The Premier League and its clubs celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion in all matches between November 29 and December 5.
During this period, the League and clubs will showcase the work they do throughout the year to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in everything they do.
This includes a variety of activities and content with players, managers and fans, as well as highlighting community and educational initiatives designed to encourage debate and promote alliance with LGBTQ+ communities.
These two days align with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which has played an important role in driving conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport since 2013.
Captains will wear rainbow-colored armbands in upcoming matches, and Rainbow Laces branding will also be widely visible in stadiums.
Punishments for discriminatory abuse
Fans are reminded that everyone has a role to play in the fight against discrimination. The League and clubs will not tolerate any form of discriminatory abuse, including the use of homophobic, transphobic and biphobic language and chants.
Measures and sanctions have been put in place to ensure that anyone found guilty of discriminatory abuse, whether it occurs online or inside the stadium, faces punishment, including being banned from entering stadiums.
How to report discriminatory abuse
The League offers specific training for matchday managers to help them identify and respond to discriminatory abuse, and assist in gathering evidence to ban perpetrators.
Fans who experience or witness discrimination during a Premier League match should contact the nearest security officer or police officer, or report it via the relevant club’s confidential text message service, which can be find here. This also includes information on how people can report abuse they see online.
‘Creating inclusive environments’
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “We have worked closely with our clubs for many years to create inclusive environments, ensuring equality and diversity are embedded in everything we do.
“This includes making football a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community and we are determined to continue making progress in this important area. “We all have a role to play in promoting inclusion and demonstrating that there is no place for discrimination of any kind in football.”
The Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard (PLEDIS) is mandatory for all Premier League clubs and plays a vital role in creating inclusive environments in all areas of your organisation. This includes providing training to staff and building a culture where LGBTQ+ people feel welcome and can thrive.
There are currently 27 clubs committed to PLEDIS, and 18 of them are working to reach the advanced level.
Free educational resources focused on equality, diversity and inclusion are available to more than 19,000 schools participating in the Premier League Primary Stars program across England and Wales. These include the resource ” Rainbow Laces – Stand in someone else’s shoes “, which offers students the opportunity to talk about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and beyond.
