Football v Homophobia

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are on Twitter and within that, there's 'Football Twitter' - the sizeable cohort of users who support their clubs fiercely, who comment on the latest news and gossip constantly, and who interact with just about anything to do with the game.

'Football Twitter' (or 'FT') has also become notorious for anti-LGBTQ+ abuse and discrimination. As the platform continues to grow in toxicity and reach, it appears to be an increasingly unpleasant place to hang out for anyone who loves football but doesn't fit the 'FT mould'.

On this episode of the FvH Podcast, we're joined by broadcaster and Arsenal YouTuber Sophie Nicolaou - aka @soccerdiva - and journalist and researcher Finbarr Toesland.

Sophie tells us about her own experiences of harassment and abuse from a noisy 'FT' minority - but she also explains how she's still able to find her tribe on Twitter.

Finbarr discusses the new report he's authored exploring how LGBTQ+ journalists - including football content creators - are being targeted on social media, and his recommendations to media organisations and brands. He feels they need to understand how and why abuse happens and the effect it has on individuals.

This episode, hosted and produced by Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes, is being released to coincide with the global awareness day IDAHOBIT (the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia) on May 17, and Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK.

Show your support for FvH! Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com for info, downloads and resources, and how to contact the FvH team.

Links

"You can't win a championship without gays!" - a quote uttered by Megan Rapinoe at the World Cup in France in 2019 that has already passed into women's football folklore.

Two years later, the simple tweet "they're lesbians, Stacey" under a picture of Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis at the Tokyo Olympics quickly took on legendary status, becoming a T-shirt slogan, catchphrase and much-loved meme.

You might think therefore that Lesbian Visibility Week - held annually around Lesbian Visibility Day at the end of April - would be well supported by the women's game, as a chance to recognise inspirational LGBTQ+ role models on and off the field.

But there has been barely any LVW messaging around the professional game, or from sponsors and influencers, or in the media, and not much mention on social media either, even though the awareness week is now well established.

For this episode of the FvH Podcast, we explore the many reasons behind that. Sports reporter Beth Fisher and FvH campaign director Lou Englefield are the guests, joining regular host, Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes.

Stereotypes, tensions, urban myths, lesbophobia, nervousness around language and the complexities of being visible… they're all factors that feature in a wide-ranging conversation.

At Chelsea's first three games of 2023 - and in the Manchester United vs Everton tie in the FA Cup - some fans have been heard singing a chant that's depressingly familiar - "Chelsea rent boys".

Warning: This episode references offensive language from an incident of homophobic abuse.

At the end of Mental Health Awareness Week and ahead of the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on May 17, the FvH Podcast in association with Sports Media LGBT+ brings you a story about homophobic abuse in local men’s football and the effects of this language.

Zack Leader plays as a striker with Fedora’s FC, an amateur club in Lincolnshire. A few years ago, while competing in a different sport - gravity bike racing - Zack came out publicly as gay, and he has been open about his sexuality throughout his time in county FA football.

He was playing for Fedora’s FC’s reserve team in a Gainsborough & District Sunday League match in January when he heard homophobic abuse shouted from the sidelines. He reported this to the referee, and the opposition team was later charged, leading to a Lincolnshire FA disciplinary process and, eventually, a punishment.

Talking to host Jon Holmes, Zack talks about his journey in sport; getting back into football; changing clubs and feeling comfortable on and off the pitch; and how the incident in January and the sequence of events that ensued ended up impacting on his mental health and self-confidence.

He also shares words of advice for other players in men’s amateur football who are gay or bi; and offers his thoughts on how leagues, county FAs and others at this grassroots level of the game can make their environments more inclusive.

We have a very special guest for this episode of the pod - singer-songwriter-producer Shura drops in for a chat, as Lesbian Visibility Week 2022 draws to a close.

Shura’s fans will be very familiar with the role that football has played in her life and career to date. She was part of the Manchester City youth set-up as a teenager before she started recording music at the age of 16 and followed that path instead.

She began to rise to fame in 2014 when her song ‘Touch’ picked up industry buzz, with her debut album ‘Nothing’s Real’ following in 2016 - it went Top 20 in the UK album charts. Shura’s second album ‘Forevher’ followed three years later, further building her fanbase, and her songs have been streamed millions of times on Spotify and YouTube.

