Making Football Everyone’s Game
Football clubs across England are joining the Rainbow Laces campaign and are lacing up on the pitch to support LGBT+ equality
Football is ‘coming out’ for LGBT+ equality this month to celebrate Stonewall’s award-winning Rainbow Laces campaign and to be an ally of inclusion. Clubs from across Hertfordshire will join the likes of the Premier League, the EFL, the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and thousands of grassroots clubs in support of LGBT+ equality.
The campaign kicks off on Friday 22 November and runs through to Sunday 8 December with all 50 County Football Associations joining in showing support for LGBT+ inclusion. This is a significant milestone which has seen 21,500 laces and 1,250 captain’s armbands distributed to clubs, leagues around the country.
According to Stonewall’s research, over four in ten LGBT people (43 per cent) think public sporting events aren’t welcoming for them.
The combined efforts of grassroots clubs and leagues continues to generate awareness of and help tackle homophobia, transphobia and biphobia abuse. However, while progress has been made, there is still work to be done to encourage people to be active allies of LGBT+ people and make football For All.
The FA recognises that football can play an important role in encouraging everyone to be themselves and creating acceptance in wider society and, with this in mind, LGBT+ is a significant focus of In Pursuit of Progress, The FA’s equality, diversity and inclusion plan.
Karl Lingham, Hertfordshire FA CEO said:
“We are proud to support the Rainbow Laces campaign and work hard to promote an inclusive environment in all areas of the game so that everyone can feel able to play, coach, officiate, or administer in football. An individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity should never be a barrier to participating in our national sport.”
Show Your Support
Any leagues or clubs that want to show their support for the campaign can find a range of free resources by following the link below.