Gareth Thomas at launch of French national charter against homophobia in sport

FGG member FSGL is part of the working group on this project. Read our translation of the charter HERE.

From French regional daily La Dépêche du Midi (our translation):

Gareth Thomas, patron of the Charter against homophobia in sport
DISCRIMINATION. Rama Yade presented the Charter yesterday in Albi [soutwestern France]. The Welsh rugby player, in his heart a man of southwestern France, says he is proud to support this cause.

It is to Albi, a land of tolerance, that Rama Yade came to officially present last night the Charter against homophobia in sport. Alongside the Junior Minister for Sport, a living legend of Welsh rugby, Gareth Thomas. On the playing field of the Albi Stadium, the player who has represented his country on the Welsh national team more often than any, had only recently raised the European Rugby League cup [on Saturday] alongside his fellow members of the Welsh team. "To come back to France, a country I love, and to win this match [here in Albi], delights me, of course. If this 23rd of October is a great day, it's also because of the signature of this Charter. It's the beginning of a change for sport in FRance", explained Gareth Thomas.

The former Stade Toulousain fullback broke his silence, and a taboo, in December 2009, when he came out. Rama Yade, who chose Thomas as the first patron of this Charter ("Amélie Mauresmo and decathlete Romain Barras, champion of Europe, will be at our sides in thie fight", declared the Minister), praised Thomas's courage.

"When I came out, it was with the goal of using my international rugby career as a means to advance this cause in other countries and other sports. Sport is the last bastion where this kind of problem must be fought." Yesterday in Albi, Rugby Leagues was the first sports federation to sign the text. League president Nicolas Larrat is aware of what is at stake. "ON a daily basis we have to repeat to old and young these principles, without which people cannot live together." For the Minister, "Sport must never accept any compromise with violence or discrimination. It cannot remain unaware of the ideal on which it is founded."