At the moment, ‘What’s it Gonna Be?’ can be heard in Netflix smash Heartstopper and is picking up loads of plays and downloads!

She started playing football with Goal Diggers FC in London a couple of years ago, and during the pandemic she got into Twitch and Discord streaming, creating her own Shutopia community online.

Speaking to Sports Media LGBT+’s Jon Holmes, Shura discusses how she got her break in football as a young girl; the ups and downs of supporting Manchester United men and Arsenal Women; what she makes of Heartstopper; the importance of her Goal Diggers FC family; some of the good and not-so-good aspects of being an out lesbian in both music and football environments; the fun of Twitch streaming, particularly when she’s doing cosplay; and what she’s working on right now.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Shura!

It’s Lesbian Visibility Week and in a collision of collaborations, the Football v Homophobia Podcast is again partnering with Sports Media LGBT+ - this time to talk about Studs AND Huns FC!

Representing Studs is sports producer Becky Taylor-Gill, who launched the digital channel / collective back in 2019 ahead of the Women’s World Cup. Studs’ quirky and often queer-eyed takes on football culture have helped it build a loyal, like-minded following.

One of the places they are most active is Instagram, where you can also find Huns FC, whose co-founder Flo Lloyd-Hughes can often be heard on The Athletic, Guardian Football Weekly and BBC London Sport. Sharing anything huntastic from the WSL, NWSL and further afield - sometimes with WaG energy thrown in too - it’s the account that’s always serving in our feed.

Studs and Huns FC are uniting to put on a Queer After Party following the Euros opener at Old Trafford on July 6 so they joined Jon Holmes from Sports Media LGBT+ to chat about that club night and their groups; their careers in the industry to date; why they wanted to celebrate the culture of women’s football; the story behind Studs’ iconic ‘They’re lesbians, Stacey’ T-shirts; and why visibility can sometimes be a tricky path to follow for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people in the game.

We hope you enjoy the conversation! Links below

Join Amy Allard-Dunbar, Sharifa James and Annette Nelson for a round table discussion, where they share their experiences of football as young people, finding safe places and talking to people in authority about issues people of colour face. This engaging chat also offers their perspectives around queer and black intersecting identities in football.

This months episode is brought to you to celebrate Lesbian Visbility Day. We hear from Lou Englefield, FvH Campaign Director, Annette Nelson, FvH Education Lead, Sirri Topping, FvH Scotland Lead and Holly Grimes, FvH Youth Panel Events Coordinator. 

We struggled with some technology and wifi issues during the recording of this episode so we apologise for any issues with sound quality. 

This week Beatrice and Angharad sit down with Verity from Mermaids to talk about the amazing work happening for trans young people in sport. 

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

FvT Campaign Lead Natalie Washington talks to three trans & non-binary football players all at the same club - Naomi, Samuel & Julia tell us about their football, experiences in getting back into the game, and what Charlton Invicta are doing that means they feel included & keep coming back. This is part of the Football v Transphobia Week of Action #fvt2021

FvT Campaign Lead Natalie Washington talks to three trans & non-binary football writers, Emma Smith, Lee Hurley & Casey JP about their lives, careers & even a bit of Lego discourse.

This is part of the Football v Transphobia Week of Action #fvt2021

For this months FvH Youth Panel Roundtable, Sam is joined by Events Officer Holly & Co-Coordinator Angharad.

They look back at all things #FvH2021 Month of Action from the panels to 'What's the Matter with Banter', while also taking a look ahead to the Football v Transphobia Week of Action (Commencing March 22nd 2021)

For the final edition of our Month of Action collab series, Sam & Events Officer Holly Grimes, are joined by Hannah Burt & Ellie Reid from the 50 Lost Years project.

50 Lost Years is a project ran by young women looking to raise awareness of the 50 year FA ban on Women's football, and tell the inspirational stories of that time.

You can follow what they are doing on Twitter, @50LostYears, and on Instagram under the same handle.

FvH Youth Panel x the Mental Well-Balling Podcast

The next in our #FvH2021 collab series, Sam & Ryan are joined by Kyle Andrews of the Mental Well-Balling Podcast.

They talk mental health in football, hyper masculinity & Kyle's favourite photos he has taken!

