This weekend, the League of Legends European Championship saw outpouring support for the LGBTQIA+ community, on and off the broadcast. Following a week of controversy regarding the leagues’ most recent partnership with NEOM, teams have united to showcase solidarity by displaying pride flags on their broadcasts.

While displaying a pride-colored avatar, the league announced the joint of forces with the Saudi Arabian “futuristic” city NEOM as its new main sponsor. The LEC, who is known to be a beacon of diversity in the League of Legends community had quickly tainted its reputation by partnering with an entity that has "rampant disregard of human rights".

With an outcry from the LoL Esports fanbase, Rioters, and cast members of the LEC, the sponsorship had been canceled, by the league itself, around 14 hours after its announcement, following an apology.

This weekend, with a few members missing from broadcast, in a form of protest, the LEC was the stage for a demonstration of support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Teams have displayed pride flags behind their broadcast feed, in the room where players compete for the 2020 Summer Split title and four tickets to Worlds. Participating teams featured MAD Lions, SK Gaming, Excel Esports, Origen, and Schalke 04 Esports.

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