Aston Villa proud to support Rainbow Laces

Aston Villa Football Club is proud to Lace Up and Speak Up in support of Rainbow Laces.

The club celebrates LGBTQ+ inclusion all year round and will once again demonstrate focused support across both our men’s and women’s teams between November 25 to December 12.

The Premier League and its clubs are committed to supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion and making it clear that football is for everyone.

Last week, head coach Steven Gerrard spoke about the importance of the campaign in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Crystal Palace.

This year there is a more purposeful and actionable approach, to Lace Up and Speak Up.

The club hope to create a broader, louder and more impactful movement for LGBTQ+ inclusion in football.

We know that wearing Rainbow Laces alone won’t change the world, but we wholeheartedly support ongoing consultation, visibility and conversations to ensure Villa Park is a welcoming place for our LGBTQ+ staff and fans.

Wednesday’s Premier League encounter against Manchester City at Villa Park will be our official Rainbow Laces fixture.

There will be lots of exciting activities taking place in our family fun zone, including a rainbow themed balloon arch and open-air photo booth, exclusive Rainbow Laces themed sticker giveaways and activities for young Villans.

Fans can show their support for the campaign and have the chance of being featured on the big screens inside Villa Park by tweeting a Rainbow Laces themed photo of themselves ahead of kick off, along with the hashtag #BeVillaProud.

Aston Villa members and season ticket holders can also redeem limited edition rainbow laces wristbands and lanyards via the Pride Rewards loyalty platform (Products will be available for collection at Villa Park from the Pride Rewards collection point between 6.15pm - 8.15pm on matchday).

Players will also be wearing our Part of the Pride warm-up tops, which can be purchased in store and online. Funds raised from sales of the Pride range are helping to connect the LGBTQ+ community through football.

Aston Villa Foundation’s mental health and wellbeing programme, TeamWork, alongside Birmingham Mind and Villa & Proud, will be hosting an inclusive afternoon of 7-a-side football.

We welcome the local LGBTQ+ community to join us for a kickabout or simply join us for a chat and a coffee and connect with others. Please register your interest via teamwork@avfc.co.uk

Earlier this year, to mark our return to Birmingham Pride, Aston Villa joined official LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Network, Villa & Proud, and adopted the Progress Pride flag.

The flag incorporates the existing Pride rainbow colours but also black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes to represent marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community, including those from ethnically diverse communities, the trans community, and those living with HIV/AIDS. The yellow triangle and purple circle represent the intersex community.

Through our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiative, All In, we will continue to celebrate the diversity of our Club and take action against discrimination.

We encourage all fans to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse, language and chanting.

Supporters can report discreetly by texting REPORT to 60060, followed by the key word: HPH

For more information on reporting discrimination at Villa Park, please visit Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | AVFC

Villa & Proud will host their first AGM on December 16 to celebrate their third birthday. Founding member Sam Timms took part in our Rainbow Laces Q&A below:

Q1. Why do we need the Rainbow Laces campaign?

To simply put it, to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ voices and to reduce LGBTQ+ discrimination (homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia) in sport. The Premier League is the most watched football league, it’s influence can have huge consequences in the world, and we need to ensure this is a safe and welcoming environment for people within the LGBTQ+ community, whether they are supporters, players, coaches or club staff. Everyone deserves to enjoy football as their authentic selves without fear of discrimination or being made to feel unwelcome. 

Q2. The theme of RL this season is Lace Up, Speak Up. Why is it important to speak up about LGBTQ+ inclusion in football?

There are many reasons to speak up about LGBTQ+ inclusion in football. Holding open conversations in support of LGBTQ+ topics encourages a willingness to understand the challenges that face LGBTQ+ people who feel unsafe in football environments. It increases visibility and acceptance within the football community and a sense of welcoming and belonging for those within the LGBTQ+ community. 43% of LGBTQ+ people think public sporting events aren’t a welcoming space for them. (YouGov for Stonewall, 2017) - this can be reduced by having those conversations and making sure sporting venues are inclusive and accessible for all. 

Q3. Why do you need your ‘own’ supporters’ group?

Villa & Proud is not an exclusive group. We are made up of members, over 450 in fact, from the LGBTQ+ community and allies. We have a motto that backs this mentality “We are not LGBTQ+ exclusive, we are everyone inclusive”. It’s important to understand intersectionality, for those that have more than one characteristic subject to discrimination. To truly be a group for all, we need to challenge against all forms of discrimination. Villa & Proud allows people to connect and network with people of similar life experiences. It’s a safe place for us to talk to each other and most of all, feel like we belong. Many friendships have been born from Villa & Proud and we have built great relationships not only with other Villa fan groups and individuals, but also with other club’s LGBTQ+ groups. 

Q4. Captain Tyrone Mings sent Villa & Proud a message of support for this year’s Birmingham Pride. What impact does allyship have on inclusion in football and society?

Wow, we were blown away! Tyrone stepped up and gave a huge sense of belonging to all that could see his message on Twitter. He didn't need to do it, but he did. Allyship should never be underestimated: do not underestimate the power you have as an ally! By having people like Tyrone visually and publicly supporting us, not only does it raise awareness for the campaign, but it demonstrates that the club is behind us. The club is our biggest ally and if the players, who are role models to thousands of people, are vocal in their support for us and against hate, others will follow. It’s also uplifting for members of the LGBTQ+ community when we have figureheads supporting us.

Q5. How can allies support making Villa Park a more inclusive environment?

An ally is someone who supports someone else's differences, different to their own, that are subject to discrimination and protected by law. The more allies we have the better the matchday experience will be for everyone regardless of the result on the pitch. To be an ally you need a level of investment, you must be actively calling out against discrimination, understand the challenges that face marginalised communities. Sometimes the most effective simple level of allyship is to be friends, be kind, and welcome everyone to our amazing home of Villa Park.

Q6. You’ve worked alongside the Foundation’s TeamWork programme. What would be the main message you would like to share around the links between the LGBTQ+ community and mental health & wellbeing?

There’s a strong link between the two. LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by poor mental health, isolation, homelessness and suicide. The work the Foundation have done with Mental Health & Wellbeing and with Villa & Proud has been very encouraging. We would urge anyone to get involved in TeamWork because it’s valuable for everyone. At Villa & Proud we continually work to bring people together, through online socials and in-person meet ups to encourage people to work towards positive mental health. It’s so easy to feel isolated and alone when you don’t think anyone feels or has experienced similar feelings, we want people to know they are not alone, and we are welcoming, friendly and always inclusive!

For more information on Villa & Proud, follow @VillaAndProud on Twitter and visit www.villaandproud.co.uk