The Proud Owls
Something that the Green Mountain Bhoys take very seriously is throwing a party for every game at Virtue Field. With that in mind we want to try and highlight other supporter groups that we want to party with and warrant your attention and support.
The very first folks we want to highlight are the Proud Owls! An SG collective for fans of Union Omaha in America's Heartland. They are dedicated to bringing fans of Union Omaha together to provide a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy the amazing footy on display in Nebraska. Check them out on Instagram (@proudowlsoma) and Twitter (@ProudOwlsOMA) and especially check out their great merch including a shirt about flipping the bird to bigots.
Here is a Q and A I did with them over the winter and be sure to watch Union Omaha take on Sporting KC in the US Open Cup tomorrow night!
Can you start out by giving an overview of your supporters group and what your main mission statement is?
Proud Owls is an independent supporter group for LGBTQIA+ and allied supporters of Union Omaha. It is our intent to support our chosen club while also providing representation for the LGBTQIA+ community, within the soccer community and beyond. We believe it is our responsibility to provide representation for the LGBTQIA+ community while also holding the club accountable to live up to its motto that "One Means All." It is our goal to make the entire Union Omaha experience as welcoming and inclusive as it can be.
What is the origin story of The Proud Owls?
Proud Owls was formed by two queer-identified Union Omaha fans in response to the club contacting one of its to-be co-founders and expressing interest in gauging how the LGBTQIA+ community might react with respect to certain sponsorship issues. Instead of seeking to speak for the community, it was decided that a supporters group focused on LGBTQIA+ issues and encouraging representation for LGBTQIA+ fans would be warranted. Proud Owls was then started on June 1, 2023, to commemorate the beginning of Pride Month.
What is the match day experience like in Omaha?
Match day at Union Omaha is traditionally begun with many multi-hour tailgates led by various supporters groups and other Union Omaha supporters. The largest of these tailgates is organized by Omaha Parliament, Union Omaha's largest supporters group and ally and friend to Proud Owls. You will often find us sharing stickers or other swag with supporters and new friends. Once in the stadium, Proud Owls is a little unusual as we are made up of members of multiple other supporters groups, so you will find Proud Owls in both of the traditional Union Omaha supporters sections, the grass "berm" and Section 119 at Werner Park. A Proud Owls banner is proudly displayed behind one of the goals, with pride flags prominent in multiple parts of the stadium.
What is the importance of having a group like yours that is creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ supporters and allies at sporting events?
We strongly believe that representation and visibility matter. We think it is important for new fans to see a strong queer/Proud Owls presence in the stadium and during the tailgates to demonstrate that Union Omaha matches are safe spaces and that the LGBTQIA+ community can feel welcome and protected when they come out to the match. We also believe it is also important for us to have a voice with the club to ensure the club is enacting best practices to protect and welcome the LGBTQIA+ community.
Is your mission supported by Union Omaha? Do you get positive feedback from ownership/management/players?
From day one, Proud Owls has been welcomed by the Union Omaha front office and ownership. Union Omaha's owner, Gary Green, has been a clear ally from day one and regularly demonstrates his allyship and commitment to our community, both to Proud Owls directly and in public ways, such as with his social media presence. The same is true with respect to club president, Martie Cordaro. The front office regularly consults with Proud Owls on issues relevant to our community and has accepted criticisms when they have come. Union Omaha's motto is "One Means All," and the club has tried to live up to that by, among other things, participating in the Common Goal Play Proud program, by ending sponsorships in tension with its motto, and even by introducing a third kit in 2023 during Pride called "Love in All Shapes," which it then wore regularly throughout the season, not simply on Pride Night. While it is part of our mission to criticize when necessary, it is also consistent with our mission to recognize that Union Omaha works hard to be inclusive and respect all of its fans.
Do you have any favorite chants or songs?
Proud Owls does not have any specific chants or songs, largely because we do not inhabit a single "section" like many supporters groups do. Instead, we participate in all of the chants and songs that are heard throughout the stadium. We are fans, however, of the traditional end of match singing of "Solidarity Forever," which we think is appropriate for the ethos of the club.
Why is supporting your local team important to you?
Local/grassroots soccer is the heartbeat of soccer in America. It is more accessible than soccer at higher levels and allows for more interaction and contact between the club, the players, management, and the fans. Local soccer is likely the first level of soccer that most youth will be exposed to and can have a significant effect on growing the game.
Do you have anything big planned for the coming USL1 season?
Still being a relatively new supporters group, growth continues to be a priority for Proud Owls. We are always looking for ways to expand our reach and grow our membership. Beyond that, we want to continue to provide a safe space at matches, while also working to advocate for our community in soccer and in the community generally. This is a particularly important time for groups like Proud Owls given the proliferation of attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in Nebraska and elsewhere. We are also in preliminary talks with at least one other USL1 supporters group about joint activities we might pursue during this season to demonstrate that inclusivity should be a league-wide goal. Finally, we are contemplating working with Olive & York towards issuing a new Proud Owls jersey, the goal of which will be to raise funds for local LGBTQIA+ organizations in Omaha.
Why should people support local grassroots soccer?
Grassroots soccer makes the game more accessible for more people. It is more affordable, you're likely to have direct contact with the players and coaches, and those individuals are likely involved in the community in other ways - either giving private lessons or volunteering with local youth organizations. The matches and crowds are small enough to have a level of intimacy and to allow for the development of community and relationships, while still offering an entertaining on-the-field product. It also creates additional opportunities for local young people to find their way into the game.
What words of encouragement do you have for fans who are looking to start their own supporters group?
Do it! Your supporters group can be anything you want it to be. Proud Owls had a particular objective, but Union Omaha has a variety of supporters groups reflecting all of the different interests folks can have in soccer, from charitable giving or social enjoyment or support of a community. But you don't have to have a mission, you could simply be interested in gathering friends and like-minded folks to enjoy the time you're spending at the match. The most important thing is that you're having fun and expressing your love for the game and your club.
Thank you again to the Proud Owls for taking part in our interview series and keep an eye out for more conversations with other supporters. If your Supporters Group wants to take part in this project, reach out to us at VertBhoys@gmail.com.
As always, with love from all the bhoys
UTFG