Fight against homophobia and transphobia in sport
Government launches action plan to tackle homophobia and transphobia
Some of the UK’s biggest sports bodies are backing a new government campaign to stamp out homophobia and transphobia in sport.
The Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League, the Rugby Football Union and the Lawn Tennis Association, joined the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in becoming the first signatories of the ‘Charter for Action’.
The charter has four main statements of intent:
- everyone should be able to participate in and enjoy sport.
- sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity
- we will work together to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia
- we will make sport a welcome place for everyone
Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said: ‘Homophobia and transphobia has no place in sport and I’m delighted that so many sporting bodies are backing our campaign to stamp it out.
‘Sport should be about what you can do, not who you are. But too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel that the sports field is not somewhere they can be themselves, and that prejudice and discrimination will mean their sexuality is always talked about more than their ability with a ball, bat or racket.’
It’s not just governing bodies that are welcome to sign up to the Charter. It’s also open to leagues, teams, and individual participants and spectators. You can show your support for the Charter by ‘liking’ a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lgbtsportcharter
The charter is part of a new cross-government lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) action plan which was published today. Visit the Government Equalities Office website to read it.
It sets out what all government departments are going to do to support LGBT equality in the coming year.