Football v Homophobia

It's party time! The Football v Homophobia campaign is in the mood for dancing because Awards Night is here once again - and this year, we're all going to Glasgow!This is the sixth staging of the only event of its kind, recognising outstanding achievement in the field of LGBTQ+-inclusive football - from the professional clubs setting the standard, to the fan groups that are bringing folks back to the game, to the FvH Heroes going above and beyond… their moment of acclaim is here, and we just can't wait to celebrate.To preview the Awards in this special episode, we're joined by two guests who know the Scottish game inside out, and not least the city's LGBTQ+ football scene - it's Amanda Aitken and Megan Thomas from The Sideline podcast.Since it started in May 2024, Amanda and Megan's pod has quickly become a must-listen, mixing big interviews with the likes of Tessel Middag and Elaine C. Smith, alongside truly nourishing natters with grassroots champions like Glasgow Pride Community Football, Cathkin Blazes, Glasgow Saints, to name but a few.If you're hitting play before Awards Night on Friday 7 March, consider this your essential preview (and if you haven't yet bought a ticket, hurry! Link below)... if you're late to this episode, fear not, as there's still loads to enjoy, as The Sideline duo spill the beans on podcasting, their own club Camp Hellcats FC, their dream guests, and much more.Links..The Sideline Podcast - https://podfollow.com/1749278705 The Sideline on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_thesidelinepodcast/ Buy FvH Awards Night tickets! - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/football-v-homophobia-awards-night-2025-tickets-1216203149359 FvH Awards 2025 shortlists - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/football-v-homophobia-awards-2025-shortlists-announced/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials.We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can find us on Bluesky, Facebook and Threads too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US 

In the history of the Rainbow Laces campaign, LGBTQ supporters groups have been pivotal - think of Proud Hornets' huge rainbow mosaic at Watford, fans getting to chat with first-team players, and clubs and community trusts sharing the stories of members. However, in the 2024 activation, three groups in the Premier League - Crystal Palace's Proud and Palace, Manchester United's Rainbow Devils and Ipswich's Rainbow Tractors - found themselves pitched into controversies due to decisions made by players that blew up into big stories. Be it an armband or an anthem jacket, whether abstaining or altering, the impact of these situations are felt deeply by LGBTQ fans who suddenly find themselves having to handle media enquiries and negotiate with club officials under similar scrutiny. On a special Podcast episode, Proud and Palace co-chair Emma Franklin-Wright and group member Randy Boose share their reflections from a turbulent week and a half; Emma's equivalent at Rainbow Devils, Eric Najib - who's also first-team manager at Stonewall FC - talks us through what happened at Manchester United; and we're also joined by Rishi Madlani, the co-chair of Pride in Football and a committee member of Leicester City's Foxes Pride. As well as looking back, the panel also looks ahead to what a future Rainbow Laces activation might look like in light of this year's challenges, and how the annual FvH Month of Action in February 2025 can help shift the focus onto where it needs to be. Links Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ Read Randy's blog - https://substack.com/@randy831/p-152601330  Proud and Palace on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/proudandpalace Rainbow Devils - https://rainbowdevils.com/ Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; @footballvhomophobia.com on Bluesky; @FvHtweets on X; and you can like us on Facebook too. Contact us via DM or email jon@footballvhomophobia.com  Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com   Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

It's a huge weekend in the Women's Super League and Championship, with bumper crowds expected on a round of fixtures all being played at the clubs' main stadiums - from Goodison Park to the Amex, from St James' Park to The Valley, a lot of eyes will be on women's football. And they'll be seeing a lot of rainbows, as it's a Rainbow Laces activation too. So how important is the LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports campaign in the women's game? Joining us to explore this is Billericay Town forward Valentine Pursey, who recently went public about a report she made regarding homophobic abuse on the pitch; and Huddersfield Town midfielder and TikToker Caz Simone, who won the LGBTQ Award at the Football Black List earlier this year. They chat with host Jon Holmes of FvH and Sports Media LGBT+ about their experiences within football and on social media; what it's like to be a player with short hair, which is somewhat rare in the women's game and also the subject of an awareness campaign created by an Under-12 girls team; and what they believe the underlying message should be for Rainbow Laces 2024. Links Valentine Pursey on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/valentine.pursey/ Caz Simone on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@yourfavouritegemini666 Rainbow Laces info - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/rainbow-laces-2024-womens-football-lgbtq-sports-campaign-barclays-wsl-super-league-championship Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; @fvhfeed on Bluesky; and you can like us on Facebook too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Collin Martin has hit two USL milestones this season - 150 games and more than 10,000 minutes played. In his own words, he's a "steady" midfield performer... yet the path he took was very uncertain back in 2018 when he came out publicly as gay. In this episode, Collin joins host Jon Holmes for a chat at a time when he and his North Carolina FC teammates are bidding to seal a spot in the USL Championship playoffs. Beyond that topic, however, this is a wide-ranging and timeless conversation in which he looks back at his soccer journey so far, discusses his off-field cultural passions, and explains how he's making an impact by sharing his story creatively and purposefully. Collin also talks about his relationship with boyfriend Zach, his hopes for the FIFA 2026 World Cup and Pride Houses at the tournament, and the importance of taking a clear stand against LGBTQ+-phobia. Links Collin Martin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cm7md Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; @FvHtweets on X; and you can like us on Facebook too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com - email jon@footballvhomophobia.com  Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

