anything we do that’s within the community and in support of the community or affects the community is something we should include ourselves and community members and supporters in,” she remarked.
Soccer should be inclusive for all people, regardless of age, gender, race, ability, or background. The sport has the power to bring communities together and promote understanding and respect among diverse groups. Everyone deserves the opportunity to play, enjoy, and feel welcome in the game, whether on the field, in the stands, or behind the scenes. An inclusive approach not only strengthens the sport but also reflects the true spirit of teamwork and unity that soccer represents.
“At least for us, we believe soccer’s for all and we try to be a very inclusive organization so I think that’s step one and I think that fandom or love of the sport has no sexual orientation so no matter if its a pride parade or a 4th of July parade we should be here, celebrating with the community” Quero explained.
Both clubs believe it's just as important to show up for the community as it is when fans show up to support them, RSL and URFC want to give back, be present, and make a real difference where it matters most.
VP Community and Player Engagement, Kyle Schroeder explained, “We really created the All Our Welcome slogan at Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals to show support, to make sure we're ensuring safe spaces for communities, and then celebrating them and meeting them where they are is really important as a club.”
Alongside fans at the parade was Utah Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets who emphasized the importance of making sure everyone within the organization and community feels seen within the soccer environment.
“It’s always been something at our core to work with everyone and for everyone and I think something that we’ve learnt is that everyone deserves to feel accepted and safe to be productive,” Coenraets expressed.
Coenraets finds it deeply important for everyone to feel seen, valued, and included, both on and off the field. He believes the club’s presence at events like the Pride Parade is a powerful way to show support, foster visibility, and demonstrate that RSL and URFC stand with every member of their community.
“It’s part of who we are and part of our community as a sport and organization. We want to just be visible and actually attainable for everyone to join” Coenraets explained.
Inclusion is reflected at every level of RSL and URFC, from the front office to the coaching staff and players. Royals assistant coach Mariana Cabral, showed her support by joining the Pride Parade, highlighting the club’s commitment to visibility and allyship. Her presence reinforces the message that everyone is welcome and valued, both within the teams and throughout the broader soccer community.
“It’s amazing to celebrate alongside staff because you feel like you work in a safe environment where you’re accepted for who you are and that’s really important to me because it’s a first for me. Back in Portugal we also have parades and I have been to them but not with a club or company and it feels really great and important to feel that the organization really supports its people” Cabral remembered.
Cabral shares the mindset that everyone should have the freedom to live freely and love who they please. She posed the powerful question of “Why would you be unhappy with someone else’s happiness?”
As RSL and URFC marched alongside fans and community members, the message was clear: both clubs proudly stand with the LGBTQ+ community and support inclusion, acceptance, and equality for all people, no matter who they are or who they love. It was a joyful celebration, but also a powerful reminder of the clubs’ ongoing commitment to creating a space where everyone feels seen, valued, and welcome.
Quero emphasized to the community and fans, “We’re here for you, we’re here to celebrate, we are here in the good and the bad and we’re going to continue to do so, no matter what.”
RSL and URFC remain committed to standing with its community through every moment on and off the field. Just as the fans consistently show up with passion and pride, the clubs will continue to show up with purpose and support.
