Ospreys Rugby and Ospreys in the Community will once again join Stonewall’s award-winning Rainbow Laces campaign this weekend.
This year’s campaign from Stonewall, the UK’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, is challenging fans and athletes to be ‘active allies’ and to play their part in ensuring LGBT people feel included in sport.
We want to ensure that the Liberty Stadium, and rugby as a sport, is an inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability or sexuality and the two organisations will jointly showcase our backing for Rainbow Laces at the Guinness PRO14 game aginst Zebre (30th November).
Players and staff at the Ospreys and OitC have been invited to wear the famous rainbow laces on Friday to show their support. We will also be visibly backing the campaign across our social media channels in the lead up to the match as well as on our big screens in bowl pre match to underline the strong message.
This year’s Rainbow Laces campaign is running from Saturday 17th November until Friday 7th December.
The list of sports take part in this year’s campaign has grown exponentially, and now includes the British Olympic Association (Team GB), British Judo, English and Wales Cricket Board, English Football League, England Netball, England Rugby, England Rounders, the Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, the Football Association Women’s Super League and Championship, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, Premier League, Premiership Rugby, Professional Darts Corporation, Rounders England, Scottish Athletics, Scottish Professional Football League, Tyrells Premier 15s Women’s England Rugby UK Athletics, Welsh Athletics, Welsh Football Premier Leagues, Welsh Regional Rugby teams and Welsh Rugby Union.
The Rainbow Laces campaign is made possible by TeamPride, a consortium of 10 organisations committed to making sport everyone’s game. TeamPride members are adidas, Aon, Asos, Aviva, Barclays, eBay, Manchester United, Premier League, Sky Sports and Visa.
Andrew Millward, Managing Director Ospreys Rugby, commented on the campaign:
“We remain absolutely committed to ensuring that the Liberty Stadium is a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. We are proud to have a diverse workforce and support base, and want to send a strong message that whatever your sexuality, gender, age or ability, you are part of the team.
“We are proud to support a campaign that is encouraging everybody to think about their behaviour and the environment we create at the Ospreys.”
Kirsty Clarke, Stonewall’s Director of Sport, said:
“We’re proud to have the support of the Ospreys for our Rainbow Laces campaign. It’s great to see organisations like the Ospreys standing up as allies to LGBT people in sport and beyond. Their commitment to lacing up shows what an appetite there is for positive change across the sporting world.”
For more information about Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Campaign, visit: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/rainbowlaces
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