As the annual Rainbow Laces campaign kicks off, there are calls for more support for LGBT pro-sportspeople to come out
THE annual Rainbow Laces campaign, which highlights the topic ofSince the campaign started in 2013 sport – and in particular football – has witnessed a great deal of change when it comes to the visibility of LGBT+ players.
In Scotland, Gala Fairydean Rovers striker Zander Murray has led the way after coming out last month, becoming the only openly gay professional footballer in Scottish football .But, as sports journalist Andrew Henderson told The National, there’s still work to do when it comes to making sports accessible for LGBT+ people – both as players and as fans.
“I certainly didn’t expect that to happen in three years but it seems like every month that passes there’s another fairly high-profile athlete coming out. “From talking to these people it seems to be very individualistic. It’s these guys taking it upon themselves to do the work. Yet 91% of them did not report this hostility to official bodies due to feeling that such complaints would be considered insignificant and any intervention ineffective.Last year Hibernian FC put the feelers out to see if there was any interest from fans in an LGBTQ+ supporters club.
“People don’t think there’s a problem and therefore you get people saying they don’t think there’s need for the group.