WELSH rugby legend Gareth Thomas has lent his support to a campaign calling for the removal of homosexual prejudice in sport.
The gay former British Lion was guest speaker at the launch of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month in Twickenham last night.
This year the annual event is focusing on the sporting world, with the lead-up to the London Olympics in 2012 in mind.
Organiser Tony Fenwick said he hoped Thomas’ participation as a patron of the event would offer other sportsmen and women the chance to “come out.”
Earlier this year the 100-cap former Wales full-back said that any sportsman who came out was a step in the right direction.
“We still have very few openly gay sport stars,” Mr Fenwick said.
“We don’t have one gay (professional) footballer in Britain who is out and that is because there still remains some homophobia within sport which affects spectators and participants.
“The one thing that really strikes me about sport is the word fairness.
“We expect fairness on the playing field and should expect fairness off the field as well.”
He added: “Gareth has been a huge supporter and a tremendous advocate of that message.
“Our hope is that people like him can help us remove the discrimination which still exists in sport.”
A full day and evening of interactive workshops, including best practice of LGBT participation in school and higher education sport, and an exhibition area took place at the English home of rugby.
England’s four gay or gay-friendly rugby clubs – Kings Cross Steelers, Village Spartans, Bristol Bisons and Newcastle Ravens – also attended.
Sue Sanders, co-chair of the organisers, said: “Rugby union has made great strides to tackle homophobia, and we are thrilled to be in such an iconic venue as Twickenham Stadium, launching the focus on sport for LGBT History Month.”
Thomas said: “It’s great to see the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games reaching out to all communities and making sure that London 2012 is a Games for everyone, in which every community feels included.
“I hope that everyone buys and wears their pin badge with pride and helps us achieve greater inclusion in sport,” he added.
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