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Liberate is asking football venues across Guernsey to show support for an inclusive World Cup in Qatar by flying the Pride flag.
The initiative has been inspired by the OneLove campaign, which will see players from 10 European countries wear rainbow armbands during World Cup matches.
That campaign has been designed with the aim of promoting inclusion and equality at the World Cup and beyond.
This World Cup has been mired in controversy since Qatar was first awarded the hosting rights twelve years ago. The criticism has been most prominently because same sex activity is a criminal offence there.
Pictured (l-r): Ellie Jones and Alun Williams raising the flags at the KGV yesterday.
CEO of the local LGBTQ+ charity Liberate Ellie Jones said this is a concern for all people, across the world.
“Hosting the World Cup in a country that doesn’t believe LGBTQ+ people should have the same rights as heterosexual people is hugely problematic.
"Thousands of players, support teams, media and fans will be visiting the country over the next month, many of which will be LGBTQ+. It’s a distressing reality to think those individuals will need to hide their true selves or face the possibility of a prison sentence or in extreme cases, if they are Muslim and local to Qatar, death by stoning.
“It’s important we show our solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s put LGBTQ+ discrimination on a global stage and invigorated the conversation about inclusion and equality, not just in sport but around the world.”
The local campaign is being led by Guernsey's Health Improvement Commission and Liberate. The two organisations kicked it off yesterday by hoisting the flag at three of Guernsey’s biggest sporting venues – Footes Lane, Beau Sejour and the KGV.
Alun Williams the Education and Be Active Lead at the Health Improvement Commission said he was pleased to be involved.
“We want everyone to feel welcome and accepted in our local sporting community, especially when discrimination is happening elsewhere," he said.
"The World Cup is a great opportunity to celebrate the power of sport and activity. However we want all major sporting events to be fully inclusive for all sectors of the community. That’s why we are supporting the OneLove Campaign led by England captain Harry Kane and encouraging our community to fly flags to show that we stand against all forms of discrimination.”
Any venues who would like to show their support can get in touch with ellie@liberate.gg to arrange to have a Pride flag to display at their site.
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