With an impressive Australia Cup run, top spot in the final league table and state silverware to boot, it's been a season to remember for South Melbourne FC. Winger Andy Brennan has been a key man in the club's successful campaign, chipping in with several goals. Now 31, he came out publicly as gay in 2019 and is thriving in the second tier of soccer Down Under. Andy joins podcast host Jon Holmes for a chat about his fine form, his off-field advocacy work, and what he's been learning about masculinity and sexuality in sports through his own experiences and his psychology studies. He also offers his thoughts on how to best tackle homophobic language in sports, and the effect of his visibility and that of other out gay men who are playing pro and semi-pro football, of which there are very few anywhere in the world. Andy has insights into self-esteem and shame, which are subjects rarely touched upon in men's football culture. Listen in for an important conversation. Links Andy Brennan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andybrennan36/  “Masterclass” goal for SMFC! - https://www.instagram.com/southmelbournefc/reel/C8_w6SoyqAe/  Rainbow Owls event in Sheffield (Thu 3 Oct) - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rainbowowls/1358123  Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; @FvHtweets on X; and you can like us on Facebook too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com - email jon@footballvhomophobia.com  Produced by Sports Media LGBT+ for FvH Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

A host nation for a major men's football tournament that doesn't have anti-gay laws? Welcome to Germany for the UEFA European Championship! For LGBTQ+ fans and allies, this tournament is a refreshing change compared to the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar. It will also feel different from the pan-continental staging of the previous Euros, held while the pandemic was ongoing. So what should supporters expect at Euro 2024? Joining host Jon Holmes from FvH for a chat is Alice Drouin, one of the organisers of Pride House Berlin. The venue will be the community place to hang out in the German capital, not only to watch live football but to take part in talks and activities. Alice gives us the lowdown on the project, and also puts these Euros into a wider queer context - the national mood, UEFA's role, and whether the month-long football festival will be a Pride party as well. After that, the episode focuses on England and Scotland. Three Lions Pride co-founder Joe White will be out in Germany for the duration - they tell us about the LGBTQ+ fans group's plans, how they will provide visibility and whether Gareth Southgate has got a squad that can match or even better the run to the Euro 2020 final. Football writer Andrew Henderson, the creator of Pride of the Terraces, tells us what success would look like for the Scots, and explains why the media's role is critical for helping the football to blend in with Pride Month, not stand apart. This episode is produced by Sports Media LGBT+ for FvH. Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to the website for info, or contact us! Thank you to the Football Writers' Association for supporting our annual Pride episode of the podcast. Links Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ Pride House Berlin - https://berlin.lsvd.de/neuigkeiten/pride-house-berlin-euro-2024/ Three Lions Pride - https://x.com/3Lionspride  Pride of the Terraces - https://prideoftheterraces.com/  Football Writers' Association - https://footballwriters.co.uk/ Come to Football Pride 2024 in London on 28 June! - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/football-pride-2024-tickets-894377395867  Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials using the hashtags #FvH2024 and #LGBTQfootball. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

