The Carlton Football Club is excited to reveal its 2024 Pride guernsey, designed by queer Vietnamese illustrator and graphic designer Zo Lam (they/them).
The guernsey encapsulates the intertwining nature of both the football community and the LGBTQIA+ community. The colours used across the guernsey represent the progress pride flag embellished with the Carlton Navy Blue to represent the diversity of our LGBTQIA+ football players and community supporters.
“When I designed the guernsey I wanted to represent the strong community that unites us in sport and queer pride that provides a safe space for celebration,” said Lam. “Like football, queerness is fluid, dynamic and powerful. I wanted to represent the energy and ever-changing nature of these two communities.
“Not only do I hope this guernsey helps to raise awareness of our community, but also aims to champion our queer friends and family in hopes of building an inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy football.”
In an ode to the local community and the LGBTQIA+ community, the imagery of players in the Pride guernsey was captured at Feminista Vinyl, a local Coburg record shop run by women and non-binary folk, featuring music from women, trans, non-binary, and GNC artists.
The 2024 season marks the first year the Club has worn a white Pride guernsey, and the seventh season since the inaugural Pride Game against the Western Bulldogs. Carlton will wear the guernsey this Saturday night against Fremantle at Fremantle Oval, in the Club’s final interstate trip for the 2024 home-and-away season.
Carlton CEO Brian Cook said the Club was proud to play a part in championing diversity and inclusion. “Our Club’s purpose reflects doing well on-field and doing good in the community. We are proud to have been involved in the inaugural Pride Game in 2018 and delighted of the evolution to a League-wide Round over more recent years,” said Cook.
“Carlton is committed to being a respectful and united club and our players feel privileged to wear a guernsey that promotes inclusion while providing members of our community with a sense of belonging.”
Following the Pride Round game against Fremantle, the Carlton Football Club will be auctioning off the player-worn guernseys, with proceeds going to Carlton Pride and Minus18.
Image: Marianna Anthony, Darcy Vescio, Jess Dal Pos and Keeley Sherar – photo by Daniel Pockett
Words: Carlton Media (republished with permission)