The Brisbane Lions will be showing their support for LGBTI players of all levels and sporting codes by participating in the first ever ‘Rainbow Round’ of Sport this Saturday April 2 when we take on North Melbourne at the Gabba.
The Lions, in partnership with club partner SKINS, will be supporting the #RainbowLaces campaign (which aims to boot homophobia out of sport for good) by donating a pair of rainbow coloured shoe laces to everyone who purchases an item from the Lions Shop or Gabba outlets before, during and after the game (while stocks last).
Recent studies by Pride In Diversity, a research group appointed by the Australian Human Rights Commission and Australian Sport Commission, show how bad homophobia in sports still is:
- 46% of study participants believed LGB’s are not accepted in sporting culture (versus 1% that did)
- 73% of gay men surveyed felt homophobia is more common in team sports than other parts of society
- 84% of people who took part said homophobic jokes occur “all the time”, “often” or “sometimes”
Some of the artwork created by SKINS in support of this initiative.
Pride in Diversity has now been commissioned to develop the Pride in Sport Index (PSI), a world-first LGBTI inclusivity index for sport –and a benchmarking tool the Lions are taking seriously.
“Brisbane Lions supports the #RainbowLaces campaign in support of Pride in Diversity’s new Pride in Sport Index,” says Lions CEO Greg Swann.
“We are committed to ensuring our club has an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all, as well as being role models in the broader community to help say #KnotUs to homophobia. It has no place in Australia in 2016.”
Lions fans can also show their support for the #RainbowLaces campaign by adding the ‘Knot Me’ Twibbon to their social profile.
