The Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League, the Rugby Football Union, the Olympics organising committee and the Football Association have signed a government charter for gay rights.
The charter calls on sport’s governing body to work to stamp out homophobia and transphobia and ensure everyone is welcome at sporting events.
This is yet another positive step forward in tackling homophobia in sport.
Upon announcing this initiative however, Lynn Featherstone commented that she was urging all other sporting bodies to come aboard and support gay rights. She commented, “Sport should be about what you can do, not who you are. But too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel that the sports field is not somewhere they can be themselves, and that prejudice and discrimination will mean their sexuality is always talked about more than their ability with a ball, bat or racket.
“Homophobia and transphobia has no place in sport and I’m delighted that so many sporting bodies are backing our campaign to stamp it out at all levels, from local parks to Olympic stadiums.”
With high-profile stars such as Gareth Thomas and Steven Davies publically gay, it does look like the tides are turning for perhaps the last taboo in British sporting discrimination.
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