Tag: Celebrate Pride

To celebrate Pride Month 2022, 1-800-Flowers.com and our Family of brands have joined forces with GLAAD, the leading LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, to help create a world where there are #NoLimitsOnLove. Our dedicated blog series includes how GLAAD is fighting for LGBTQ+ representation, the symbolism of flowers in the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

Now through June 30, 2022, 20% of net proceeds from our Pride Bouquet will benefit GLAAD. To further support the LGBTQ+ community, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has also made a $25,000 donation to GLAAD.

6 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month

June is filled with celebrations, including graduation, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day, but the entire month itself is also a celebration — that of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole.

While Pride today is associated with parties and parades, the origins of Pride Month are anything but celebratory. The first Pride March took place June 28, 1970 in New York City, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. This bloody riot occurred when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, and arrested employees and patrons. The conflict led to six days of city-wide protests and inspired gay rights movements worldwide.

celebrate pride month with a pride flag at a pride parade

Over the past five-plus decades, participation in Pride events has swelled from those original 3,000 marchers to millions across the globe. Pride today takes place throughout June and is celebrated through parties, parades, education workshops, benefit concerts, and more.

Whether you personally identify with the LGBTQIA+ community or support it as an ally, you can show you care in many ways during the month. We spoke to Jackie Lacey, director of education and industry relations at the Floriology Institute, and the team leader for the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. LGBTQIA+ employee resource group; and Sophie Mona Pagès, a queer BIPOC relationship expert, to share suggestions about how to celebrate Pride Month this June.

1. Educate yourself

If you want to celebrate Pride Month in the best way possible, it helps to know why it exists in the first place. “Look for education on the subject; learn why we even celebrate Pride,” Lacey suggests. By gaining a historical perspective, he believes, you can give the month, and the cause, the respect it deserves. Pagès agrees. “Knowledge is power, and Pride Month is usually the perfect time to seek out information about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community,” she says. “Make time to explore the information available and research all there is to find, as it helps celebrate the voices who made all this possible and those who are still trying to make it possible in their own contexts.”

Sending others Pride-themed cookies, gift boxes, or rainbow roses is a great way to open the door for sharing education and embracing the Pride colors.

Jackie Lacey

Team leader, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. LGBTQ+ employee resource group

2. Volunteer your time

One of the best ways to support the LGBTQIA+ community is through a gift of your time. “Whether you’re a community member or an ally, there will always be places that need your help,” Lacey says.

“LGBTQIA+ businesses, centers, and organizations are always in need of more support than they have, so look into where you can donate what you can. The community is maintained through our mutual support of one another, and that’s one of the greatest principles to celebrate this month!”

3. Elevate LGBTQ+ voices

If you’re an ally of the queer community, then use Pride Month as an opportunity to elevate the voices within it.

“Whether it’s your favorite artists or that one queer-owned candle business whose TikToks you can’t stop watching, take this month as an opportunity to share and celebrate members of the community,” Pagès explains. “It doesn’t matter what following or influence you have or whether you’re going to share it with one friend or everyone in your circle — offer them the gift of being seen!”

A photo of celebrate pride month with a pride gift

4. Send Pride-themed gifts

Don’t let the distance from LGBTQIA+ loved ones prevent you from celebrating Pride. Consider mailing a gift to make someone smile. “Sending others Pride-themed cookies, gift boxes, or rainbow roses is a great way to open the door for sharing education and embracing the Pride colors,” Lacey says.

This is an excellent opportunity to get creative and tailor each gift to the recipient’s taste. Maybe a punny Bee-themed support box will be appreciated, or a Love Yourself personalized blanket.

5. Put on a fundraiser

Pride Month creates the perfect opportunity to support causes that matter to the community. If you want to make more than just a personal contribution, consider putting on a larger fundraiser. Lacey suggests starting an LGBTQIA+ art drive.

Creating an art drive, he explains, can directly benefit the LGBTQIA+ community, as every purchase made provides something that others can appreciate and use. “Many of those that identify as LGBTQIA+ members are very artistic and creative,” Lacey says. “Art shows allow an opportunity to share stories about the artist and create awareness within the communities they are part of.” Top donors could receive a Pride-themed token of appreciation, such as a rainbow-hued circle of friends soapstone statue.