A project in Germany called “Sports Free” has suggested gay and bi professional footballers in the men's game should consider coming out as a group. The date of May 17 - which is IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - has been put forward as a window of opportunity for this. But what would go through the mind of a gay player who is considering taking this step? Does nothing but happiness and freedom lie on the other side - or is it a different kind of pressure? Zander Murray took that step himself, individually, back in September 2002, making history in Scottish football.  He now delivers workshops that provide guidance to young people on how to create inclusive spaces in the game. These sessions with TIE Scotland are having a big impact in Scotland and Zander hopes to take this work to more clubs, academies and schools. On a special episode of the FvH Podcast, he talks about the challenges he overcame when coming out, and gives his take on the interest around possible comings out on May 17, including by the British media. He also explains why he's so passionate about education and describes his “dream” for a future in which footballers everywhere get the info they need to empathise with any teammates who might be gay or bi, or to be their authentic selves if they are LGBTQ+ themselves. This episode is hosted by FvH media and comms lead Jon Holmes, produced by Sports Media LGBT+. Activate FvH in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com/fvt for info, or contact us! We value your support. Links Follow Zander on social media - https://linktr.ee/zandermurray  About the TIE workshops - https://tie.scot/news/ties-anti-homophobia-football-project-to-feature-in-rylan-clark-documentary/ About the football media interest around May 17 - https://www.outsports.com/2024/5/13/24093764/gay-footballers-coming-out-group-may-17-sports-free-bundesliga-media-hype/ Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials using the hashtag #FvH2024 and #IDAHOBIT2024. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

There haven't been many stories shared by transgender footballers in the UK, which makes Blair Hamilton and Natalie Washington two trailblazers in the sport. Blair is a goalkeeper for Saltdean United Women. She plays in the fifth tier of the women's game in England, while Natalie is a level below at tier six. On this special episode of the FvH Podcast in support of the annual Week of Action for the Football v Transphobia campaign, Blair speaks candidly about her experiences in the game - the supportive camaraderie she's found at Saltdean, the moments of discrimination she's overcome in the sport, and her determination to help educate others through her academic research. Together with Natalie, who is the campaign lead of FvT, they also discuss new statistics released by Kick It Out that show more people are coming forward to report anti-trans abuse than ever before. This episode is hosted by FvH media and comms lead Jon Holmes, produced by Sports Media LGBT+. Activate FvT in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com/fvt for info, or contact us. We value your support. Links Football v Transphobia info and resources - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/fvt/  The focus of #FvT2024 - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/football-v-transphobia-week-of-action-2024-lgbtq-trans-nonbinary  Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials using the hashtag #FvT2024. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

'Rylan: Football, Homophobia and Me' is the latest TV documentary to explore the experience of being LGBTQ+ in the game. Produced by Buzz 16 for TNT Sports, it has a different feel to similar films, given a very personal touch by its hugely likeable presenter - a big West Ham supporter and football fan in general - while focusing on people within the game who are out as gay and bi and who have shared their stories. On this episode of the FvH Podcast, Jon Holmes is joined by two of those people - Thetford Town player-manager Matt Morton, and Sevenoaks Town centre-back Jahmal Howlett-Mundle. Matt is no stranger to appearing on screen since first publicly sharing his story back in the summer of 2020. As a self-described 'alpha male' who bucks all the stereotypes, he's also given great thought to the many factors that make visibility like his so rare in men's football. Jahmal shared the news that he is bisexual a year after Matt, in July 2021, and he has also been in demand from all parts of the media - he's thought to be the only player to have progressed through a Premier League club's Academy system to then later come out publicly. In a chat with host Jon Holmes held in the annual Football v Homophobia Month of Action and what is also LGBT+ History Month, Matt and Jahmal (aka Jam) talk about what it was like to be part of the Rylan documentary, give their reviews of the finished film, and discuss a lot of connected issues such as LGBTQ+ men's mental health, education, and experiences of both discrimination and inclusion at grassroots level. Matt also talks about another doc that's just been released in Germany called 'The Last Taboo' which will hopefully hit UK streaming platforms later in the year. Links Football v Homophobia - ⁠https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/⁠ Sports Media LGBT+ - ⁠https://sportsmedialgbt.com/⁠ Matt and Jahmal's profiles on the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective (see links to their socials) - ⁠https://lgbtqfootball.com/who-are-we/⁠  Watch 'Rylan: Football, Homophobia and Me' on Discovery+ (UK) - https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/video/rylan-football-homophobia-me/rylan-football-homophobia-me Jon's blog about the doc for Out and Out Football - https://www.outandout.football/p/rylans-new-documentary-will-fire-you-up-for-football-v-homophobias-month-of-action/ Trailer on Buzz 16's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/buzz16_buzz16-documentary-lgbtq-activity-7163139078765408259-334W Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram and Threads; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | ⁠https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden⁠  Music promoted by ⁠https://www.free-stock-music.com⁠  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported ⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

It can feel like the toughest decision you'll ever make - but being true to yourself, your teammates, coaches and colleagues is the winning feeling that every LGBTQ+ person in football deserves. On this episode of the FvH Podcast, Jon Holmes is joined by two referees for a conversation about the upsides of coming out and how to look out for others when they might be feeling down. Dan McFarlane is a Category 1 ref taking charge of games in the SPFL. He's been out within Scottish football officiating for several years and says authenticity has been an essential part of his rise up the leagues. Mikey Connor will be familiar to viewers of BBC reality dating show 'I Kissed A Boy' - but he's also a Liverpool FA referee at grassroots level. Like Dan, he's a member of the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective, a network group run by FvH that's bringing together those from the community who are working in the game. In a chat with host Jon Holmes to coincide with World Mental Health Day and Coming Out Day on October 10 and 11, the two men in the middle share their stories, offer advice to other gay and bi guys who might be finding it hard to break out of the closet, and assess the challenges that are still being faced in men's football. It's a refreshing and open conversation that can help listeners to unlock their potential, on and off the pitch - and it might just encourage you to pursue officiating as well. Links Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ Mikey and Dan's profiles on the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective (see links to their socials) - https://lgbtqfootball.com/who-are-we/  Dan on referee recruitment (Press & Journal) - https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/6186347/referees-encourage-new-faces-to-pick-up-the-whistle/  Thank you for listening to the FvH Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter / X; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

In Manchester on Pride weekend, the Football v Homophobia campaign revived a big get-together for the LGBTQ+ community in the game - an event that had previously been held online during the pandemic summer of 2020. This time, however, it was in person and fully fabulous! At a symposium at Man Met University, queer football culture was celebrated, from the inclusive vibes of the Women's World Cup to encouraging signs in the men's game, from the ‘monster' TRUK United FC story to a decade of LGBTQ+ fan groups. We also put on a screening of short film ‘Realness With A Twist' which tells the tale of a voguing-mad player who's torn between the dressing room and the dancefloor; and we explored why Manchester is a magical place to make family through football. There was also a Pride party at the uber-cool Motley bar and we marched with a Football Pride banner in the parade on the Saturday before enjoying the rest of the weekend on Canal Street. The event was one of the highlights of the FvH calendar, and joining Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes to recap all the news and share their own stories are guests Sabah Ahmad and Adam Haworth. Sabah spoke on the closing panel about setting up Lez Be United FC, a club for women and non-binary people that plays in Manchester's inclusive AF League. On the pod, she explains how growing up, she could never have dreamed of the kind of connection she has with football now; why local drag bar Cruz 101 is the perfect sponsor; and what she took away from Football Pride. At the start of 2023, Adam created Out and Out Football, a digital platform to share queer perspectives on the game. He talks about what he enjoyed as an attendee, and his outlook on LGBTQ inclusion as a Burnley fan. He also offers some suggestions about what might be good to introduce if/when (!) Football Pride comes back in 2024… Thank you to everyone who took part - our speakers, attendees, sponsors, organisers and anyone who amplified the message. Some links… Lez Be United FC on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lezbeunited_fc/ Watch Cruz 101's Barb Just Barb try out for the team in a special Pride video! - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs9BEbHoXiJ/ Out & Out Football - https://www.outandout.football/ Adam on Twitter - https://twitter.com/aahaworth  Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Lovers of the game are gearing up to go Down Under for the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup and with the tournament fast approaching, that's where our LGBTQ+ focus lies for a special Pride Month episode. For the third consecutive year, the podcast is celebrating the Football Writers' Association's support for Sports Media LGBT+, with both organisations keen to send out the message that the football media industry welcomes everyone. Joining host Jon Holmes for this chat are four fellow journalists - together they'll waltz you through a queer history of the WWC, selecting highs and lows, heroes and villains from past tournaments, before looking ahead to Australia and New Zealand 2023. On the pod... ESPN's Sophie Lawson, on the sometimes problematic but often wholesome storytelling that accompanies a WWC - follow @lawson_sv Júlia Belas, from The Guardian's Moving the Goalposts newsletter, on Brazil's trinity of trailblazers - follow @july_bt ABC's Samantha Lewis on the impact made by Michelle Heyman and how the Matildas can make their many fans truly proud - follow @battledinosaur Also with us from Sydney, freelancer and FvH Award nominee Poletti on the marvel that is Megan Rapinoe and how coverage of women's football in Oz is changing for the better - follow @ItsPoletti The FWA welcomes industry professionals and students as members, while Sports Media LGBT+ can help you on inclusion, networking and content creation. Reach out for advice and connections! Thank you for listening to the Football v Homophobia Podcast - if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Happy Pride! Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

