Preston North End will be supporting Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which aims to use the power of football to make the game more accessible, enjoyable and welcoming to all supporters, when West Bromwich Albion visit Deepdale next Monday night.
Stonewall is a registered charity which supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, while the Rainbow Laces campaign celebrates lesbian, gay, bi and trans inclusion in football.
There will be corner flags, substitution boards, captain’s armbands and laces on the players’ boots, all in a rainbow theme, in a show of support for the campaign.
The West Brom game forms part of a two-week campaign led by Stonewall, which began on Friday 22nd November and will continue until Sunday 8th December.
The aim of this year’s campaign is to inspire sports fans with stories of LGBTQ+ people in sport and to educate people about the challenges they face, while also encouraging people to publicly display their support for the campaign and for the community.
Last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign was seen by more than 12 million people as the partnership between Stonewall and EFL clubs continued to increase awareness around LGBTQ+ people in sport, with the campaign helping to improve attitudes towards this community.
Stonewall research has shown that 43 per cent of people from the LGBTQ+ community think that public sporting events aren’t a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people.
Even LGBTQ+ people who attend or play in sporting events on a frequent basis can still feel excluded. It’s important, therefore, that if someone tells you that they are LGBTQ+, that you tell them that you support them no matter what – because whether we’re cheering or competing, we are all at our best when we feel included.
As part of the campaign period, this week sees Stonewall’s ‘Come Out Active’ week, which is focused on raising money for Stonewall while building support for LGBTQ+ people in sport.
There is a chance to show your support for the campaign on Wednesday 27th November with Rainbow Laces day.
You can sign up to the Come Out Active campaign by clicking here.