Social media makes it easier than ever to connect with the larger community to find potential participants. Or, plug into an event that’s already taking place in your area. “Here in Jacksonville, Florida, there is an opportunity every first Saturday during the summer months for artists and farmers to rent a booth and sell their creations,” Lacey says. “You could easily coordinate a group of artists to sell their work and maybe even have some proceeds go to an LGBTQIA+ community group.”

celebrate pride month with kaleidoscope roses — Kaleidoscope Roses

celebrate pride month with you are awesome treats pail — You Are Awesome Treats Pail

celebrate pride month with tins with pop pride — Tins With Pop® Pride

6. Host a party

Despite the historical hardships that Pride Month commemorates, June is a time for celebrating the diverse LGBTQIA+ community, Lacey says.

“I recommend you host a Pride party in your space for LGBTQIA+ youth or adults,” he says. “Embrace the rainbow and join some friends for your own Pride night.” You can keep things feeling festive with Pride-themed snacks, such as popcorn, cake pops, and cookies .

And if you don’t all live near one another, make it a virtual party. “The internet makes it possible to see your loved ones at the click of a button,” Pagès says. “Take this opportunity to organize a little event online where members of the LGBTQIA+ and their allies can get together and have some fun.

“The possibilities are literally endless! You can binge LGBTQIA+ movies, look up and sign petitions relating to LGBTQIA+ issues, share your stories, wins, and dreams, or have a dance party.”

How 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. and Point Foundation Are Teaming Up to Support LGBTQIA+ Students

For over 50 years, June has signified Pride Month in the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride Month has a rich history rooted in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, primarily commemorating the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York City. The following year, the first Pride March was organized in Manhattan, marking the birth of the modern Pride movement.

In cities and towns across America, and in most corners of the world, Pride Month is marked by celebrations, including marches, parades, festivals, and special events, as well as the flying of brightly colored rainbow flags.

In recent years, businesses have become increasingly involved in Pride Month. Companies from various industries — retail, technology, e-commerce, and entertainment — have embraced the celebrations and actively supported the LGBTQIA+ community. Many organizations now incorporate Pride-themed merchandise, advertising campaigns, and corporate partnerships during the month of June.

We believe that embracing diversity and celebrating the uniqueness of every individual makes us a stronger company.

chris mccann

CEO, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

Partnering with Point Foundation

This year, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is teaming up with Point Foundation to support and empower LGBTQIA+ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential.

In support of Pride Month and beyond, the company is granting $25,000 in scholarships and funding to Point Scholars. The collaboration aims to help LGBTQIA+ students achieve their full potential, making a significant impact on society.

Helping LGBTQIA+ students for over 20 years

For over 20 years, Point Foundation has been the largest scholarship-granting nonprofit for LGBTQIA+ students studying in the United States. Its scholarships support LGBTQIA+ students as they pursue undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at accredited universities and community colleges in the United States.

Point Foundation Students on Patio at NLC — Flagship Scholarship recipients pose at the 2022 Point Foundation National Leadership Conference in Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy of Point Foundation)

More than half of Point Scholars are first-generation college students, 24% are transgender or nonbinary, and 84% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color). Foundation alumni are employed in nearly every field, including law, education, art, politics, business, and medical care.

“We are proud to support all the incredible work the Point Foundation does through its scholarship programs, as well as its coaching, mentorship, networking, and overall supportive community for LGBTQIA+ students across the United States,” says Chris McCann, CEO of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. “We believe that embracing diversity and celebrating the uniqueness of every individual makes us a stronger company.”

How gift-givers can help

Gift-givers can show their Pride by sending a thoughtful expression to loved ones from an exclusive collection of rainbow-themed gifts from 1-800-Flowers.com, Harry & David, Cheryl’s Cookies, and more. Customers also have the option to support Point Foundation throughout Pride Month with a donation upon checkout across the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. family of brands.

Sunshine Rainbow Succulent — Sunshine & Rainbow Succulent

Also, throughout the month of June, team members of the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. LGBTQ+ & Allies Employee Resource Group will walk in Pride parades across the country, and the company will host a learning session with Point Foundation for employees nationwide.

