This week is the Rainbow laces campaign and it is designed to bring visibility to the #LGBTQ+ community within sport.
The campaign runs each October and is celebrated across both professional and grassroots sport.
I was the chair of the Football vs Homophobia youth panel for 18 months until January 2022 so I understand more than most why this campaign is incredibly important within sport but especially football.
Every time I hear incidents homophobia within football I feel sad because it shouldn’t be happening in 2022.
I hope that the LGBTQ+ community feel safe when attending football matches as they have as much right to do so as everyone else.
Young people are starting to discuss issues such as sexuality within football.
In 2021 the Herefordshire Football Association’s (FA) youth council produced a podcast series with one of the episodes focusing on the topic of sexuality.
This was an important moment for youth football and the young people involved in the recording of this episode because it allowed us to explore this issue in a safe place.
I would like to urge all young people and those supporting them to respect and encourage those with differences whilst they are participating within sport.
I strongly believe that if everyone respects each other both in the world of sport and our society then the world will be a better place.
I have made it my mission to promote equality for all in all aspects of life but especially sport at grassroots level.
There are also other opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to be visible within football and they include the Football vs Homophobia month of action and Trans week of action which is also ran by Football vs Homophobia.
As a disabled person I understand for than most what it is like to be abused by members of society.
I’m looking forward to celebrating positivity within sport during the Rainbow Laces Campaign.
As always I would like to thank both my readers and followers for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read another one of my blogs.
Cam
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