Pride in Sport campaign launches tonight

Friday 17 August 2018

This year's Channel Island Pride celebrations will see a new campaign launched focusing on Pride in Sport.

Local sports teams, personalities and events will be joining together to help tackle the problem of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport, all while showing support for LGBTQ+ equality and diversity by wearing rainbow laces and rainbow sweatbands.

The event is being sponsored by both the Sports Commission and EY, and is being launched this evening at Footes Lane, with various sports representatives set to be in attendance.

Liberate - the local LBGTQ+ charity who are hosting the event - are hoping Pride 2018 will be just as successful as the first, which took place two years ago in Guernsey and saw over 2,500 people turn out. It is taking place on 8 September with a theme of 'Stronger Together'.

Pictured: the Liberate awards in 2016.

Liberate's Vice Chairperson Ellie Jones said with the biggest sport personalities being role models for so many people, it was important there was better equality across the area.

"Having the island sports teams and events ‘come out’ in a visible show of support for Pride sends a strong message of inclusion to and for everyone," she said.

"We still live in a world where there isn’t one openly gay professional footballer, due to the perceived homophobia in sport. It’s hard to explain to people how much events like Pride in Sport can help people become more comfortable in being themselves in all areas of their lives. For an LGBTQ+ person, knowing that if they come out, that they will be supported by their team and their supporters, has an immeasurable impact on someone’s mental health and wellbeing."

Alun Williams, the Coordinator of the Be Active Forum, The Daily Mile in Guernsey, and a prominent local sportsman and coach added: "Guernsey loves sport and activity and the community has a great tradition of encouraging sport for all sectors of the community.

"In the days surrounding Pride we have a packed calendar including Guernsey Rugby club in their first home match of the season, the Island Games qualifying Triathlon race, the golf inter insular (in Jersey), the final Intertrust Track and Field Challenge, the MIND 10k race, sand racing at Vazon, a full FNB Priaulx football programme and various events with Try-a-Tri.

"We’d love to see anyone involved in sport over the weekend to show their support of such a worthwhile cause by wearing Rainbow laces."

If your sports team or event would like to join Pride in Sport please get in touch with Liberate via hello@liberate.gg.

Share pictures of you wearing your 'rainbow' with pride for Channel Islands Pride week with @EY_CareersCI and @ChannelIslandsPride using the hashtags #StrongerTogether and #PrideinSport.