Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign

SPORT TURNS RAINBOW IN BIGGEST EVER SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR LGBT FANS AND PLAYERS
 
·       The Premier League, Football Association, English Football League and Rugby Football Union join Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign
·       Football clubs Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and rugby clubs Sale, Newcastle and Bristol are among those showing their support
·       Stonewall release a campaign video to explore LGBT abuse and its effect on sports players and fans
  
The Premier League,  Football Association, English Football League, Rugby Football Union and sports clubs around Britain are hosting a Rainbow Laces takeover this weekend to show their support for lesbian, gay, bi and trans players and fans.
 
Rainbow Laces-themed activities are taking place throughout this week (21 November – 27 November) in both professional and grass roots sports clubs.
 
The Premier League are marking their support for the campaign at every fixture this weekend. Perimeter advertising at every match will include supporting Rainbow Laces messaging and every game will be opened with a giant Premier League Rainbow Laces flag. 
  
Football clubs around Britain, including all Premier League Clubs, and a number of clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two, English Football League and Welsh Rugby. Football clubs include Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool FC, Hull City and rugby clubs include Sale, Newcastle, Bristol and Bath.
 
Activities include teams wearing Rainbow Laces during training, laces being handed out at weekend fixtures and clubs organising meetings between LGBT fan groups. The Wembley Arch will also be lit up in rainbow colours on Saturday 26 November and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) are also joining in, with referees lacing up for this weekend’s fixtures.
 
This mass show of support follows research released by Stonewall earlier this year, which revealed 72 per cent of football fans have heard homophobic abuse at a live sports event. But the research, conducted by ICM and released in September, also showed that the majority of sports fans welcome LGBT fans and players. Almost two thirds (63 per cent) said more should be done to make LGBT people feel accepted in sport.
 
As part of the Rainbow Laces week, Stonewall has produced a film featuring LGBT athletes and fans talking about the effect that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language has on those who watch and play sport.  The film features Team GB canoeing champion Matt Lister, Sophie Cook, club photographer for AFC Bournemouth, and former England and Team GB women’s football captain Casey Stoney, as well as coaches, fans and players – all of whom identify as lesbian, bi, gay or trans.  
 
Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive RFU, said: ‘The Rugby Football Union is proud to support Stonewall and the Rainbow Laces campaign. We believe rugby’s core values of respect, teamwork and sportsmanship resonate with what is at the heart of this important campaign.  We are committed to ensuring that sport provides an inclusive and welcoming environment for all at every level and we look forward to working with Stonewall to raise awareness and tackle inequality on and off the field.’
 
Premier League Executive Chairman, Richard Scudamore, said: ‘The Premier League is all about exciting, passionate and unpredictable football that is for everyone, everywhere. The Rainbow Laces campaign complements the work clubs are doing to promote inclusion and diversity in their stadiums, and across all levels of the sport. Our support for the campaign, and the decision to become members of Team Pride, is further recognition that the LGBT community is a vital and integral part of our community.’
 
Ruth Hunt, Stonewall’s Chief Executive, said: ‘The research we released earlier this year gave a clear indication of what needed to happen for sport to become more inclusive. research we made it clear that if things were going to change we would need the support from across sport. It’s crucial for organisations like the Premier League, the Football Association and Rugby Football Union to show they welcome lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. At the moment, many LGBT people want to take part in sport, either as players or fans, but the abuse and hate from a minority of fans can make them feel unsafe, unwelcome or unable to be themselves. 

‘We know the majority of sports fans want a better, more inclusive game. This campaign is about encouraging people to step up and say they will not stand for abuse and the support of football and rugby clubs and associations is crucial because it gives people the confidence to do that.’

Stonewall has developed a range of measures to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport. The charity has developed a sports toolkit for grassroots and community sport teams to build awareness and understanding of the issues affecting LGBT people, and how they can help ensure all sports offer an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Stonewall will work with all of the clubs involved in Rainbow Laces to support their activities.
 
As well as signing up to Rainbow Laces, the Premier League has become a member of TeamPride, a coalition of organisations committed to making sport everyone’s game by encouraging fans, players, sports clubs and organisations to show their support of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.  The full list of members includes Adidas, Aon, Aviva, Manchester United, O2, Pitch Marketing Group, the Premier League, Sky Sports and Visa.
 
Notes to editors:
 
For more information, visit https://www.stonewall.org.uk/sport