The Premier League and its clubs - including West Ham United - are celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion at all fixtures between 29 November and 5 December.
During this period, the league and clubs will showcase the work they carry out year-round to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in everything they do. This includes a range of activity and content with players, managers and fans, as well as highlighting community and education initiatives designed to encourage discussion and promote allyship with LGBTQ+ communities.
These two match rounds align with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which has played an important role in driving conversations around LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport since 2013.
Captains will wear rainbow-coloured armbands at upcoming fixtures, including West Ham’s clashes at home to Arsenal (Saturday 30 November) and away at Leicester City (Tuesday 3 December), with Rainbow Laces branding also widely visible within stadiums, on pitch flags, ball plinths, handshake boards and substitute boards.
Fans are being reminded that everybody has a role to play in the fight against discrimination. The league and clubs will not tolerate any form of discriminatory abuse, including the use of homophobic, transphobic and biphobic language and chants.
Measures and sanctions are in place to ensure anybody found guilty of discriminatory abuse - whether it occurs online or within grounds - faces punishment, including stadium bans.
The league provides specific training for matchday stewards to help them identify and respond to discriminatory abuse, and assist in gathering evidence to ban perpetrators.
Fans who experience or witness discrimination while at a Premier League match should contact the nearest steward or police officer, or report it by using the relevant club’s confidential text service, which can be found HERE. This also includes information on how people can report abuse they see online.
West Ham United has a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse or anti-social behaviour in any form. To report an incident or a concern on matchday please notify the nearest steward or Supporter Liaison Officer, or use our SMS reporting service by texting ‘SUPPORT’ and your message to 83121.
Text messages are treated in the strictest confidence, and, for our staff, it is better to monitor the situation as it is happening and to be able to take action at the time of it occurring.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “We have worked closely with our clubs for many years to create inclusive environments, ensuring equality and diversity is embedded across everything we do.
“This includes making football a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community and we are determined to continue the progress made in this important area. We all have a role to play in promoting inclusion and demonstrating there is no place for discrimination of any kind in football.”
The Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard (PLEDIS) is mandatory for all Premier League clubs and plays a key role in creating inclusive environments across all areas of their organisation. This includes providing staff training and building a culture in which LGBTQ+ people feel welcome and can thrive. There are currently 27 clubs engaged with PLEDIS, with 18 working towards the Advanced level.
Free education resources focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion are available to more than 19,000 schools engaged in the Premier League Primary Stars programme across England and Wales. This includes the ‘Rainbow Laces - Stand in someone else’s shoes’ resource, which gives students the opportunity to talk about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and beyond.
