Organisations Sign Up To Support Teampride
Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity, has confirmed that its Rainbow Laces campaign will return in November thanks to the support of the newly-formed TeamPride coalition.
The Rainbow Laces movement aims to show that everyone can participate and enjoy sport, whoever they are and whatever their background. Global organisations including Aon, adidas and Aviva have come together to show support for the campaign, by joining TeamPride as founding members.
TeamPride will bring together organisations from many different sectors to work together, and with Stonewall, to create inclusive and equal environments in sports of all levels for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
The return of Rainbow Laces follows new ICM research for Stonewall into homophobic, biphobic and transphobic attitudes and experiences among sports fans. It reveals that 18 to 24-year-olds are the group most likely to hold homophobic views. While most sports fans are supportive of LGBT players, with 9 in 10 (89%) saying they would be either ‘proud’ or ‘neutral’ if their favourite player came out as gay.
The research shows that 18 to 24-year-olds are twice as likely to agree that it is acceptable to make homophobic remarks (21%), compared to 11% overall. Young people are also twice as likely to say they would be embarrassed if their favourite player came out as gay – 22% compared to 12% of all respondents.
Stonewall is now looking for more organisations to join TeamPride, to provide further resources and support, enable the charity to tackle the problems raised in the research and raise awareness of the problems of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport. November’s campaign week will engage the public by asking them to wear Rainbow Laces and organise Rainbow Laces events to show they stand by the side of LGBT sports people at all levels. TeamPride will also be the headline sponsor for inclusive football club, Stonewall FC, in the 2016/17 season.
Ruth Hunt, chief executive, Stonewall said: ‘We’re pleased that such powerful organisations have stepped up and given their support to our Rainbow Laces campaign, and now we urge more organisations to become part of our team. Sport should be everyone’s game but sadly, the research released today shows that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse continues to heard on the terraces and in sports arenas across Britain. This abuse makes LGBT fans and players feel unsafe, unwelcome and unable to be themselves. This needs to change, and to make that happen, we need the support of high profile sports clubs and personalities this November. We all have a responsibility to show that sport is for everyone.’
Robin Stalker, chief financial officer and executive board member, adidas said: ‘We’re thrilled to be part of the newly formed TeamPride coalition. Sport should be open to everyone and Stonewall’s research sadly demonstrates that there is still a long way to go until we can say this is the case. We believe that through sport we have the power to change lives and through sports we can make this change happen. We are incredibly proud to be working with other organisations as part of TeamPride to support Stonewall and ensure that sport is for everyone.
Schools and clubs have also signed up to join in with the week of action in November. For more information on Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign please visit http://www.stonewall.org.uk
