Fixtures
- Aston Villa Vs. Brentford – Wed, Dec 4th 2024, 20:15
Aston Villa will once again demonstrate the club’s ongoing support for LGBTQ+ inclusion by championing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign at Wednesday’s Premier League game against Brentford.
Every top flight fixture between November 29 and December 5 is dedicated to celebrating the ongoing commitment to inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ people in football.
Rainbow armbands will be worn by captains, while rainbow flags, ball plinths, handshake boards, LED perimeter boards and more will highlight support and demonstrate that football is everyone’s game at Villa Park, in a variety of ways.
The campaign provides an opportunity to focus on the year-round equality and inclusion work that takes place, as clubs and the league use their platforms to encourage discussion and demonstrate allyship, with education continuing to be an important area of focus.
Aston Villa works closely with official LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Network Villa & Proud, across both the men’s and women’s games to help create a welcoming environment at our stadium and beyond.
Villa & Proud is one of largest networks in the country, with over 600 members, and their membership combines a unity of the LGBTQ+ community, including allies, with one core motto stressing ‘never underestimate the power of an ally’.
Villa & Proud was initially set up in June 2018 after the club identified the need to support the LGBTQ+ community, launching later that year in November.
Villa & Proud’s co-chair Sarah Breslin said: “The support from the club through the Rainbow Laces campaign is vital. It provides us with the opportunity to showcase our fantastic members and be the best form of visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.
“It also demonstrates that having the club as an ally and sharing their commitment to inclusion is important for us to continue to work and ensure football is a safe and welcoming environment for all.
“Both the Rainbow Laces campaign and Villa & Proud as an LGBTQ+ supporters’ network shows that there’s still a lot of work to do around LGBTQ+ inclusion within the game as a whole.
“Dedicated matchdays help us be the visibility our community needs and highlights there is a population of LGBTQ+ people within football, whether that’s fans, staff or players. We have as much right to love football as anyone.”
Find out more about the Rainbow Laces campaign here.
Official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group Villa & Proud is here for you…
Join an ever-growing community of members who provide a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to talk all things football, Villa, and positive change. An inclusive and diverse group, where everyone will feel welcome. Together, we can all #BeVillaProud!
If you or anyone else would like to find out more information about Villa & Proud or would like to join as a member, you can visit their social media channels (X, Instagram and Facebook) or website here www.villaandproud.co.uk.