Happy Pride Month to the LGBTQIA+ community, its families, allies, partners, and friends!

Pride Month: Supporting GLAAD and the Fight for LGBTQ Representation

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, has been at the forefront of cultural change for over 35 years. It has helped accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community, protected all that has been accomplished, and created a world where everyone can live the life they love.

The organization was formed in 1985 to counter the New York Post’s and other media outlets’ erroneous and inflammatory reporting on the AIDS crisis. Subsequently, GLAAD began to put pressure on other media outlets to end anti-gay defamatory reporting.

Within its first five years, GLAAD offices opened in other cities, including Los Angeles, which became an influential chapter due to its proximity to the entertainment industry. GLAAD has since evolved from a watchdog to a cultural change agent within the film and television industry, working to advance accurate and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community.

That advocacy eventually led to the annual GLAAD Media Awards, which have been presented for over 30 years. They honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive depictions of LGBTQ people and issues. The annual event has grown to be the most visible LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to global audiences. The 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards this year honored such entertainers as Judith Light, Wilson Cruz, Kacey Musgraves, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.

Supporting life-changing work

To celebrate Pride Month this June, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has once again joined forces with GLAAD, strengthening its ongoing relationship with the respected nonprofit. Now through the end of June, 20% of net proceeds from purchases of the company’s special Pride Collection will go to GLAAD. In addition, shoppers will be given the opportunity to support the LGBTQ community by making a cash donation to GLAAD.

To further support the LGBTQ community, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has made a $25,000 donation to GLAAD. Since 2007, the company has directed more than $200,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to support the organization’s groundbreaking work.

I believe our two missions intersect in our commitment to bring joy into people’s lives when they need it most.

Abdool Corlette

Creative Director

GLAAD

“At 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., we believe that embracing diversity, and celebrating the uniqueness of every individual, makes us a better company,” says Tom Hartnett, President, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. “We are proud to continue our relationship with GLAAD to raise awareness for its mission, to help amplify voices within the LGBTQ community, and to inspire our customers to give back, as we work together to help ensure there are no limits on love.”

A common thread

GLAAD is motivated by portraying the diversity of the LGBTQ community in ways that drive connection and change hearts and minds. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is passionate about helping people express, connect, and celebrate.

Two women holding hands adorned with rainbow bracelets

“I believe our two missions intersect in our commitment to bring joy into people’s lives when they need it most,” says Abdool Corlette, creative director at GLAAD, who leads all creative projects for the organization – in addition to being an award-winning filmmaker. “Whether it’s the act of shining a spotlight on someone’s story or acknowledging how much you appreciate them with a bouquet of flowers, the power in taking the time to tell someone you see them and want to celebrate them is an act of beautiful joy that can go a long way.”

Abdool feels the pandemic taught him not to take joy for granted – which has impacted his work in positive ways: “It’s been crucial to my work to be intentional about creating content that highlights how resilient and powerful LGBTQ+ people are.”

According to Abdool, corporate support, like that from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., allows GLAAD to continue its culture-changing work to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community. “GLAAD will be able to continue programs that create real impact, from our news and rapid response work to hold media, government, and notables accountable for their actions toward the LGBTQ community, to our consulting work in Hollywood to improve the representations of LGBTQ people in TV and film.”

The collaboration is personal

The collaboration with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. also has special meaning for Abdool, who is a budding green thumb.

“While I’ve always loved plants and flowers, my interest in taking care of them significantly changed during the pandemic,” he explained.

Like many people navigating the pandemic over the last two years, he found himself working from home more and having more time.

“The simple happiness in seeing something grow and thrive has been transformative for me and my space in many ways,” he says. “Having something positive to focus on does wonders for your mental health.”

Celebrity Chef and Author David Burtka on Throwing the Perfect Pride Party

The pandemic is easing, and restrictions are largely falling away. All this just in time for June and Pride Month and the many LGBTQ+ parties and parades that fill the first month of summer. In 2022, revelers will be able to party in person to mark the global celebration of LGBTQ+ life and history.

