Anfield stadium will be given a new look this weekend as Liverpool FC continue with their support of an LGBTQ+ campaign.
The stadium will be revamped with rainbow-themed LED advertising, pin badges, ball plinths, and handshake and substitute boards will also be in place in recognition of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Campaign.
The initiative helps to raise awareness of issues faced by LGBTQ+ fans and aims to tackle hatred and bigotry within the sport. This year’s campaign focuses on “inclusion has no off-season” and encourages everyone to play their part by holding conversations about what we can all do to support LGBTQ+ communities and make "sport everyone’s game".
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To get the conversation started and as a sign of “allyship and unity”, team captain, Jordan Henderson, will “proudly” wear the rainbow armband during the Reds' match against Leeds United at Anfield on Saturday, October 29. On Sunday, October 30, Liverpool FC women's captain, Niamh Fahey, will also do the same when they play away against Manchester City W.F.C.
LFC Foundation will also be hosting a series of Rainbow Laces-themed workshops across its programmes, as well as making Rainbow Laces available for all young players to wear in foundation fixtures. LFC’s 2022 Pride Range includes a variety of new items and is available to purchase in-store and online. A donation of the proceeds from sales of the LFC Pride Range will be used to support local LGBTQ+ charities.
Rishi Jain, LFC senior manager for equality, diversity and inclusion, said: “We’re proud to back Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign as part of our wider Red Together activity to incorporate equality, diversity and inclusion into everything the club does. I am really excited about our collaboration with Homotopia this year and hope that our supporters take the opportunity to enjoy the artwork that celebrates the role the LGBT+ community plays within our fanbase.
"It’s important that we all continue to be positive allies and show our support for the LGBT+ community both on and off the pitch. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across all that we do."
As part of its ongoing Red Together campaign and activities, the club has teamed up with Homotopia – a local LGBTQ+ arts and social justice organisation – to create a bespoke piece of digital artwork that represents the club’s LGBTQ+ fanbase. The artwork will be featured on a billboard situated on the side of The Albert pub in front of the Kop at Anfield and will be available to view until the end of October. Eagle-eyed fans may have already noticed the artwork while making their way into Anfield over the course of the last week.
Olivia Graham, marketing and development manager at Homotopia, said: “We created this art to help LGBT+ LFC fans to see themselves, their full selves, as being part of this club. Our club. To show the joy, fight and like everything Liverpool, the spirit of being a red. The art also sends a message to LGBT+ people in this city who have never thought football is for them. Football is for everyone. Liverpool is a club for all and we’re proud to have worked with LFC to share these important messages.”
Paul Amann, the founder of Kop Outs, Liverpool’s LGBTQ fan group, added: “We're delighted that once again Liverpool are supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign. This year's commissioning of Homotopia to produce artwork representing Kop Outs members is groundbreaking. To see ourselves portrayed on a billboard next to the Kop is humbling, but hopefully a message to all fans that like them, we are as passionate and dedicated to our club as any other fan. We're looking forward to the Leeds match and are working with our partners to share some of the laces out among fans ahead of the game.”
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