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 Sophie Nicolaou on Twitter - https://twitter.com/soccerdiva Finbarr Toesland on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FinbarrToesland Read Finn's report: 'Are media organisations adequately protecting LGBTQ journalists from harassment and abuse?' - https://www.bcu.ac.uk/media/research/sir-lenny-henry-centre-for-media-diversity/research IDAHOBIT - https://may17.org Mental Health Awareness Week - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week Thank you for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Music Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

"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. 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 Beth Fisher on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethFisherSport Lou Englefield on Twitter - https://twitter.com/LouEnglefield Lesbian Visibility Week - https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/  ‘Why shouldn't two opponents kiss each other after a game?' (Sophie Downey, The Guardian, 26 April 2023) - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/26/why-shouldnt-two-opponents-kiss-each-other-anna-tamminen-rosa-herreros Just Like Us research - https://www.justlikeus.org/blog/2023/04/24/lesbian-visibility-week-research/  Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US 

We're back with a new episode to mark the annual Week of Action for the Football v Transphobia campaign, and helping to sprinkle some stardust on proceedings is one of TV's favourite soap actors! Ash Palmisciano is a familiar face on the small screen having played the part of Matty Barton in Emmerdale since 2018 - it's a groundbreaking role as Matty is the first trans character in the ITV soap's history. What you might not know, however, is that Ash is a big football fan and he's getting his boots back on for another TRUK United FC matchnight at Dulwich Hamlet FC in London on Friday 31 March, which is Trans Day of Visibility. Last year, history was made when TRUK United fielded the first 11-a-side team of all trans women in a match in the UK; and Ash is going to be part of history too, as he'll be playing in what's thought to be Europe's first team of all trans men. To look ahead to the game, and to discuss his passion for international football and why FvT resonates with him, Ash is a guest alongside campaign lead Natalie Washington, in conversation with podcast host Jon Holmes of Sports Media LGBT+. Show your support! Please activate the campaign in your football space and share on social media with hashtags #FvH2023, #NoFootballWithoutTheT and #TransFootyAlly. Links Follow Ash on Instagram at @ash.p.x Watch Ash's TedX talk What happened at the FvT Week of Action launch event (Sports Media LGBT+) TRUK United FC at Dulwich Hamlet FC, Friday 31 March 2023, from 6pm - info and tickets link Follow Natalie on Twitter at @Transsomething Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

It's the annual Month of Action for Football v Homophobia - clubs, leagues and county FAs are stepping up to be campaign champions, while people at all levels of the game are finding ways to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion. On this episode, the winner of the 2022 FvH Hero Award - Cheshunt FC Women's Hayley Wood-Thompson - joins Sports Media LGBT+'s Jon Holmes to discuss the stand-out contribution that led to her success. Hayley, a P.E. teacher from Hertfordshire, channelled the power within her own personal story to come out via an assembly, making a significant impact in not just the school she teaches at but more widely as well. The video she made combined LGBT+ History Month with football and was shown to pupils as far away as New Zealand. Hayley's conversation with Jon is full of good advice for teachers and coaches who are either LGBTQ+ themselves or strong allies, and there are plenty of football anecdotes in there too, from cheering on her beloved Watford at Wembley to scoring against Arsenal in the FA Cup! Also in this episode, we recap the launch of the 2023 FvH Month of Action which was held at Leicester City FC. Two of the event speakers - Ramsgate player Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and Wolves' ED&I manager Gurpri Bains - pass on some useful tips that others can draw upon to make a difference in February and beyond. Show your support! Activate the campaign in your football space - just head to footballvhomophobia.com for info, or contact the FvH team. And join us for the 2023 FvH Awards at the National Football Museum in Manchester on February 24! Links Miss Thompson PE on Twitter at @HWT_PE - https://twitter.com/HWT_PE Watch Hayley's original video - https://www.nonchalantmagazine.com/teacher-comes-for-lgbtq-history-month/ Her acceptance speech - https://www.hertsschoolsfa.co.uk/single-post/winner-fvh-hero-hayley-wood-thompson Her op-ed on the Lionesses' Euros win - https://inews.co.uk/opinion/womens-football-explode-euro-2022-generation-girls-talented-1768042 What happened at the Month of Action launch event (Sports Media LGBT+) - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/courage-is-celebrated-as-football-v-homophobia-month-of-action-2023-launches FvH Awards Night tickets - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/football-v-homophobia-awards-night-tickets-510646215577 Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

