When the Overwatch League’s Los Angeles Valiant won the season’s fourth stage after previously finishing fourth, eighth, and third, I joked that it must have been the power of their Pride patches.
Halfway through the stage, the team announced a partnership with the charity You Can Play, which aims to promote equality for LGBTQ+ sports players. It was the first time that the latter had worked with an esports organisation, and saw the Valiant sport rainbow coloured versions of their logo on their team jerseys. It was a gesture that immediately endeared me to them – you support me, a queer woman, so I’ll support you, too.
But it wasn’t only a gesture. As well as selling the patches, with profits going to the charity, the two organisations will work together on videos and events to promote inclusivity and acceptance in the Overwatch League and more widely. And, crucially, You Can Play provided diversity and inclusion training to the Valiant players and staff.
Source: Eurogamer The Overwatch League's problems can't be papered over with rainbows