One in four LGBTQ+ people do not feel welcome at live sports events, new research commissioned by Stonewall has found.
Research was conducted through market research and insight agency Opinium between January 24 and March 11 this year amongst 2000 LGBTQ+ people and found that some still feel unwelcome or unsafe playing or watching sport.
It also found that one in four LGBTQ+ people do not feel welcome in community sport groups or community team sports.
One in five people who attended a live sporting event in the last year felt discriminated against because they are LGBTQ+, while one in three black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBTQ+ people who attended a live sporting event in the last year reported experiencing discrimination.
Additionally, one in five people who attended a fitness club or sports group in the last year experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
The study comes in the midst of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which has been running since 2013 and aims to make sport inclusive for all by encouraging people to lace up to show their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
This year’s campaign began at the weekend in the Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and Grand Slam of Darts tournament along with involvement from the Football Association and grassroots football teams, while the Premier League will showcase their support in the first week of December.
Amazing to see #RainbowLaces activity across so many @BarclaysWSL games today! 🌈
👏Thank you for helping to make sport inclusive for everyone. https://t.co/ZwXRYDl125
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) November 16, 2024
Blackpool striker Jake Daniels is the only current British male player to be openly gay and he believes the statistics show that “too many” LGBTQ+ people still feel unwelcome in sport.
He said: “I know first-hand what it feels like to have to hide who you are on the pitch and the impact that has on participating in the sports you love. It’s thanks to campaigns like Rainbow Laces that more LGBTQ+ players and fans can bring their full selves to the beautiful game, and sport as a whole.
“While we’ve seen so much progress over the past decade, these statistics highlight that too many of us still feel unwelcome and unsafe in sport. In 2024, LGBTQ+ people deserve better. I’m proud to support Rainbow Laces this year, to help all of us have the opportunity to participate in and feel part of the sports we love.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel