Ipswich Town to mark support today for equality and inclusivity for LGTQ+ people within sport
Francine Flisher, who runs Town's LGBTQ+ supporters group tells us why this campaign is important
Last updated 28th Nov 2021
Ipswich Town FC will show their support for the Rainbow Laces campaign organised by LGBTQ+ rights group Stonewall, at the League One fixture against Crewe Alexandra today at Portman Road.
The Rainbow Laces campaign seeks to promote greater inclusivity and equality within sport for everyone, irrespective of their gender or sexuality. The theme of the campaign this year is "Lace Up and Speak Up", to encourage conversation in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Teams across England's football pyramid will show solidarity with the campaign during their upcoming home games.
Francine Flisher runs Rainbow Tractors, Ipswich Town FC's LGBTQ+ supporters group. The group was relaunched earlier this year and has been working with the club to ensure that their LGBTQ+ fans feel safe and can express themselves.
As part of the campaign, the game today will feature rainbow corner flags, substitution boards, on the matchday programmes and other branding on their social media accounts.
Francine explains why these measures are important: " At the moment there is a high percentage of people who think that sport, in general, is not a safe space for them. So it is important that football clubs do all they can to raise awareness and help them feel comfortable".
The club have also installed a permanent rainbow LGBTQ+ flag on display in the corner of the Sir Alf Ramsay flag. Francine who helped design the flag says, "Fans who see that can be assured that this is a place where they can be themselves and that this club is supportive.
"It also shows that Ipswich Town's support of the movement is not a token gesture."
So what can fans do to get involved with the campaign? Francine says, "Help us get the message out there. If there's something on social media, retweet it or share it. If you encounter someone is questioning why this movement is needed, don't ignore them. Explain to them and help educate people about why this is important".