As we return to some semblance of normal, many people may need a refresher on what it takes to put together a Pride party. That’s why we reached out to actor, author, and celebrity chef and party planner David Burtka. In addition to being an all-around creative guy, he’s also the husband of actor Neil Patrick Harris, and most proudly, the father of twins Harper and Gideon.

Hosting the perfect Pride party

Burtka literally wrote the book on parties. Life is a Party is all about celebrating life through events, great food, tasty drinks, enjoyable activities, and lively music. Burtka’s tome offers comprehensive tips from meal and snack planning to flowers to decorations – pretty much everything it takes to create a memorable production.

To celebrate Pride, you need people who are game for anything.

David Burtka

Celebrity chef and author

“I think anyone can have a perfect Pride party, and one of the first things to do to make that happen is to invite fun and happy people,” he explains. “To celebrate Pride, you need people who are game for anything. We all know the LGBTQ+ community loves its parties and being together to celebrate one another, and Pride month was designed just for that.”

Burtka also says to “make sure the drinks are flowing, and that there is a bit of food, so you don’t get your guests too tipsy. And, finally, a great playlist of music is a must since the songs you choose can have a major impact on how the guests feel.”

Picking the perfect Pride party menu

In terms of food and an appropriate menu, we asked Burtka what kind of food works best for a Pride party.

“That’s easy,” says Burtka. “Color! There are many things you can use to make out a rainbow that reflects the Pride flag. Since a lot of LGBTQ+ people and others coming out of the pandemic have become body-aware again, you want to make sure the guests eat right. Thus, you can make healthy options like a vegetable tray laid out in a full rainbow – red peppers, cherry tomatoes, radishes, purple cauliflower, mini blue potatoes, green celery, cucumbers, beans, yellow pepper, carrots beans, orange peppers, and carrots.”

Burtkaalso says that you can do the same thing with a fruit platter. “Fill the plate with red berries, watermelon, purple plums, figs, grapes, blueberries, green apples, kiwis, grapes, yellow peaches, pineapple, oranges, and mangos. And don’t forget about those rainbow Jell-O shots and rainbow-dyed Rice Krispies treats.”

Decorating the Pride party

With all the colorful food, you might be wondering how to go about matching the party decorations. Burtka recommends hanging rainbow flags and an array of rainbow-colored balloons.

“Many companies sell rainbow pool floats, sprinklers, and slip and slides,” he says. “So, take your cues from the vegetable and fruit trays and make separate flower arrangements down the center of your table with the colors of the rainbows.” Some ideas: for pink, roses, zinnias, and Gerber daisies; for purple, carnations, and lilies; for blue, thistle, and hydrangeas; for green, mums, carnations; for yellow, orchids, sunflowers, and daisies; and for orange, Dalia’s and marigolds.

Finally, as an avid music lover, Burtka feels music is instrumental (pun intended) for a great Pride party. “There are so many pride anthems from which to choose from, and that will get the crowd pumped up,” he says. “Spotify and iTunes have great playlists, but no Pride party should be without a good mix of tunes.

Pride party parting gifts

You want people to remember your party beyond June, and one way to do this is by providing parting gifts. Burtka thinks the best way to do this is by keeping it simple.

“Set up a photo booth where people can decorate frames, and then they can take selfies and photos of themselves for a keepsake,” he says. “Or perhaps go a little deeper and send folks home with a little history on gay pride with books like the Velvet Rage, When We Rise, or the children’s book This Day in June.”

The Significance of Flowers in the LGBTQ+ Community

Flowers have long been associated with the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the connections are out in the open, like all the colorful flowers that adorn the floats featured in Pride parades each June. But some of the links are much more discreet and date to a time when being “queer” was frowned upon, sometimes ridiculed, or worse.

“Flowers have been a part of the LBGTQ+ community for centuries,” says Jackie Lacey, president of the American Institute of Floral Designers and director of education and industry relations at Floriology, powered by BloomNet. “There are many floral symbols that include the ubiquitous green carnation, the evolution of the pansy, and, more recently, the emergence of rainbow roses.”

The subtle message of the green carnation

The green carnation is one of the most iconic flower symbols in LGBTQ+ history, attributed to legendary gay playwright Oscar Wilde, who asked actors and friends to wear green carnations at the opening night performance of his play Lady Windemere’s Fan in 1892. Subsequently, Parisian gay men began wearing green carnations in public to send a message to other men that they were gay.

