Football v Homophobia launches its fourth annual campaigning month of action on Monday February 1st. #FvH2016 will involve activity to tackle discrimination against LGBT people in football taking place around the globe.
The campaign began in 2010 with an international day of action against homophobia and transphobia in football and grew to occupy an entire month of campaigning in February in 2013, when many of the 92 clubs in the British Premier League and Football League began to get involved.
Campaign Director, Lou Englefield explains:
“This year the launch of the Campaign Month of Action is being hosted by Manchester City Football Club, one of the largest and most successful clubs in the world. We have some fantastic support from so many clubs, but there is still work to do”
The Football v Homophobia campaign not only works with professional clubs, but also with county football associations, schools, universities, the grassroots game and junior football. The campaign delivers education resources and programmes that underpin the international show of support in February.
Successes so far this season have included a junior football day with Bolton Wanderers Community Trust for Bolton Pride, which received the support of Hollywood star Sir Ian McKellen. Internationally, the campaign also awarded twenty small grants for activity during February amongst grassroots clubs and campaign groups throughout Europe. Many of these grants, funded by the FARE Network were awarded in Central and Eastern European countries where LGBT communities can face increased hostility.
Football v Homophobia has also received the backing of the Football Association of Wales this season, enabling the campaign to engage with more clubs across the country.
Throughout February, the campaign will be supporting those taking action to make an impact by delivering education packages, sharing stories across the campaign’s digital platforms and providing resources such as wristbands, pin badges and t-shirts.
More information on Ian McKellen at Bolton Wanderers can be found here:
More information about the small grants programme can be found here:
More information of the support of the Football Association of Wales can be found here:
http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW-BACKS-ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA-CAMPAIGN/102369/