Neville Southall to speak at LGBT event at Wembley

Former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall has been confirmed as a speaker at LGBT rights seminar #StrongerTogether which takes place at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 5th February. 

Southall is a patron of  the group organising the conference Justaballgame?, which campaigns on issues around homophobia in sport.

He will be joined on the panel by Adam McCabe, a guest columnist on Prost Amerika, referee Lucy Clarke and the Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Julie Cooke among others. The GMB London Region have also provided logistical support for the seminar.

Lindsay England is the founder of justaballgame?. Earlier this week, she told Prost International her reaction to the homophobic backlash on social media to leading EPL clubs who supported the Rainbow Laces campaign.

“JUST A BALL GAME? are desolate but not shocked to see the anger, abuse and hatred spewed out by many so called  ‘fans’  during this years RL campaign, something which will sadly put off many young LGBT+ people who are sports fans from either participating or attending sporting events as they gradually accept their own sexuality.”

In 2011, Lindsay produced a report on the issue of homophobia in sport called “WE’RE NOT HOMOPHOBIC” which outlined the scale of the challenge seven years ago. In one of its conclusions, she wrote:

“Something like the internet while very basic and simple is still a very hostile areafor LGBT’s and those perceived to be LGBT to be abused on. The limitations of this research show that both race and gender of the perpetrators of the abuse is generally unknown.

“Casual homophobia feeds peer group pressure which can build up to verbal and physical abuse and harassment towards LGBT’s and gives the impression that this behaviour is acceptable.

“Football needs then to try to nip things in the bud,through fans groups, fans forums, message boards and websites.”

It seems she was right then and there is still some way to go. You can register to attend the StrongerTogether conference here: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strongertogether-tickets-52180212420 …