Chelsea FC launch their first ever LGBT supporter fan group.
Earlier this year members of the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN) visited the club to talk about how they could support their LGBT fans. Ed Connell, chair of the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN), and Gerard Green who is one of the GFSN’s founding members, visited Stamford Bridge.
Ed Connell, said: “We are delighted to see Chelsea FC join the growing list of football clubs that recognise the need to make their club a more welcoming environment for their LGBT fans. It is particularly important to me as a Chelsea fan to see the football club embrace the diverse nature of their fan base.”
GFSN was first established in 1989, as a social network for LGBT football fans across the country. Since then it has grown and expanded into hosting its own national league, aiming to take the lead in tackling homophobia in football.
The GFSN league is the world’s only national league that is aimed at the LGBT community and is open to all regardless of age, race, nationality, religion, gender or sexuality.
It currently hosts teams from across the UK including:
♦ Birmingham
♦ Bournemouth
♦ Bristol
♦ Cardiff
♦ Edinburgh
♦ Glasgow
♦ Leicester
♦ Liverpool
♦ London
♦ Manchester
♦ Newcastle
♦ Nottingham
♦ Trowbridge
♦ Wolverhampton
♦ Yorkshire
More teams join the league every season, and GFSN also has affiliated teams from the Republic of Ireland.
GFSN works closely with partner organisations including the FA and Kick it Out, to encourage a safe and positive environment in which LGBT people are able to watch and play football. Their mission is to promote the support and participation of LGBT people in football, establishing a social network for LGBT football supporters and encouraging the formation of LGBT teams for players of all abilities.
The new Chelsea fan group is a big step forward for GFSN who campaign against homophobia and transphobia in football, with a view to creating a safe environment for all, whilst gaining respect and recognition for LGBT involvement in football.
Working alongside Chelsea FC, Ed Connell will help in forming the group by offering his support and assistance to ensure its growth.
Ed Connell, said: “I am immensely proud to see this happen. I have been campaigning against homophobia in football for the best part of 12 years and spent the first seven or eight feeling very frustrated trying to get people to realise there was an issue so for me to see these things happening is fantastic.”
To find out more or to join the group email: chelsea@gfsn.org.uk or contact the GFSN on Twitter @ChelseaGFSN
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