In conjunction with Three Lions Pride, we wrote an Open Letter to UEFA calling on them to demand action from the Polish FA. This was sent in light of the failure of the Polish FA to respond to recent displays of banners containing anti-LGBT and homophobic language at league clubs within Poland. You can see the text of the letter below.
This year, 2018, will be remembered as a year which has seen the annual Rainbow Laces campaign benefit from added fan empowerment and involvement. This is something which is clearly demonstrated when considering the ease at which projects originating from LGBT+ Fans Groups have been able to gain mass media coverage. The change is a welcome one, and is one which has come about after we have seen a noticeable increase in the inclusion of LGBT+ groups by clubs when planning for events and engagement to take place around their designated Rainbow Laces 2018 fixtures, as well as seeing more of a focus being given to the campaign by match-day broadcasters.
Check out some more images from the Rainbow Laces 2018 campaign.
West Bromwich Albion players wearing ‘Proud Baggies’ T-shirts during the pre-match warm upDwight Gayle wearing a ‘Proud Baggies’ T-shirt in the pre-match warm upA Justin Fashanu banner surfs over the Carrow Road crowdThe surfer was the result of a combined project with allied fan groupsThe design was a collaborative effort and the banner funded by Along Come Norwich
Want to get more involved?
Why not check out our Member Groups page? This is where you can find contact details for your team’s LGBT+ group, who can help you to get more involved in events at your club. Or you can head over to our Contact Us page. This is where you can find out how to get in touch with us here at Pride in Football directly.
Pride in Football go to Nottingham for #CALLITOUT2018!
#CALLITOUT2018, exploring fan-based responses to LGBT+phobia in Football
Saturday 9th June at #CALLITOUT2018
The Robin Hood Suite Nottingham Forest Football Club The City Ground Nottingham NG2 5FJ
9.30am Registration and Coffee, Juice and Pastries
10.00am Welcome and Introduction:Nicholas Randall, Chair Nottingham Forest FC, Di Cunningham, ChairPride in Football
Journalist Nancy Frostick will be recording the event – please let her know if you don’t want to appear in photos.
Panels and Q&A will be chaired by Jon Holmes of Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Digital and by Helena Doughty, patron of LGBT Trickies.
10.15 Panel: What will it take for an elite gay male footballer to Come Out? Ryan Atkin (out gay ref), SiobhánPrior (England Basketball medallist, Forest fan and inclusion activist), Sam Feeney (Trans activist and counsellor, Proud Lilywhite/Amber & Proud) and JehmeilLemonius (Stonewall and Stonewall FC)
10.45 Panel: Are Media and Broadcasting standards on LGBT+ Inclusion adequate? Bob Ballard (Radio 5 Live, Talk Sport, Nancy Frostick(Freelance journalist), Kevin Beirne(Football London, JOE.co.uk, FT Mag)
11.15 Panel: LGBT+phobic international competition hosts; are they inevitable? How should we respond? Joe White (Campaigns Lead Pride in Football), Tim Purcell(MoT member and corporate social responsibility advisor, Simon Ware Chair Amnesty LGBTQ and Proud Tricky, Siobhán Prior(England Basketball medallist, Forest fan and inclusion activist)
12.00 Lunch/Stadium Tour
Please take a moment over lunch to complete this short survey of LGBT+ fan match experience https://bit.ly/2Jb3CyC
1.15pm Workshops:
Preparing for an elite gay male player coming out. Lead by Gay Gooners Chair Dave Raval
Developing an LGBT+ fan group. Lead by Marching Out Together, LUFC LGBT+ fan group
Minimum Standards and Code of Conduct for Media and Press. Lead by Pride in Football Chair Di Cunningham
2.15pm Feedback from Workshops/plenary
3.00 Drinks available from the bar
3.15pm The Brighton Kop – short film doc with Director Ruben Armstrong and Brighton Kop founder Benny Punk Q&A and
4pm Close
Saturday Evening
Broadway Cinema 14 – 18 Broad Street Nottingham NG1 3AL
7.30 Mario;£5 for delegates
Sunday10th June at #CALLITOUT2018
Notts County Football Club, Meadow Lane Stadium, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, NG2 3HJ
11.00 am Pride in Football member AGM, with Breakfast Roll and hot drink
NB! For those arriving early on Friday8th:
Nottingham City Council, Council House, Old Market Square, NG1 2DT
7pm Mayoral Drinks Reception
Broadway Cinema 14 – 18 Broad Street Nottingham NG1 3AL
9pm Just Charlie with intro by Sam Feeney
Drinks and food are available at Broadway Cinema and local eateries and bars
What do you say to a homophobe at a football match? Should you even say anything at all? Pride in Football’s #CALLITOUT campaign helps us to find the right words by asking them to ‘Show Some Respect’.
