Collective members speak up for LGBTQ+ activism at London event

  • Six members of the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective take part in London FA and Amateur FA event at City Hall
  • Event, delivered in conjunction with Middlesex FA, Surrey FA, London Assembly, Stonewall and FvH, focused on creating communities in football
  • #FvH2025 Month of Action continues alongside LGBT+ History Month in February

Football appears to be standing firm on LGBTQ+ inclusion despite the choppy waters – but this is no time for complacency.

Speakers on a panel discussion at a special event put on by the London FA and Amateur FA echoed this view, in the Football v Homophobia Month of Action and LGBT+ History Month.

See Calendar of #FvH2025 events and designated matches here

Professional referee Ryan Atkin was joined by four fellow members from the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective, and Simon Blake, who has been CEO of Stonewall since September 2024. 

The charity, Middlesex FA, Surrey FA and FvH also partnered on the event which was held at City Hall, the home of the London Assembly.

Emma Best AM welcomed guests to the evening’s proceedings, titled ‘Creating a Community Through Football’. 

 

 

FvH’s Jon Holmes (also part of the Collective) set the scene with a presentation that outlined the ongoing need for a specific game-wide anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination campaign.

More than 200 clubs, leagues and fan groups, including around 30 from the professional game, have already pledged to activate #FvH2025 in February.

The FA’s own Grassroots Disciplinary Review shows a near 20% rise in reports of homophobic abuse, and more proven cases of this type of discrimination than any other.

However, there is significant evidence to suggest that anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in football tends to go unreported.

To combat the problem, FvH is calling on clubs to freshen up their approach, give voice to their values, and highlight the need to both report and educate.

 

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Joining Atkin and Blake for the panel chat were Natalie Washington, who leads on Football v Transphobia; Alex Baker, the chairman of Stonewall FC and an FA Board member; Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, captain of Sevenoaks Town FC; and Goal Diggers FC’s Esther Jones Russell, who is the chair of Amateur FA’s Inclusion Advisory Group.

Natalie explained how there were plenty of positives to take from the football authorities’ current commitment to a game that is truly for all, with so many other sports having restricted the participation of trans people.

However, she noted the battle was far from won, with a new U.S. administration already flexing its muscles and the ramifications of that likely to be felt in football too.

 

Other topics discussed included the culture of the men’s game and how Howlett-Mundle’s experience in non-league can provide an example for others; and the contrast with women’s football, with the importance of clubs like Jones Russell’s Goal Diggers that are safe and welcoming spaces for all women and non-binary people.

Baker offered a focus for national associations on how to engage constructively on fan experience, when the hosting of major international tournaments is awarded to countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

After the panel took questions from the floor, Blake brought proceedings to a close, harnessing the spirit of ‘Activism and Social Change’ which is the theme for LGBT+ History Month 2025. 

“Until we get to the point that everybody feels able to play at all levels in the sport they love, then there is always more to do.”

Interested in learning more about the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective? Visit the website

Take part in the Month of Action! Get your club or fan group registered as an FvH Champion and ‘Wear It Black and Pink’ on February 19th.

 


Notes for editors 

About Football v Homophobia

Football v Homophobia (FvH) is an international initiative that exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression at all levels of football.

We want football to take a clear stand against homophobia and transphobia so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful game and football leads the way in removing discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more here.

The annual Month of Action for the FvH campaign is held every February, in what is also LGBT+ History Month.

Clubs, groups, leagues and organisations are invited to register now for February 2025. See our 2025 Champions so far here.

FvH provides tailored education sessions for people in football of all age groups.

For more news and content relating to FvH, as well as our Football v Transphobia initiative, visit our archive.

 

Contacts

Lou Englefield, FvH campaign director
lou@footballvhomophobia.com

Jon Holmes, FvH media consultant
jon@footballvhomophobia.com