Why do we need a Rainbow Laces campaign?

This weekend sees the launch of the 6^th annual Stonewall ‘Rainbow Laces’ campaign, a campaign to show support for LGBT+ equality and inclusivity in sport. Players and fans across the country will be wearing a pair of rainbow laces in their football or rugby boots, cricket shoes, athletics spikes and whatever else they are wearing. We will also see football stadia decked out with rainbow corner flags, decorated substitution boards, & captains wearing rainbow armbands.

LGBT+ football supporter groups are growing quickly; nearly every other club in the Football League has one (44 currently), and the Premier League and the EFL embrace ‘Rainbow Laces’ every year, yet many fans are questioning the need for such activity.

So, why do we need a Rainbow Laces campaign? Unfortunately, homophobic language (often dismissed as banter) is still common in football grounds. The fact that there are no openly gay players suggests that the football environment is not conducive to being openly LGBT+ in football, and the simple fact is that many LGBT+ people do not feel welcome or able to be themselves in our grounds.

Sarah Robinson, Vice Chair of Proud Baggies, WBA’s official LGBT+ supporters group says “since last season, six separate incidents of homophobic language or chants have been reported to us and whilst that may not seem many, we know that the vast majority of incidents are not reported. We all want to come to football and just be ourselves and for the majority of fans, that’s exactly what happens. But for the LGBT+ fan who sits next to someone who is shouting homophobic abuse at the ref or an opposition player, imagine how that must feel. Knowing that you can’t be yourself for fear of also being subject to that abuse, can be enough to stop a fan going to a match”

In our game, what might seem like simple acts are actually huge statements of support to the army of LGBT+ football fans across the country. Visible acts of support are incredibly self-affirming for those who don’t feel comfortable in a specific environment for any reason. Imagine how LGBT+ fans feel when they walk into their stadium to see rainbow corner flags, rainbow substitution boards, and their favourite player wearing rainbow laces. Imagine how they feel when they see the fans around them wearing rainbow laces and see a Proud Baggies banner hanging from the stand. They feel included, they feel welcomed and they feel a part of their club. Most of all they feel safe.

Last month, Proud Baggies received the following from a new member: “My partner is a fan and is taking me to my first game next month – I’ve been nervous about going to an organised sporting event but seeing the pictures of you lot & your flag makes it all a bit less scary. My current partner is male (we’re both Bi) but that hasn’t always been the case and so I have mixed experiences of being in that sort of atmosphere, as does he. Thanks for providing such visible support for people who might be nervous going into that sort of situation.”

This is why we need the Rainbow Laces Campaign and LGBT+ supporters’ groups. Fans need to know that homophobic language & abuse is unacceptable and LGBT+ fans need to see that they are welcome. After the 2017 Rainbow Laces campaign there was an 8% decrease in 19-24 & 25-39-year olds thinking that homophobic language is acceptable. The plan this year is to do even better.

To show your support and find out more please go to www.proudbaggies.com where you can join as a member as well as find links to our social media channels. Details of the Rainbow Laces campaign can be found at www.stonewall.org.uk.

Let’s make football everyone’s game.