Arsenal FC and Manchester United join support for 'Come Out for LGBT' Campaign
Public awareness efforts for Stonewall's 'Come out for LGBT' campaign continue to gain traction amongst sports teams all around the UK. Premier League football giants Arsenal and Manchester United are the latest clubs to pledge their support for the new initiative that promotes diversity and inclusion.
Both teams used their social media platforms to get behind the initiative that focuses on breaking down boundaries and empowering a traditionally marginalised group in the sporting world. The Premier League is still yet to produce any openly gay football players but other athletes such as Tom Daley and Colin Jackson are the most recent cases of sports stars leading by example as they take ownership and pride in their identities.
France international Paul Pogba was speaking at Uefa’s respect campaign in Monaco last week, and when asked about openly gay footballers in the Premier League said that everyone should be considered 'equal' – and that that applies to sport, too.
Stonewall's 'Rainbow Laces' movement as part of the 'Come Out for LGBT' campaign continues to thrive as English football, rugby and cricket teams showcase their support for the LGBT community by wearing rainbow striped laces during their matches. In August this year, professional cricket clubs in England and Wales supported the campaign at the legendary T20 Blast and Super League competitions.
Also, federations such as the Premier League, English Football League, the Football Association, and Rugby Football Union all took part in a mass show of support for LGBT equality in November of last year. Stonewall works with sports teams and leagues at all levels to show that supporting diversity and inclusion is the easiest way to build a more supportive and high-performing team and a strong and loyal following.
At the heart of Stonewall's campaign is the aim of re-energising the British public to show demonstrative support of the LGBT community. Recent research from Stonewall found that UK hate crime against this community has risen significantly in the last five years, in spite of today’s surface-level atmosphere of tolerance following the legalisation of gay marriage.
The charity hopes the brand platform of big teams will mobilise the LGBT supporters who have been unsure how to demonstrate this patronage to 'get off the sidelines' when it comes to the treatment of the community. As such, the campaign will reach as much of the UK population as possible through the platform of athletes, celebreties, teams, leagues, broadcasters, and other organisations.