Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris with Hertz’s Mother’s Day wrapped car. (Photo from Hertz’s Facebook)
ORLANDO | Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride players and married couple, say they are disappointed in the recent bill passed by the Florida Legislature preventing transgender girls and women from playing on public-school teams.
In an interview with Variety, Krieger and Harris spoke out against the Florida law as well as comments made by reality star Caitlyn Jenner to celebrity news tabloid TMZ in which she said she supports these types of bans.
“When you think about sports in general, it is literally to connect and unite us to create a safe space,” Harris said. “That is what sport is about. We can’t be segregating or making these laws where trans youth can’t be a part of things. I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the state we live in, Florida, for continuing to come up with these laws to just separate this community. I’m just disappointed. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Speaking about Jenner, Krieger told Variety that she was “taken aback” by the Republican candidate for California governor’s comments.
“I feel like every kid, including trans kids, should have the opportunity to play the sport they love to play,” Krieger told Variety. “And because they want to learn the important life lessons that sport teaches you and gives you and be surrounded by other young kids and to feel like they belong — that is the ultimate goal for our youth, is to feel like they belong, to love what they do and have fun. To have that opportunity is key. No matter if you’re trans or part of the LGBTQ community or queer or anything, you should be allowed to play.”
Krieger and Harris were speaking with Variety to promote their latest campaign with Hertz celebrating Mother’s Day. The couple are celebrating their first Mother’s Day as new moms, announcing on Instagram in February that they had adopted a baby daughter.
“For them to be in our corner for our first Mother’s Day and to celebrate us in such a special way wrapping the car, the whole thing is so cool,” Harris said. “We’re just so grateful and so lucky to be able to celebrate such a beautiful occasion with such an incredible team of people. They have been so good to us. We hope this is just the beginning.”