The pansy as a putdown

Flower symbolism has been overtly hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community, too. In the 19^th century, the use of the word “pansy” as a description of gay men carried an undercurrent of negative connotations. “During the Victorian era, the pansy became adversely emblematic of gay men,” explains Lacey. “The pansy, as a flower, is delicate and weak, and people began associating the pansy with gay men, who they perceived to be weak individuals.”

According to Lacey, the pansy flower is now looked at in a more positive light. “I think we prefer to look at it differently since the flower is so bright and beautiful and comes in so many colors, like the rainbow flag, and all of us within the LGBTQ+ community.”

The rainbow flag and flowers

The rainbow flag is the worldwide symbol for gay pride, and its design first appeared in the 1970s. San Francisco County Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to hold public office in the U.S., asked artist Gilbert Baker to create a positive symbol for the gay community. Baker wanted each color of the flag to represent a message. Red represents life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony, and purple for spirit.

“There is a strong association with the use of rainbow roses in today’s market, in relation to the rainbow flag, and a connection of how flowers were used to comfort the victims and survivors of the Pulse shooting in June of 2016 and other hate crimes, particularly the recent escalation of hate crimes against transgender people,” says Lacey, who also leads the LGBTQ+ and Allies employee resource group at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

Lacey also points out that the colors of the rainbow flag and rainbow flowers represent all the many different types of individuals who encompass the acronym LGBTQ+ and the community’s shared history. “We are not a homogenous group. We come in all shapes and sizes, just like flowers,” he says. “Collectively, we look at the positive end of a rainbow as our future has evolved and changed, particularly during the last 50 years, when we’ve gone through so many ups and downs.”

Flowers and the AIDS crisis

The traverse from tragedy to triumph can be told from the point of view of long-time San Francisco florist Guy Clark, who was featured in the searing documentary We Were Here, about survivors of the early days of the AIDS crisis.

I did the best I could to accommodate everyone during that difficult time.

Guy Clark

Guy’s Flowers

June 2021 was the 40^th anniversary of AIDS being officially identified as a disease in the U.S. Coincidentally, 1981 was when Guy set up his floral business on San Francisco’s famed Castro Street, the unofficial hub of gay life during the early ‘80s. “At first, I was so full of optimism and hope for my business and so excited to be in the middle of the gay capital of the world,” Clark remembers. “Then, horribly, the AIDS crisis began.”

*Guy Clark’s flower shop opened in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood in 1981.*

Clark recalls arranging, selling, and donating flowers for hospitalized patients, funerals, and life celebration ceremonies. “I did the best I could to accommodate everyone during that difficult time. One day you would see someone that you saw every day, and then they would just disappear. It was a catastrophe.”

By the end of the 1990s, when retroviral drugs became available, the crisis began to ease, and life changed for Clark. “I feel fortunate every day that I am still alive and still selling flowers 40 years later,” he says. “Now, I’m happy to say that I’m busy designing arrangements for gay weddings, and like the funerals during those dark days, my customers want the designs bright, colorful, big, and bold. Thankfully, that’s how our community rolls.”

Understanding the LGBTQ+ community through flowers

“A lot of our community embraces a positive outlook since we’ve overcome so many challenges in our lives,” Lacey says. “We embrace color a lot, so the art of flowers is joyous, and it helps lift us up, particularly when gay marriage finally became legal.”

Flowers symbolize what we’ve been through together and look forward to together.

Jackie Lacey

Director of Education and Industry Relations

Floriology

At his wedding five years ago, Lacey made sure that all of the flowers used were in shades of red since it is his favorite color and has a strong and vibrant hue. “We had various red flowers including orchids, roses, anemone, and anthuriums. The colors of the flowers blended so wonderfully and made the setting so dazzling. It was like a dream.”

For Lacey, flowers bind the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ history. “Flowers symbolize what we’ve been through together and look forward to together. I always say, plant seeds of desire, water them with education, and watch them grow with knowledge. And, the same could be said with how people can come to understand LGBTQ+ history and learn more about our community.”

