Premier League clubs receive homophobic backlash to Rainbow Laces campaign

Any hope that there is a consensus about the need to eradicate homophobia from football will have been dashed by some of the reactions to the recent support for Stonewall by a number of EPL clubs.

Clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea received homophobic responses on social media following their support of Stonewall’s pro-LGBT campaign.

Stonewall’s first campaign was in 2013, aiming to kick homophobia out of football; however, this type of discrimination remains a large problem in football as proved by a post on Manchester United’s Facebook page standing in solidarity with the campaign receiving over 43,000 “angry” responses according to the Guardian.

Comments included various homophobic slurs, with responses such as “Say No to LGBT”, “God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Lukaku” and
the even stupider “Gaychester United” each receiving more than 10,000 likes.

Arsenal and Chelsea faced similar negative responses after changing their profile pictures to include rainbow-coloured logos.

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Column: Adam McCabe – The Gay Footballer

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the “shocking” comments should come as a wake-up call to clubs and the FA.

“Quite clearly, the existing campaigns [to curb homophobia in football]have not been sufficient,” he said. “Even so, I suspect that these bigoted comments are coming from a hardcore minority and do not reflect the views of most fans. Unfortunately social media does tend to attract and give a voice to people with extreme views.”

Peter Tatchell, gay rights campaigner.

Kirsty Clarke is Stonewall’s Director of Sport. She still saw a bright side to emerge from the campaign:

“It’s great to see so many sports associations across the UK proudly championing LGBT equality as part of our Rainbow Laces campaign. The backlash from a small minority online is a reminder of just how vital it is for all of us to do our bit to help make sport everyone’s game.

“This year’s campaign is about giving people confidence to be active allies and show their visible support for LGBT people, either on or off the pitch. It’s been heartening to see that allyship in action, particularly on social media, where we’ve seen countless messages from people who aren’t LGBT calling out abuse from fellow fans and highlighting why their attitudes have no place in sport.

Kirsty Clarke, Stonewall’s Director of Sport