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Main Street Greens Show Pride, Support for Energy FC

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 06/30/18, 2:00AM EDT

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Oklahoma City's LGBTQ supporter’s group celebrates Pride Month


Photo courtesy Steven Christy / OKC Energy FC

OKLAHOMA CITY — This past Saturday's Pride Night at Taft Stadium was a first for OKC Energy FC, but for one growing contingent of its supporters it made an important statement as to the club's goal of inclusiveness for all fans who attend its home games.

The Main Street Greens are Energy FC’s LGBTQ supporters group. Founded this past offseason, the group takes its name from the street on which the bar the club's supporters would meet at prior to making their way to Taft Stadium and was created with the goal of furthering the diversity of Energy FC's supporters, starting with fans that were already passionate backers of the club over its history.

“Over the course of five seasons, we've seen great progress in terms of diversity within Energy FC's supporter culture; however, there's still opportunity to grow the game and club within OKC's large LGBTQ community,” said Main Street Greens founder Holly Hutto. “As a die-hard Energy FC supporter and proud queer woman, I felt like it was my responsibility to step up.”

Pride month – which is celebrated throughout June – is all about marking progress, of looking back and seeing where the LGBTQ community has come from, and where it is going to. Sport often holds a mirror up to society and in the Main Street Greens Hutto can see that, and see the safety that comes from having a community within soccer.

“As a proud, open lesbian in Oklahoma City, I have always felt safe, comfortable, included, and welcomed at Energy FC matches, but a harsh truth is that my personal reality at soccer matches in OKC hasn't always been a reality for every single LGBTQ person who has walked into a sporting event in Oklahoma City. I personally feel obligated to champion a better reality for those feeling left out,” said Hutto. “I think that it's always important for everyone to have a seat at the table. When it comes to soccer in OKC, I will always be vocal in making sure that OKC's LGBTQ community has its deserved seat at the table.”

But creating a group that is welcoming to LGBTQ individuals does not mean isolating that group from the rest of Energy FC's supporter culture. That has been a key part of the Main Street Greens' success since their launch, which has seen the group take its place as part of OKC's collective of supporters groups – known now as The 46 – that also includes The Grid, OKC Breakers, La Furia Verde and Northend United.

“For City And Club is a mindset that everyone within Energy FC, from front office officials, to players, to supporters drive daily. We're all about OKC, all of the time,” said Hutto. “But at Taft Stadium, being a valued part of The 46 means everything to us. Our motto is ‘ALL in for OKC’. That means all of us, together. Shared space. One family. All there for our city.”

That unified focus saw the Main Street Greens take a lead role in this past Saturday's celebrations. The group was involved in creating the special merchandise sold by the team to celebrate Pride, a first for the club, while Energy FC also changed its social media logos to commemorate the occasion. With the team’s support, the Main Street Greens have worked hard to grow the team in the LGBTQ community in Oklahoma City.

“Billy Walton, Tyler Vaughn, owners Bob Funk and Tim McLaughlin, Coach [Steve] Cooke, Cody Laurendi, etc. have been in our corner since day one. There has been nothing artificial about this clubs support,” said Hutto. “Right now, our focus is growing the club within OKC's LGBTQ community.”

That support is growing rapidly, and as the Main Street Greens grow in numbers it’s clear the group is having an impact not just on the OKC community but also throughout America. Hutto’s call is for others to follow the group’s lead.

“It would be an honor if we could inspire others,” said Hutto. “Soccer is the world's beautiful game. Let's continue to grow it and its supporters culture throughout the entire nation.”

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