To check out our guest today, head over to @WellBallingPod on Twitter & Instagram

This edition of the Youth Panel Roundtable sees Sam joined once again by Education Officer Ryan Harwood and for the first time on the podcast, Communications Officer Ben also makes an appearance. 

The main topic of conversation this month is uni life, as well as discussions on the use of 'man up' in football and Marcus Rashfords attempts to feed kids

Edited by Martin McCandlish

This month we celebrate Black History Month as we take a look at some amazing black people in football. Beatrice and Angharad are joined by the Football v Homophobia Education Lead, Annette Nelson and Football v Homophobia Youth Panel Education Officer Amy Allard-Dunbar!

Edited by Martin McCandlish

The Football v Homophobia Youth Panel Communications Officer Sam Clarke is joined by Education team member Ryan Harwood and youth panel coordinator Beatrice Thirkettle, for the second of our monthly youth panel discussions

This month they chatted all things Asexuality! 

Edited by Martin McCandlish

For this months episode, Beatrice and Angharad sit down with Chris Paouros, trustee and Kick it Out, about Kick it Out's 2019/2020 discrimination statistics. Chris also wears many other hats, including co-Chair of Proud Lilywhites, Spurs’ LGBT+ fan group, FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board member and more.

Edited by Martin McCandlish

The Football v Homophobia Youth Panel Communications Officer Sam Clarke is joined by the Education team, Amy Allard-Dunbar and Ryan Harwood, for the first of our monthly youth panel discussions 

This episode contains conversations on trans exclusion in sport, the Sky Sports sacking and discussions surrounding bisexuality for Bi Visibility Month  

Edited by Martin McCandlish

This month Beatrice and Angharad catch up with Anwar Uddin, ex-professional footballer and the first person of Bangladeshi origin to play professional football in England. Now Anwar is the campaign manager for Fans for Diversity and assistant manager at Aldershot Town FC

Anwar Uddin: @AnwarU01

Edited by Martin McCandlish

Beatrice and Angharad sit down with former England International, Olympian and current Aston Villa Women FC player Anita Asante to talk about her life, career and activism!

Anita Asante: @NicenNeetz

Edited by Martin McCandlish

This month Beatrice and Angharad talk to guests Amy Allard-Dunbar and Thierry Fotso about their experiences in football as black people and how racism has shaped their love/hate of the game. Amy talks from the perspective of a black bisexual woman and Thierry talks about his experience as a asylum seeker originally from Cameroon 

Amy can be found at @amyadunbar on Instagram 

Article we discuss: 

This week Beatrice and Angharad discuss the Football v Transphobia Week of Action and it's success despite covid-19. They are then joined by Naomi Reid from Charlton Invicta and Tash Oakes-Monger from Stonewall FC who talked about their experiences playing football and their reflections on the Week of Action. 

Edited by Martin McCandlish

This week Beatrice and Angharad sit down to chat with Natalie Washington about being a trans footballer, the FAs rules, Football v Transphobia Week of Action and much more! 

Edited by Martin McCandlish

This week Beatrice and Angharad chat about the Football v Homophobia Month of Action 2020 and go through The Football v Homophobia teams personal highlights! 

Last month was the campaigns first-ever awards evening were fantastic individuals and clubs were awarded for their amazing work for LGBTIQ+ equality in football. Beatrice and Angharad managed to grab a few people for mini-interviews, they heard from; Lou Englefield, Chris Paouros, Gary Ginaw and Natalie Washington 

How queer is the womens’ game? Exploration of queer spaces within sport and how the current situation is compared to how it is portrayed:

CW: Severe homophobia minute 37 

This week Angharad and Beatrice sit down to discuss homophobia, transphobia and racism in the women's game and the concept of oppression Olympics. The pair go a bit off-topic into rugby to chat about Israel Folau and his recent hiring by Catalans Dragons. They discuss the recent Owen Jones court case, homophobia at the Millwall game, The Football v Homophobia awards and a general Football v Homophobia catch up! 

Edited by Martin McCandlish

Beatrice sits down with Roya to discuss all things football, homophobia and the importance of the youth voice

Roya Medizadeh-Valoujerdy is Vice-Chair of the FA National Youth Council and can be found on twitter at @Roya_mehdizadeh

Edited by Martin McCandlish