Rainbow Laces: Stonewall reveals stats that show ‘unbelievable progress’ in fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport | Football News

Stonewall is launching its award-winning Rainbow Laces marketing campaign for a ninth 12 months and calling on followers to maintain up the fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport after new analysis confirmed ‘unbelievable progress’.

New analysis from ICM/Walnut and Stonewall shines a light-weight on the transformative affect of the long-lasting Rainbow Laces marketing campaign.

Over the final 5 years, the proportion of sport followers who suppose homophobic remarks in sport are acceptable has virtually halved – from 25 per cent in 2017 to 14 per cent in 2022. This follows 5 years of devoted campaigning by Stonewall and sporting our bodies such because the Premier League, FA, Premiership Rugby and main sponsors who’re a part of TeamPride.

There has been unbelievable progress, however there’s nonetheless a method to go earlier than all LGBTQ+ persons are actually welcomed as equals in sport. This 12 months, quite a few brazenly LGBTQ+ athletes have taken prominence and impressed the nation. Whether it is Jake Daniels popping out or the proud lesbian and bi inclusion of the Lionesses in this 12 months’s Euros-winning England Women’s Football group, LGBTQ+ individuals in sport have by no means been extra seen.

Despite this progress, many LGBTQ+ individuals nonetheless really feel unsafe and unwelcome at sporting occasions and health services. The analysis reveals that sport followers usually are not assured that aggressive sport is a welcoming surroundings for LGBTQ+ sport personalities. Just 4 in 10 sports activities followers suppose aggressive sport is welcoming for homosexual and bi males (40 per cent) or lesbian and bi ladies (43 per cent). Just three in 10 followers (29 per cent) suppose aggressive sport is welcoming for trans sport personalities.

So, though it has been heartening to see athletes like Jake Daniels, Zander Murray and Josh Cavallo comfy enjoying as their genuine selves, the marketing campaign to make sport everybody’s sport is way from over.

The marketing campaign is encouraging individuals to proceed to lace up, communicate up and stick with it.

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall, stated: “Sport has the unparalleled ability to bring us together. From Premier League Clubs to grassroots teams and local gyms, it’s been fantastic to see so many people coming together to fight for a more inclusive sporting world this Rainbow Laces season.

“Since the start of the Rainbow Laces marketing campaign, we have seen consciousness develop and develop, with multiple million laces modelled in boots internationally’s pitches and, in consequence, we have seen attitudes basically shift – the vast majority of Britons at the moment are supportive of LGBTQ+ athletes.

“However, we cannot become complacent. This new research shows that the public recognise that there is more work to do to create a world where LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves both on and off the pitch.

“So, this Rainbow Laces season, it is vital that all of us ‘Keep it Up’ and actually make sport everybody’s sport.”

• Rainbow Laces celebrates its ninth anniversary as Stonewall urges sport to proceed to Lace Up and Keep Up the fight to make sport everybody’s sport.
• Iconic manufacturers in TeamPride, together with Sky Sports, Adidas and the Premier League, in addition to grassroots golf equipment and followers are celebrating altering attitudes – and coming collectively to resume their dedication to LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
• New analysis* from ICM/Walnut and Stonewall reveals that during the last 5 years the proportion of sports activities followers who suppose homophobic remarks in sport are acceptable has virtually halved – dropping from 25 per cent in 2017 to 14 per cent in 2022.
• The Rainbow Laces marketing campaign is highlighting the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar as we gear up for the World Cup. The World Cup is an occasion the place the worldwide sporting group wants to face up and name out the criminalisation and persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.

Ward added: “As we approach the 2022 Men’s World Cup, we must remember that Qatar is a country where LGBTQ+ people are persecuted simply for being themselves. Sadly, this year’s tournament is not safe for everyone, which is why it’s so important to see players and fans stand up to be counted.

“The World Cup is a crucial second for the worldwide sporting group to face up and name out the criminalisation and persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar.”