News

Rangers Football Club is delighted to be showing its support for lesbian, gay, bi and trans players and fans across the country by promoting Stonewall Scotland’s Rainbow Laces campaign at its Ladbrokes Premiership match against Hearts on Sunday 1 December 2019.  

Rainbow Laces is Stonewall Scotland’s campaign to change attitudes in sport and make sure that LGBT people are welcomed and accepted at all levels of the game. Sadly, many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people have a poor experience in sport and have experienced discrimination because of who they are.

According to Stonewall research, four in ten LGBT people (43 per cent) think public sporting events aren’t welcoming for them.

Colin Macfarlane, Director of Stonewall Scotland, said: “At a time when society feels increasingly divided, sport has this unique ability to bring people together from all walks of life. That’s why it’s so inspiring to see more and more sports come together each year to support Rainbow Laces.

“If you love sport and care about equality, then join us and take responsibility for making LGBT people feel welcome. The more players, fans, clubs and organisations that stand up for equality, the sooner we reach a place where all LGBT people, from fans to players, are accepted without exception.”

Rangers Football Club’s support follows the launch of its ground-breaking diversity and inclusion campaign ‘Everyone Anyone’. In collaboration with the Rangers Charity Foundation, the club works to champion diversity, encourage tolerance and understanding, and promote positive behaviour as part of an ambitious new strategy.

In the days leading up to the Rainbow Laces fixture, Rangers FC midfielder Glen Kamara joined pupils from across Glasgow to celebrate the launch of a new partnership between the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign.

The Rangers Charity Foundation and TIE will now work together to deliver an updated ‘Diversity Wins’ programme, which offers LGBT inclusive education to both primary and secondary schools in Glasgow.

The Foundation launched ‘Diversity Wins’ in 2018 with the support of Glasgow City Council’s Employment and Skills Partnership team, following the Government announcement that all Scotland schools are to formally recognise the issues faced by the LGBT+ community as part of the curriculum.

In season 2018/19 ‘Diversity Wins’ was delivered out of the Ibrox Community Hub to 700 Primary 6/7 pupils. Workshops are designed to break down barriers between those from different backgrounds, promote anti-bullying and motivate pupils to share the positive messages they have learned with families and friends.

Rangers Managing Director Stewart Robertson commented: “Rangers Football Club is proud to support Stonewall Scotland’s Rainbow Laces campaign and their campaign messages echo those from our own Everyone Anyone initiative.

“Football can be a force for good and we are a club open to all. We were delighted to lead the way this summer by introducing our ground-breaking diversity and inclusion campaign and we will continue to champion equality on and off the pitch.

“The Ibrox Pride Rangers Supporters Club also has our full backing and we will continue to work with them and other organisations who share our values.”

Carole Anderson, Co-Chair of Ibrox Pride, the official LGBT+ fans group of Rangers, said, “We are deeply proud to have been part of the ground-breaking Rangers FC ‘Everyone Anyone’ campaign, and believe that our club is leading the way in many respects of being inclusive for all.

“Ibrox Pride is delighted that Rangers is once again marking the Rainbow Laces campaign at their home game with Hearts on 1st December. Supporting the campaign and talking about equality in football helps us to make football everyone’s game.”

You can help make sport everyone’s game. Find out more at www.stonewall.org.uk/rainbowlaces.