Suffolk Leaders Call For U.S. Soccer To End Gender Discrimination

HAUPPAUGE, NY - Suffolk officials along with local several soccer coaches and student athletes called on the U.S. Soccer Federation to end workplace gender discrimination in soccer during a press conference in Hauppauge on Equal Pay Day.

During the event, held on Tuesday, they also asked for women all over the country to sign their petition and help them send a message in the world of athletes and beyond.

Last month, on International Women's Day, the world champion team filed a gender discrimination suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The lawsuit claim that the women's team was receiving less pay and unequal support, including inferior training, promotion, and playing conditions than their male counterparts.

According to lawsuit, the three-time world champion, four-time Olympic gold medal U.S. Women’s Soccer team continues to be paid a fraction of the salary paid to men’s team members.

"Young girls around the world idolize the U.S. Women’s Soccer players because they exemplify unmatched strength, skill and fearlessness," Majority Leader Kara Hahn said. "We want to be role models for our girls, showing them that it is OK to stand up when you think you are being treated unfairly, and that even world-renowned athletes, even champions can face gender discrimination and inequality and that’s never ok."

At the conference, the coaches and athletes as well as members of the Gender Equity Coalition, all wore red in order to symbolize that women are "in the red" in terms of pay as compared to men performing similar work

Colleen Merlo, Executive Director of L.I. Against Domestic Violence and Chair of the
Gender Equity Coalition states,

"This issue is not just a women’s issue; it affects children and families," Colleen Merlo, Executive Director of L.I. Against Domestic Violence and Chair of the Gender Equity Coalition said. "Unequal pay contributes to poverty, medical problems and increases violence against women; we must establish gender equity as a core value in our communities and we can start by ensuring women are paid equally for the same work as men."

According to Hahn, in New York State the Gender Pay Gap (or the earnings ratio of Women’s Median earnings divided by Men’s Median earnings) is 80 percent.

In 2017, women living in Suffolk County earned 78 percent of what men earned. Women who are identified within minority groups fare even worse; with black woman earning 79 percent and Hispanic woman earning just 58 percent as compared to white men.

Photo credit: Office of Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn

"Pay equity is critically important to having a fair and just workplace," Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright said. "It is imperative that all persons are treated equally as it relates to pay and advancements. This is a critical issue because the impacts are long lasting and far reaching."

Dawn Lott, Executive Director for the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, says that the Suffolk County Legislature has taken steps to close the gap in Suffolk with the passing of the RISE Act which provides helps assure applicants will be paid based on their qualifications rather than their previous salary.

Several members of the Suffolk County Legislature signed Majority Leader Hahn’s letter to U.S. Soccer Federation, which is addressed to Board President Carlos Cordeiro and Vice President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former team member, who was elected to the board in February.

During the next three months leading up to the World Cup in France, the group hopes to get a total of 75,000 signatures for the petition, which they will then deliver to U.S. Soccer Federation officials.

A 2015 petition supporting the team garnered more than 69,000 signatures.