Proud Mom: How Ali Krieger Celebrates Love Across Generations

Our series “MVP Moms” explores the critical role moms play at the heart of families. These uplifting stories show that Love Makes a Family and why there are #NoLimitsOnLove.

Ali Krieger and Her Mom Celebrate Motherhood Across the Generations

Ali Krieger is one of the greatest players in the history of American soccer. She is an All-Star for the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League, was a rare American standout for one of the top teams in Germany’s elite Frauen-Bundesliga, and has been a marquee player for the U.S. Women’s National Team, starring in championship performances in the World Cup and the Olympics.

A graphic inviting viewers to shop for Mother's Day gifts.

But she readily admits she owes it all to her MVP mom, Debbie Alongi.

“I was always used to having a mom around, and she supported me in everything I did,” the 36-year-old superstar says. “She drove me to all my games, no matter how far away they were all up and down the East Coast.

“There was never really a moment where I felt she wasn’t there, available to help my brother and me, to support us, to push us, and that’s why I am where I am!”

Pulling double duty

Due to divorce, health and physical education teacher Debbie served double duty raising Ali and her brother, Kyle, in Dumfries, Virginia, where it became apparent at an early age that her daughter had a leg up on all the other soccer players in the area.

There was never really a moment where I felt she wasn’t there, available to help my brother and me, to support us, to push us, and that’s why I am where I am!

Ali Krieger

“I don’t know if I took on the role of both mom and dad, I just took on a role of a better mom maybe,” Debbie says with her signature humility.

She says her dedication to helping her kids achieve success was handed down to her by her own hardworking and attentive parents.

Photo of soccer star Ali Krieger as a child — Ali Krieger as a child in Dumfries, Virginia

“I was always used to having a mom around, and she supported me in everything I did,” Debbie says. “That was all I knew. What my parents did for me.”

By high school, Debbie and Ali knew they were on a special ride. Ali was a two-time All-Virginia and when she became a senior, was named Gatorade’s Virginia Player of the Year.

“I had recognized, ‘OK, maybe I am good at this,’” Ali recalls. “Going to college was the next step.”

And that’s when mom stepped in again.

“She took me whether it was five and a half hours or six hours to three and a half hours, to visit everywhere we could,” Ali remembers. “[She] put me in a situation where I could be successful and continue down that path.”

For Debbie, the long drives and visits were never a job, but a pleasure.

“The process was fun,” she says. “We would go and visit the colleges, and you could just sit back and watch it all happen and unfold.”

Ali landed at Penn State, where she became a two-time All American. Debbie never missed a game. “It was only four hours away, so I would drive there,” Debbie says. “When I moved to Florida, I told my headmistress at my school, ‘I can’t miss my daughter’s senior year.’”

As you probably could guess by now — she didn’t — arranging with the school to have each Friday and Monday off so she could attend all of Ali’s weekend games.

“I did that for 22 weekends. I had to.” Debbie beams. “That was the best!”

For her part, Ali never missed her mother’s presence.

“It was so important for me to see that too!” she remembers. “She was such a great example to me. She’s the first one in the stands ready to go with all the other moms. It was really motivating for me and created a positive example of what a mother [should be].”

Support beyond sports

Soccer star Ali Krieger poses with her mother, Debbie Alongi

Debbie was also there for Ali when she was living thousands of miles away in Germany, discovering who she really was.

Ali had fallen in love with American national teammate, Ashlyn Harris — the woman who would become her wife in 2019. Ali’s older brother Kyle came out to their mom before her, but she was still curious with how Debbie would handle the news.

“She was supportive through my brother’s coming out story,” Ali says. “I remember calling her and I said, ‘Well, I really like this girl … how do you feel about it? What do you think?’”

She needn’t have worried because mom was rooting for her … once again. “I just wanted my kids to be happy,” Debbie says. “You just need to be with somebody who loves you and treats you with respect. They know that’s how I feel.”

Ali is a mother herself now. She and Ashlyn adopted a daughter of their own, Sloane, on Valentine’s Day 2021 — and like Ali, baby Sloane will always have plenty of love and support.

“Life’s full of lessons and Ali knows there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her and Ash and Kyle and that’s just it,” Debbie says. “There’s no limit.”