On February 19th 2010, The Justin Campaign are launching the Football v Homophobia initiative aimed at raising awareness of homophobia in amateur and professional football.
The campaign also aims to unite clubs, players and fans internationally by using the game of football to bring communities together in opposing hate and intolerance in the world’s favourite sport.
After listening to partners and supporters, The Justin Campaign believe that to tackle homophobia in football effectively a collective show of opposition needs to be made by all involved to get a message of zero tolerance across to the perpetrators of homophobic insults and abuse.
The campaign hopes to make Football v Homophobia on Feb 19th the one day out of each year where individuals, community groups & teams and clubs internationally can express their disapproval of homophobia in football by celebrating under the banner of Football v Homophobia.
The launch in the UK this year also coincides with LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) History Month, a full month of activity celebrating the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
You can express your support for the day and ensure that this initiative significantly changes how LGBT people are perceived and treated in football. You don’t have to be a football fan or sports group to back the campaign
How you can show your support for Football v Homophobia
Professional clubs
> Adopt the logo and display it with a message of support on the club’s website
> Host the logo on screens around the ground throughout match day
> Include the logo and information for fans and supporters in your match day programme
> Ensure signs condemning the use of homophobic language and abuse in your ground are highly visible
> Inform fans of the initiative by declaring it on loudspeaker at half time on match day
> Have designated members of staff distributing Football v Homophobia flyers on match day
Community football clubs
> Organise a match or even a tournament in your area and promote it using the Football v Homophobia logo
> Circulate this message & news of Football v Homophobia among other community teams in your area
> Include the Football v Homophobia logo in your newsletter, briefly explaining the initiative with a message of support
Non-football groups
> Upload the Football v Homophobia logo onto your website, briefly explaining the purpose of the initiative and add a message of support
> Include an article on Football v Homophobia in your organisation’s newsletter
> Provide The Justin Campaign with your organisation’s logo and details so that we can ensure they appear on our campaign materials
> Circulate this message and news of Football v Homophobia to other organisations, community groups, football teams and the media in your area
> Support local teams in arranging football matches, tournaments, skills events, quizzes or other themed events in your area to celebrate Football v Homophobia
For more information in Football vs Homophobia, please visit thejustincampaign.com