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". The Football v Homophobia campaign is determined to help dismantle this discriminatory chant. Helping host Jon Holmes of Sports Media LGBT+ to kick it into touch on this episode of the podcast are: Jake Williamson, who has previously shared his experiences of being a Chelsea fan, wanting to be a professional footballer, and coming out as gay Jim Dolan, the founder and former co-chair of West Ham's LGBTQ+ and allies fan group, Pride of Irons and Delwyn ‘Sheep' Derrick, the founder of FC Bellevue in Wrexham whose outstanding allyship in Welsh football has been widely recognised Jake, Jim and Sheep discuss how this chant and other instances of homophobic language have affected them and their friends in football down the years, and offer their thoughts on how to tackle the problem. There's advice for the authorities and for fans - whether LGBTQ+ or allies - who want to play their part in making the atmosphere at our stadiums more inclusive. The first section of this episode does contain some homophobic words and phrases used in context as examples of discriminatory language. Additional notes - Episode 20 of the FvH Podcast from August 2021 with Tracy Brown (Chelsea Pride) and Paul Amann (Kop Outs!); 'What is the 'Chelsea rent boy' chant and why is it homophobic?' by Will Stroude for PinkNews (Jan 2023); and 'Chelsea rent boys' chant has no place in modern football - homophobia must be treated like racism' by Emma Smith for Goal.com (Feb 2022) We need YOU! The nominations window for the fourth annual FvH Awards is open until 20 January 2023, with 11 categories in which to show your appreciation for the clubs, fan groups, county FAs and 'heroes' helping to make the game more LGBTQ+ friendly. Jake, Jim and 'Sheep' discuss why it's so important to recognise and celebrate our communities - including, of course, our allies - and they select some of their own personal standouts from 2022. Don't forget to nominate! Awards Night will be at the National Football Museum in Manchester on February 24, 2023. February is also the Month of Action! Get involved! Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter; @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on Facebook too. Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Hosted by Football v Homophobia, Sports Media LGBT+ and the Football Writers' Association again marked their partnership in Pride Month with a panel discussion event held on Zoom and streamed live on the FvH Facebook page. Titled 'Behind the Headline', the event looked at the background to the story of Jake Daniels, the teenage Blackpool striker who made headlines around the world in May when he publicly discussed his experience of growing up gay in men's professional football. Recorded on June 13th 2022, with a panel consisting of: Jon Holmes, Sports Media LGBT+ Network Lead Carrie Brown, Chair of the FWA Tim Thornton, Sky Sports News Senior Reporter, who worked extensively with Jake, his family and agent, and Blackpool FC to help Jake get his message across Erin Williams, Sport Engagement and Progammes Manager at Stonewall, who led the charity's behind-the-scenes support for the player and his club Jay Lemonius, Head of ED&I at Brentford FC and captain of Stonewall FC, who has broad experience of working with various media outlets on LGBTQ+ in football content Nancy Frostick, EFL writer with The Athletic, who authored a column on issues relating to Daniels' story and whose portfolio includes articles on being trans in football, and the importance of LGBT+ role models in the women's game For more info on the two organisations, visit... https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ http://footballwriters.co.uk/

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. Zack Leader on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zleader23 Zack Leader on Twitter - https://twitter.com/zleader12 Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com

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! Shura on Twitter - https://twitter.com/shura Shura on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shura/ Shura on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/weareshura Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ Lesbian Visibility Week - https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/

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 Studs - https://studscollective.com/ Studs on Insta - https://www.instagram.com/__studs/ Becky Taylor-Gill on Twitter - https://twitter.com/beckytaylorgill Huns FC on Insta - https://www.instagram.com/hunsfc/ Flo Lloyd-Hughes on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FloydTweet Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/

Natalie Washington speaks to Arthur Webber & Paula Griffin to get the supporters perspective of the game.

