Day: February 5, 2014

The Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) has formed the GFSN Fangroup Coalition (GFSN FC) to act as an umbrella organisation for (LGB&T) football supporters’ clubs throughout the UK.

The initiative is supported by Kick It Out, Stonewall, and major UK football clubs. The Coalitionhas been formed during the Football v Homophobia Month of Action.

Founding members of GFSN FC are:

• Gay Gooners – the official LGBT fangroup of Arsenal FC.

• Proud Canaries – the official LGBT fangroup of Norwich City FC (with Stephen Fry as honorary president).

• Canal Street Blues – the official LGBT fangroup of Manchester City FC.

Tottenham Hotspur FC, Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC have all agreed to the formation of LGBT fangroups and are working closely with GFSN FC to launch them in the very near future.

If you want to see an LGBT fangroup at your club, CLICK HERE:

 

The aims of the coalition include:

• Providing guidance and advice to other LGBT fans interested in setting up a fangroup for their club and a support network for fangroups themselves.

• Creating knowledge-sharing resources and regular meetings.

• Advising football clubs on how to support LGBT fangroups.

Leviathen Hendricks, Coordinator of the new GFSN Fangroup Coalition, said: “The focus is often on the players and whether an out gay player would be welcome in the game, but it is important as well to ensure that fans are also welcomed by the football clubs to a safe and tolerant atmosphere. LGB&T fangroups can make a huge contribution to creating this atmosphere and we are delighted to be launching the GFSN Fangroup Coalition today.”

Arsenal Football Club’s Communications Director, Mark Gonnella, commented: “Through the Arsenal for Everyone initiative the Club strives to create an environment where everybody connected with our Club feels an equal sense of belonging. We were delighted to support the foundation of the Gay Gooners, an LGBT group of dedicated Arsenal fans, and drive an initiative where we could really make a difference with the Arsenal for Everyone scheme. It’s exciting to hear that it’s acted as a springboard for other gay supporters groups across football. By working together we can create the environment where football is a welcoming place for everyone.”

 

GayGooners founder, Stewart Selby, added: “We’ve seen our membership grow from eight at the time of our official launch at Emirates in February 2013 to over 30 in June when we marched in the London Community Pride parade behind the Arsenal banner as the first professional club to ever be in London Pride. Today we have 120 members with new applications coming in all the time.”