Rainbow Laces is an LGBTQ+ sports inclusion campaign ran by Stonewall. 2024 is the campaign’s 11th year.
“Sport should be safe and welcoming for everyone. By lacing up, you’re sending a powerful message: your club is a safe place where everyone can be themselves and that you actively support LGBTQ+ inclusion.”
“Show your commitment to a safer, more inclusive sporting world by wearing your Rainbow Laces and creating safe spaces where everyone can be themselves.” Stonewall
Rainbow Blades, Sheffield United Women & Sheffield United Community Foundation have always marked this campaign together and back in 2022, Sheffield United Women were the first women’s team in the championship to have rainbow numbers on the back of their shirts. This was one of the contributing factors to why the club won a football v homophobia award a few months later.
This year we are.
· Running a Rainbow Laces Workshop with Sheffield United Community Foundation for E-Sports Students.
· Holding a Rainbow Laces matchday social for the Sunderland Women’s game.
· Running a FREE LGBTQ+ football session for members on 18th November at GOALS from 7pm, where we will be handing out free rainbow laces and Fans for Diversity t-shirts.
· Rainbow Blades will feature on the Barclay’s Women’s Championship social media pages.
· Working with our charity partner, SAYiT, we’ll be delivering an interactive LGBTQ+ football session for young people aged 11-17. https://www.sayit.org.uk/
· Sheffield United Women will be wearing Rainbow Blades warm up shirts.
· Rainbow Blades vice chair, Anna Kent, will be the guest matchday announcer for the Sunderland Women’s game.
What can you do.
· Visibly show your support. Wear Rainbow Laces, wear a Rainbow Blades pin badge, be an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in daily life and online.
· Educate yourself, learn terminology.
· Work with Rainbow Blades, Sheffield United Community Foundation & Sheffield United Women to promote inclusion and challenge where appropriate.
· Reach out to local community groups and/or your club’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, us 😊, Rainbow Blades.
· Report discrimination if you witness it in person or online to the football club and/or Kick it Out with as much information as possible.
How to report
Report to Sheffield United via complaints@sufc.co.uk or tinyurl.com/reportSUFC
Report to Kick it Out via kickitout.org/report
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