It’s been a turbulent year for the LGBTQ+ community and their relationship with sports - particularly football.
Whilst there have been many things to celebrate, for example, Jake Daniels coming out, it wasn’t long before it seemed we had taken two steps backwards with the World Cup. Other notable incidents include the likes of a tweet sent from Iker Casillas' account but this was arguably outshined by the achievements of the queer women belonging to the England Women’s Team.
With this in mind, we asked Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ football fans, footballers and supporter club founders if they believe this was a progressive year for the community in football.
READ MORE: Experts urge people not to put Amazon Echo in bedrooms
Rishi Jain, Liverpool FC’s senior manager of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) told the ECHO : “I’d say we’ve most definitely moved forward when it comes to LGBT+ inclusion in sport. You’ve seen so much coverage of this important topic throughout the year, and conversations around the role that LGBT+ people are playing in football and all sports are commonplace.
“You’re also seeing more and more sportspeople coming out as allies and in support of their fellow professionals – that’s incredible progress compared to what’s taken place in the past. That being said, there’s no doubt there’s a long way to go for sports and wider society.
“The concerted demonstration of allyship from across the game for Jake Daniels and Josh Cavallo in the US, hopefully, shows that when someone does make that personal decision (to come out), they’ll be supported by those around them and the vast majority of the football industry, on and off the pitch.”
In May this year, a monumental moment happened when Blackpool’s Jake Daniels came out as gay. At the time, the 17-year-old forward’s bravery made him the UK’s only openly gay active male professional footballer. The last time a professional male footballer came out while in the midst of their career was more than 30 years ago in 1990 with Justin Fashanu.
With hindsight, Francis Wight, a member of Mersey Marauders FC, told the ECHO that Daniels' story not only was a way to progress but also “exposed how far we have to go.”
He said: “The astonishing bravery of Jake Daniels and incredible activism of Joe Lycett have brought LGBTQ+ representation in sport to the forefront of the public minds. Simultaneously, there is a backlash - as happens towards any progressive movement for change. This is why at the moment you have these two competing forces - one that believes sport should be for everyone, and is determined to transform representation in sport, and one that is struggling to accept it.”
Only six months after Daniels shared his truth with the world, the men’s 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar - a country which actively discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community. Under Qatari laws, LGBTQ+ people don't have equal rights: same-sex relationships are criminalised, and trans people are forced to undergo conversion therapy clinics sponsored by the government.
Many LGBTQ+ people suffer imprisonment and violence simply for being themselves, and in some cases, could even face the death penalty in the country. Throughout the month of the World Cup, there were countless reports of football fans being told to remove rainbow hats, flags and t-shirts.
A month prior to this, a tweet sent from f ormer Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas' account was dubbed “ill-timed” but Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ football fans.
The message, which was posted from the Spanish former footballer's account, read “I hope you respect me, I’m gay.” Many considered the content of the post to be sincere and Casillas initially received support on social media.
However, the post was later removed from the 41-year-old's feed and he has since shared an apparent explanation. The former Porto goalkeeper claimed his Twitter account was “hacked” , before going on to voice his support for the LGBTQ+ community .
Regardless, with the World Cup behind us, LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall believe FIFA need to “seize the moment” and offer the 2030 World Cup to 'states that uphold global human rights standards’. Whereas - besides the coveted football tournament - Paul Amann, founder of Kop Outs, claims we need to continue the vital work of “education and engagement”.
He said: “The vast majority of fans are decent, they may need to be empowered to act, to shut down vile chants and champion the rights of any facing discrimination. It will then be easier to then sanction the few neanderthals and make clear examples of them through bans and fines.”
One thing which has been astonishing for LGBTQ+ representation this year is the England Women’s football team. The Lionesses, many of whom are openly gay, made history by securing the first major tournament title for the country since 1966. However, Paul Amann believes it is hard to compare men's and women's football because the difference in attitude.
He said: “The macho and toxically masculine environment of male football just doesn't exist to the same degree in the women's game. This is partly a component of women's participation and fanhood, but also the non-segregated, and therefore less tribal stadium arrangements.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, Francis added: “The inclusivity in women's football is inspirational and can be seen as a great role model for the men's game. The men's game exists in a highly heteronormative and overtly masculine environment - reflective of historic societal attitudes towards men. The women's game does not have this burden and is, therefore, more open to a broader range of identities, and is more reflective of society in general.”
Receive our weekly LGBTQIA+ newsletter by signing up here .
READ NEXT:
Third person arrested over murder of Elle Edwards as two remain in custody
Encro hack hits heavy drug gangs rooted in Croxteth, Huyton and West Derby
Talented teenager bounced back from drink, drugs, tragedy and abuse
Man left 'lying in blood' after dog attacked by 'vicious creature'
