DISCRIMINATION AND FOOTBALL

Early day motion 1365, tabled 27 January 2011 by Caroline Lucas (Green). Signed by 23 members.

That this House notes that February is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month and welcomes the Justin Campaign which seeks to rid football of homophobia; congratulates the campaign on its great work in highlighting this issue, including the creation of Football v Homophobia, an annual international day opposing homophobia in football, which takes place on 19 February 2011; regrets that Justin Fashanu who died in 1998, and after whom the campaign is named, still remains the only openly gay professional footballer, despite the huge success of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in a wide variety of fields including politics, business and the media; recognises the need to make the national game accessible and welcoming to the LGBT community; is concerned by the endemic lack of action on this issue by the footballing authorities highlighted by FIFA's decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively, two countries with appalling records on LGBT rights; and calls on the Government to ensure that the national game, from grassroots level right up to the professional game, and from the boardroom to the terraces, is free from any kind of discrimination against the LGBT community.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.