Sheffield Wednesday’s dedicated LGBTQ+ support group, Rainbow Owls shared the overwhelming positive response they received from their participation in the Rainbow Laces campaign.
The Rainbow Laces campaign was created by LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall with the aim of making sport safer and more inclusive for all. They encourage people to wear rainbow laces to show support and spread awareness.
Chris Ledger, founder of Rainbow Owls, said: “We find that safe space for people who might not always feel comfortable going to a football match.”
Sheffield Wednesday is just one of the many clubs that are supporting the campaign, with Sheffield United’s LGBTQ+ support group, Rainbow Blades and Sheffield and Hallamshire FA also partcipating.
Chris spoke about how Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United are “ahead of the curve” with supporting groups like Rainbow Owls and Rainbow Blades. He said sometimes these groups can fade into the background because of the extent of work they require, but the visibility of both groups is really positive for Sheffield.
As well as wearing rainbow laces, Rainbow Owls have organised events such as a watch party of the recent Lionesses vs USA match on Saturday, a podcast episode consisting of a panel discussion on tackling homophobia in football and pre-match workshops with school children for the campaign.
Rainbow Owls watch party Source: Chris Ledger
Chris said that these community outreach programmes “foster an accepting environment for future generations.”
Sam Elliot-Olechnowicz, campaigns officer at Rainbow Owls said: “Continuing to support this campaign is essential to driving cultural change, challenging discrimination, and showing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, both within the club and beyond.”
While there is still progress to be made with inclusivity in football, Chris emphasised the need to focus on the positive impact of the campaign.
In a Premier League match against Nottingham Forrest earlier this month, Ipswich Town manager, Sam Morsy, did not wear a rainbow armband because of “religious reasons” according to the BBC. However, many clubs came together to show their support for the campaign with a number of people choosing to wear an armband.
