BWitC welcome Football vs. Homophobia for the Launch of their Month of Action
Wednesday 29th January, Bolton Wanderers in the Community welcomed Football vs. Homophobia to the Toughsheet Community Stadium to mark the launch of their Month of Action.
The event held in the Lion of Vienna Suite marked the start of the annual activation of the international anti-LGBTQ discrimination in football campaign. Now entering its 16th month the initiative aims to reduce discrimination related to sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity at all levels of the game through education, resources and awareness-raising.
The community event invited guests from across the North-West to take part in a panel discussion offering advice and support to leagues and clubs on ways they can effectively tackle the rise of homophobia in Football. Guest speakers on the night included Caz Simone, Hannah Bermudez, Bertie Moores and Jordan Mason with special guests from BWitC LGBTQ+ Youth Club and Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Andrew Morgan and Karen Holdsworth.
The event also provided attendees with a safe space to share their own experiences and discuss solutions as part of a Q&A. Hayley Ranicar, BWitC Health and Communities Manager, and Cormac Noel, BWitC Community Cohesion Officer, spoke on BWitC’s work with the LGBTQ+ community and the charity’s initiatives to diversify the fanbase in line with their Premier League Fans Fund project.
Reflecting on the event, Hayley Ranicar stated “Being able to support Football vs. Homophobia’s Month of Action Launch was a great opportunity for our charity’s staff and participants to engage outside of their existing networks. Being able to create a safe space for attendees and our participants to share lived experiences and learn from others aligned to achieving an inclusive environment for all within our sport is a key reason we will continue to support the campaign”
For more information on Football vs. Homophobia’s Month of Action visit https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/
For more information on BWitC’s LGBTQ+ Youth Group contact Cormac at cnoel@bwitc.org.uk