Natalie Washington chats with Lucy Clark & Abi Cornell about their careers and the upcoming match between TRUK Utd and Dulwich Hamlet.

For this special World AIDS Day episode, Youth Panel Comms Officer Sam Clarke chats with John Brown of Canal Street Blues about AIDS activism, football and much more

Another month, another Youth Panel Roundtable. This month focuses on the upcoming Hate Crime Awareness Week with host Sam joined by Youth Panel Chair Cam, Events Officer Holly and Communications Officer Ben.

For Bi Visibility Day, Sam is joined by sports commentators Michael McCann (@thisismccann) & Hannah from Blackburn Rovers LGBT+ Supporters Group (@proudrovers). They discuss being visible in the sporting world, facing biphobia and the dangers of bi-erasure.

On this months edition of the FvH Podcast, Sam is joined by Tracy from Chelsea Pride & Paul from Kop Outs to discuss homophobic chanting at football matches. They go into specific detail on the recent incident at Carrow Road & the 'rent boys' chant, the origins of the chant, debunking the excuses and the affects homophobic chanting has on the community. Edited by Sam Clarke.

The Youth Panel Roundtable is back (kinda)! FvH Youth Panel Communications Office Sam is joined by Events Officer Danyal Khan in a South Asian Heritage Month special. Danyal talks about about growing up in football, coming out to his Dad and his career as a journalist. Edited by Sam Clarke

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. Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Edited by Sam Clarke

On this episode, FvH Youth Panel Communications Officer Sam is joined by James & Anna of the Rainbow Blades, Sheffield United's LGBT+ Supporters Group. As the group launch their Proud Allies project, they talk about; Earliest memories of Bramall Lane, the clubs work in supporting them & what it means to be an Ally.

Hosted by Football v Homophobia, Sports Media LGBT+ & the Football Writers Association celebrated their relationship with a panel highlighting LGBTQI+ voices in football media. Recorded on June 14th 2021, with a panel consisting of: Jon Holmes of Sky Sports, & Sports Media LGBT+ Network Lead Nicky Bandini, The Guardian, ESPN, talkSPORT Adam Crafton, The Athletic Matt Dickinson, The Times Lianne Sanderson, Sky Sports, BBC Sport, talkSPORT https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ http://footballwriters.co.uk/

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. Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Edited by Martin McCandlish

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/ Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Edited by Martin McCandlish

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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) Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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. Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

For #FvH2021 Month of Action, we are celebrating with a series of collab podcasts with a few friends from within our community and outside of it! First up, we are joined by Ollie & Martyn from 'A Breath of Fresh Tea' as we chat about everything from Stonewall FC & the growth of LGBTQI+ fan groups to Drag Race & TikTok. Go check out 'A Breath of Fresh Tea'; @FreshTeaPodcast on Twitter and 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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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: https://gal-dem.com/we-shouldnt-forget-that-racism-in-football-is-a-problem-at-home-as-well-as-away/ https://gal-dem.com/mesut-ozil-black-jack-love-island-identity-change-popularity/ https://gal-dem.com/monkey-noises-in-womens-football-are-a-reminder-that-racism-goes-beyond-raheem-sterling/ https://gal-dem.com/dark-side-football-world-cup/ https://gal-dem.com/like-support-englands-world-cup-efforts-hate-nationalism/ https://gal-dem.com/eniola-alukos-triumph-shines-glaring-light-racism-within-british-football/ https://www.dw.com/en/bundesliga-teams-take-a-knee-to-support-black-lives-matter-movement/a-53719904 Media treatment of black players: https://www.joe.ie/sport/raheem-sterling-speaks-abuse-chelsea-game-651027 https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2832646-raheem-sterling-says-racism-in-football-is-nowhere-near-being-sorted https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/07/raheem-sterling-the-only-disease-right-now-is-the-racism-that-we-are-fighting https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/06/watford-andre-gray-george-floyd-stereotyped-and-judged-by-police Edited by Martin McCandlish Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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: https://www.facebook.com/events/2588276998163026 FA Wales video: https://www.facebook.com/FAWales/videos/3108259092520541/ Football v Homophobia Scotland Strategy: https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/6003/football-v-homophobia-scotland-the-strategypdf.pdf Edited by Martin McCandlish Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Music from filmmusic.io "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)