Premier League launches new LGBTQ+ campaign

The Premier League will launch a new LGBTQ+ initiative this weekend after ending its Rainbow Laces partnership with charity Stonewall.

The charity and the Premier League began working together in 2014 to “help further promote equality in football”, with players encouraged to wear rainbow-coloured laces and pride-coloured captain’s armbands.

All top-flight matches between 6 and 12 February will be dedicated to ‘Premier League With Pride’.

The Premier League’s initiative will instead included LED advertising around stadiums, as well as bespoke digital artwork created for all clubs.

Last season Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy did not wear the rainbow armband, while Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” on his.

Manchester United abandoned plans to wear a jacket supporting the LGBTQ+ campaign because one player refused to wear it.

“Premier League With Pride demonstrates our ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community, and our commitment to ensuring that football is for everyone and inclusivity is embedded across all areas of the game,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.

“We want everyone involved in football to feel welcome, supported and comfortable being themselves.”

Stonewall says it remains committed to continuing to work with Premier League clubs.

The league’s new campaign is being launched in partnership with national LGBTQ+ support line Switchboard.

“There’s optimism going into this week of matches and the Premier League is celebrating and talking about education as part of this activation,” said Jon Holmes from Football v Homophobia.

“There’s a really deep element to this and I think that’s hopefully how this new initiative will evolve out of Rainbow Laces as well.”

In 2021 the BBC opted to withdraw from a workplace equality scheme run by Stonewall after questions were raised over how the broadcaster could remain impartial over issues the charity was campaigning about.

What is the Premier League doing?

Branded ball plinths and other matchday furniture will display the Premier League with Pride message across the next two rounds of matches.

Ball assistants on matchdays will hold a flag on the pitch before kick-off, and there will be in-stadium graphics on pitchside screens and branding on the pre-match handshake board as well as both teams’ substitutions board.

Managers, other club officials and broadcasters will also be given pin badges to wear as part of the campaign.

New inclusion education resources are being launched this month.

Academy players at clubs from under-9s level through to under-21s will receive education on identity and inclusion, with clubs also being required to deliver mandatory equality, diversity and inclusion sessions.

What has Stonewall said?

Stonewall relaunched the Rainbow Laces campaign in a new format last month, with a wider focus to encourage all members of the LGBTQ+ community to be active.

An aim of the project is also to become a longer-term campaign, rather than specialised and focused on certain dates.

Stonewall says its campaign with the Premier League has “significantly shifted the dial, but there is still much to do”.

“In these current turbulent times, many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling increasingly anxious, and worried,” a Stonewall spokesperson told the BBC.

“The link between mental health and exercise is well documented. So we have refreshed the campaign to ensure it continues to be relevant in the modern era and a powerful force for LGBTQ+ inclusion in movement, exercise and sport. “

Read the full article here