Stonewall calls on players and fans to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights at World Cup

Stonewall is urging the worldwide sporting neighborhood to “stand up and call out the criminalisation and persecution” of LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar at the upcoming World Cup.

The main LGBTQ+ charity has made the plea at the launch of its ninth annual ‘Rainbow Laces’ marketing campaign.

Same-sex relationships are criminalised in Qatar and Stonewall hopes points may be highlighted whereas the highlight is on the Gulf state for the World Cup, which begins subsequent month.

Liz Ward, director of programmes at Stonewall, stated: “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 vital moment for the global sporting community to stand up and call out the criminalisation and persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Qatar.”

This 12 months’s Rainbow Laces ‘season’ runs from October 19-31 with a Rainbow Laces Day, when sports activities contributors are urged to put on rainbow laces of their footwear to promote larger inclusion, on October 26.

Stonewall feels the marketing campaign has led to good progress lately however believes far more nonetheless wants to be completed.

One of the successes is highlighted in new statistics which present that the proportion of sport fans who suppose homophobic remarks in sport are acceptable has fallen from 25 per cent in 2017 to 14 per cent in 2022.

However, the analysis carried out by Stonewall in partnership with ICM/Walnut additionally means that fans aren’t assured that aggressive sport is a welcoming surroundings for LGBTQ+ sport personalities.

Just 40 per cent suppose it’s welcoming for homosexual and bi males, 43 per cent suppose it welcoming for lesbian and bi ladies and simply 29 per cent suppose it welcoming for trans sport personalities.

Ms Ward added: “Since the beginning of the Rainbow Laces campaign, we’ve seen awareness grow and grow, with more than one million laces modelled in boots across the world’s pitches and, as a result, we’ve seen attitudes fundamentally shift – the majority of Britons are now 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.”