Pride in Football represents the UK’s LGBT+ Football fan groups and its #CALLITOUT campaign encourages all fans to challenge LGBT+phobia, but how exactly do you do that in a crowded football stadium? It’s simple really… the next time you hear anyone being LGBT+phobic, only if you feel safe to do so, then simply ask the abusive person to ‘Show Some Respect’.
By working together we can all help to make football a better place for everyone.
Check out our fabulous comic strip & animation from David Shenton below:
Kick It Out has released figures to show there has been an increase of 59% on reports relating to discriminatory abuse. You can read our response here:
Wembley’s 81000 ticket holders along with a global TV audience for the recent England vs Germany friendly saw historic barriers bridged with the poignant marking of Armistice Day by both teams. Reinhard Grindel, president of the German Football Association welcomed the marking of remembrance as an example of the values cherished by football: respect, tolerance, and humanity.
At the same game in the stands, those same values were affirmed by an en masse attendance of 100 LGBT+ fans; members of the Pride in Football network of supporter groups, from Arsenal’s Gay Gooners to Wolverhampton’s Molineux Pride. The growth of the LGBT+ supporter movement in UK leagues has been remarkable – from just 4 groups 3 years ago there are now 35 with more in development. The groups are working with their clubs to help make grounds more welcoming and improve the match day experience for everyone. And via in-stadium banners and a presence on social media the groups have made visible a community not traditionally associated with the game. This in turn seems to be moderating behaviour on the terraces; reducing homophobia and encouraging fans to challenge unacceptable language.
The LGBT+ England fans group, with the support of the FA, have been attending games together for the last 18 months – for qualifiers and friendlies at the Stadium of Light, the Etihad and Wembley and have made sure to have meet-ups before and after the game and add to their gallery of group photos with their rainbow flags and banners. Sarah, a Gay Gooner said of the games:
“It was flipping brilliant to be in a situation that was so emphatically LGBTI-inclusive. To be able to support the national team while being openly and comfortably myself was incredibly special”
And Lee, who took his partner (with some trepidation) to an England game for the first time, also rated the experience:
“This could be the start of tackling the taboo of gay fans actually liking football for the game.”
There is a real appetite for travel to next summer’s World Cup to support England but the enthusiasm is tempered by awareness of the Russian Federation’s laws and attitudes: Joe White, Campaign Lead for Pride in Football says:
“There are a number of us who are keen to go to and support England at the World Cup in Russia, but we all appreciate the potential risks we would be taking in attending to watch the game we love”.
So travel must be on the understanding that football’s national and international governing bodies exact from the Russian authorities confirmation that venues and host cities will ensure that all fans are welcome regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
It will also be important for the group to display – at least for sharing on social media – their iconic rainbow coloured three lion crest. Di Cunningham Chair of Pride in Football
“We have a duty to our Russian counterparts be visible, inspite or perhaps because of the Russian Federation’s ‘Gay Propaganda Law’ that bars their attendance as an identifiable group at games in their country.”
#kickitwithHER at the HER UK National Football Festival – Powerleague Shoreditch – 12th August
Want to play in a 1000+ people all female football tournament?
Get down to East London for a sunshine filled Saturday with football, DJs, games, food and some general day drinking. This is not just a tournament, it’s a day festival so come down to support and hang out.
If you want to play then enter into one of the women’s 5-a-side tournaments with trophies and medals for the winning teams. You can enter individually if you want to make some new friends, or as a team. There will be two levels: Beginner: You’ve maybe played a bit at school, but never a proper match and you’ve never been part of a team. You probably need reminding what the rules are. Experienced: You’re part of a football team that has played in matches before.
HER is an inclusive app for LGBTQ+ women and queer people, but you don’t need to be LGBTQ+ to play in the tournament, you just need to identify as female or non-binary. All male identified friends, family, boyfriends, etc. are warmly invited to come support and enjoy the general festival vibes 😀
Follow the link to register – Pride in Football (the alliance of LGBT+ Fan Groups) will receive a percentage of the fee:
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