Rugby players to wear anti-homophobia uniforms
Corey Hanson of Sheffield
Players from the Sheffield Eagles of the Rugby Football League in Britain will wear jerseys at a game in February that read: “Homophobia, Tackle It.” It’s part of the RFL’s campaign against homophobia that was kicked off with a reception in parliament.
“The Government is committed to stamping out homophobia wherever it occurs so I’m delighted to see the Rugby Football League and the Sheffield Eagles working hard to tackle the problem,” said Lynne Featherstone, the government Equalities Minister.
Gareth Thomas, whose coming out a year ago was a spur to his sport to address homophobia, was unable to attend the reception due to illness. But he praised the initiative:
“All sports have a significant role to play in challenging homophobia and I am delighted to show my support to Rugby League and the RFL which has made such strong commitments to taking important issues like this seriously and is leading the way in terms of inclusivity.”
Sheffield players Corey Hanson and Mitch Stringer were also hand, with Stringer telling Pink News that players wanted to go into local schools to talk about homophobia.
Thomas’ coming out has been an amazing thing for him and it has clearly opened the eyes of others in his sport. This action by the RFL is a model for other sports organizations to show they are really serious about addressing homophobia head-on.
outsports.com
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