Today, I joined Goaldiggers FC on their 12 mile walk from East London to Wembley in protest against the FA’s decision to ban trans women from competing in women’s football. Let trans women play! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

To our trans friends: We see you. We’re with you. Trans people belong – everywhere. Including in football. The events of the last few weeks’ have been a result of a catastrophic failure of leadership and courage from our politicians, media, and society as a whole.

Shout out to @lincolncityfc.bsky.social for showing how you respond to comments questioning why we need @footballvhomophobia.com and Rainbow Ball initiatives.

84% of people who took part in our survey said that a stronger campaign for LGBTQ+ inclusion in football was likely to improve their experience of the game. We need unapologetic, strong campaigns. That's how we change the game.

81% of LGBTQ+ people who took part in our research said they liked football. But 74% of people had experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching football. This is what LGBTQ+ football fans are having to endure.

93.3% of LGBTQ+ people who took part in our survey said stronger enforcement of punishment for homophobia was likely or extremely likely to improve their experience of football. The current state of affairs isn't good enough. www.outandout.football/p/the-true-e...

NEW: The vast majority of LGBTQ+ people responding to an @outandout.football survey want homophobic abuse in football to be tackled more seriously. OaOF’s Adam Haworth (@haworth.bsky.social) says fan groups and campaigns like #FvH2025 have “impact… we need more of it. But it’s not enough.” #LGBTQ

74.4% of people who took part in an Out and Out Football survey said they had experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching football. Just 23.3% said they went on to reported it. www.outandout.football/p/the-true-e...

Why is homophobic abuse commonplace in football? It's complicated. www.outandout.football/p/why-is-hom...

As David Coote says, “there’s a lot to be done throughout football and more widely in society with regard to discrimination." When there are still more front-page 'exclusives' about shame and fear than positive LGBTQ stories in the game, sections of the media should consider the part they play too.

Hope David Coote gets all the support he needs. At the same time, the way the media deals with this sort of story has got to change. Is it any wonder we have so few out gay football players when this story is presented alongside an image of a man crying and the word "shame" in the headline?

You might not know it from looking at the news, but The FA's latest stats are out. They show allegations of discrimination relating to sexual orientation in grassroots football are up 19.6%. This is alarming. @footballvhomophobia.com is rightly calling for more education. 1/2

2034 will now see all the same arguments as with Qatar multiplied by a million Only two elements should matter The infrastructure required will need migrant labour, which will perpetuate abuses The criminalisation of homosexuality excludes some fans www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: The 2034 men’s World Cup will be played in Saudi Arabia. To the fury of campaigners, FIFA only graded the country’s human rights as a medium risk. Here are the off-field issues many have concerns about: nyti.ms/3Bdzpvd

FairSquare today joins 20 organisations from around the world in committing to hold accountable Saudi authorities, FIFA, national Football Associations, FIFA sponsors and companies involved in the World Cup, for violations and abuses in connection with the 2034 World Cup fairsq.org/joint-statem...

Saudi Arabia's selection as host of the 2034 World Cup is saddening but not surprising. Being gay in Saudi Arabia is punishable by death by stoning. That should be disqualifying. But FIFA doesn't care. We must make them care so they can't host tournaments in states that murder LGBTQ+ people. 1/2

Our survey into how LGBTQ+ people experience football closes this Sunday ❗ Take part now to avoid missing out on making football more inclusive. You don't have to be a football fan, you just have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. www.outandout.football/survey

Our survey into how LGBTQ+ people experience football closes this Sunday ❗ Take part now to avoid missing out on making football more inclusive. You don't have to be a football fan, you just have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. www.outandout.football/survey

LGBTQ+ people deserve to be included in football. Agree? Add your name here: www.outandout.football/add-your-name/

“Queer supporters are not your EDI photo op. Queer footballers are not a novelty, hypothetical concept. We can do so much better.” 🏳️‍🌈⚽️🏳️‍⚧️ My thoughts on Rainbow Laces and why I think we need a new, stronger campaign 👇 transwrites.world/the-rainbow-...

UPDATE 🏳️‍⚧️⚽️🏳️‍⚧️ Still time to sign >>> www.footballvhomophobia.com/let_them_play/

It's hard to add much to the Rainbow Laces debate that hasn't already been said. But being an LGBTQ+ fan can be exhausting. You can wonder whether you belong, whether it's worth it. This is just a post to say that you do belong. If you want to enjoy football, you should be able to. It's not hard.

My piece from Ipswich on the Rainbow Laces controversy and how LGBTQ+ fans are feeling. www.nytimes.com/athletic/596...

After years of working on #RainbowLaces at Sky Sports, one footballer's story really stuck with me - an academy player who was a Muslim and wished he could be cured of being gay. He quit football and never turned pro. Thanks @restalltimes.bsky.social for letting me share on @timessport.bsky.social

Liz Ward and Ian King have already written some thoughtful things on what we’ve seen over the last week regarding Rainbow Laces and the Premier League but I’m going to throw in some thoughts because, I obviously speak for the entire queer community…

Rainbow Laces is solely about making people feel welcome at football, in an industry that lags way behind society in LGBTQ+ representation That’s it. A simple message of decency And no one is forcing anyone to play in a wealthy league that has this value t.co/a8gC9WZgJa

As part of FvH’s Football v Transphobia initiative, we are asking women and non-binary people involved in #womensfootball, and their allies, to co-sign a community statement asking The FA to continue to include trans women. You can view and sign here 👉 www.footballvhomophobia.com/let_them_play/

This year's Rainbow Laces campaign feels even more half-hearted than the last. And even last year, @haworth.bsky.social wrote about how the cracks were beginning to show:

Things we know: - Men's football is not inclusive for LGBTQ+ people Things we do not know enough about: - How experiences shape perception - What would help fix the problem Play your part in making things better by taking this quick survey: https://www.outandout.football/survey/

Done our survey yet? If not, why not? This is how we make football more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people.

Congratulations to Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis on their pregnancy. We stand in solidarity with them as they face disgusting hate on social media. One day, this will not happen. One day.

Super excited to share that I’ve been elected as Trans Members Officer of Pride in Football! If you’re trans and support a UK-based professional football club, get in touch. I’m here to represent you. 🏳️‍⚧️⚽️🏳️‍⚧️

Hey to all the new followers 👋 A brief intro: we exist to make men's football more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people through content, research, and campaigns. There is no reason LGBTQ+ people shouldn't enjoy the men's game, but evidence shows people feel it isn't for them. Together, we can change that.

Hey to all the new followers 👋 A brief intro: we exist to make men's football more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people through content, research, and campaigns. There is no reason LGBTQ+ people shouldn't enjoy the men's game, but evidence shows people feel it isn't for them. Together, we can change that.

Football (⚽) fans: I made a starter pack of football journalists and publications. Find it here, and let me know in the replies who else should be on the list. go.bsky.app/HtMEC4r

Men's football has an LGBTQ+ problem. But we can only fix it if we shine a light on it. That's why today I'm launching a survey for LGBTQ+ people to share their experiences of football. By taking part, you'll be part of making the game more inclusive. www.outandout.football/survey/