Hyde FC Football v Homophobia event a success

Congratulations to "Just a Ball Game?" and all involved in this Football v Homophobia event!

As League leaders Hyde FC return to action this weekend and play Droylsden in the Blue Square North on 25th FEB 2012 at 3pm, they will once again create a little bit of history when they officially recognise the match as a FOOTBALL v HOMOPHOBIA event, and as part of LGBT History Month.

LGBT campaign and activist group "Just a Ball Game?" will be match ball sponsors, the first time any LGBT organisation has been match ball sponsors of a semi-professional football match in the UK. The day of awareness-raising has been jointly arranged by the club and "Just a Ball Game?" and we urge everyone who enjoys football whether they are LGBT or straight to come along and support the Tigers in this local derby and join in with the days events.

A number of LGBT campaigners and local players from Village Manchester FC will also attend the game and show support for the semi-pro club whose players will come out onto the pitch before kick -off wearing both "Just a Ball Game?" and Football v Homophobia t-shirts which they will then hand out to the fans. The Football v Homophobia banner will be on display throughout the game. Flyers, stickers and badges will be handed out to fans to help raise awareness around anti-gay issues in the game.

Founding director of "Just a Ball Game?" Lindsay England stated: "We are grateful for the support that Hyde FC are giving to help challenge any anti-gay prejudice in football, and although we will not change a culture over-night; much progress is being made to educate, and this is testimony to the club's proactive planning and forward thinking."

Alan Duffy of the Justin Campaign added: "The Justin Campaign is delighted that Hyde FC are supporting Football v Homophobia. The involvement of clubs such as The Tigers is vital to the continuing growth of our initiative in particular and the fight against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia in football in general."
Alan Duffy, Director of Communications, The Justin Campaign.

Chris Morgan video message for Football v Homophobia

In this interview with Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan, Chris speaks of the importance of the Gay Games for his own sporting career and for LGBT athletes in general.

Chris Morgan's tribute to Justin Fashanu for Football v Homophobia

Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan has written a moving tribute to Justin Fashanu for this month's Football v Homophobia:

I remember seeing the newspapers during the week after Justin’s death and feeling sick to stomach. There were graphic accounts of his last movements and interviews with people who had met him, or spent time with him in his final hours.

The press hounded him throughout his career, drove him to suicide and then afterwards printed some of the cruellest, nastiest stories ever published in the UK newspapers. As an athlete myself I felt angry that Justin was never allowed to meet his true potential on the pitch.

At the time all this happened I was just coming to terms with my own sexuality and was taking my first steps towards a career in sport. I realised that I was faced with a choice of whether or not to be open about my sexuality in the brutal and testosterone driven sport of Powerlifting.

Keep reading HERE.

19 February 2012 / Football v Homophobia

A message from the Justin Campaign:

On February 19th 2010, The Justin Campaign launched “Football v Homophobia” – An international day opposing homophobia in football. The intention of this initiative is to provide an opportunity for individuals, communities and teams the world over to communicate their disapproval of homophobia in the game and celebrate its diverse following under the banner of Football v Homophobia. Last year, supporters of the initiative in the UK united with fans in North America, Canada, Spain and other countries for the first event.

The initiative is now about to enjoy its third year! Its growth and success is testament to all those who have supported and contributed to its development. The Justin Campaign very much hope that you enjoyed the day and we thank you for your support for the day this year. Football v Homophobia has been a great success thanks to you and it significantly impacts upon how LGBT people are perceived and treated in football. And remember you don’t have to be a football fan or a sports group to back the campaign! Impacting on homophobia in football will communicate a zero tolerance attitude to homophobia, in any shape or form, across the world.

Info HERE.

Amal Fashanu, Justin Fashanu's niece, on the continuing silence

From BBC News, in advance of the 30 January 2012 broadcast of "Britain's Gay Footballers" on BBC Three:


There are currently around 5,000 professional footballers in Britain, but none are openly gay. Amal Fashanu, niece of Justin Fashanu, asks why no gay player has followed in her uncle's boots in nearly 25 years.

My late uncle, Justin Fashanu remains the only professional footballer in Britain ever to come out publicly as gay.

Justin broke into football as a teenage prodigy at Norwich. In 1980 he won the BBC's goal of the season award for an incredible strike against Liverpool. I still feel a surge of family pride every time I watch it.

It's the casual celebration which always gets me. That was Justin. Effortlessly talented, effortlessly stylish, if a touch cocky.

But what I learned about Justin is that, sadly, "that goal" marked the high point of his career.

He was catapulted to fame, when Nottingham Forest paid a million pound-transfer fee to Norwich. But it was largely downhill from there.

Forest's manager, the famous Brian Clough - or in my family the infamous - took a disliking to Justin.

In his autobiography, Clough recounts the confrontation he had with Justin over rumours about frequenting gay clubs in Nottingham:

"'Where do you go if you want a loaf of bread?' I asked him. 'A baker's, I suppose.' 'Where do you go if you want a leg of lamb?' 'A butcher's.' 'So why do you keep going to that bloody poofs' club?'"

Those were the typical attitudes Justin faced in his profession, and very little had changed by the time he took the momentous decision to come out publicly a decade later in 1990.

These prejudices he had to endure saddened, rather than shocked, me. But what I did find surprising was the slow pace of change within football since my uncle's courageous step into the limelight.

I learned Justin was no angel, but he genuinely believed he was setting an example to other players facing discrimination. Sadly, it's an example no other gay player has felt able to follow in nearly 25 years.

Keep reading HERE.

22 October 2011 / Justin Fashanu Cup in Melbourne

Justin Fashanu Cup
Saturday, October 22 · 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Quarries Park- Soccer Pitch
Ramsden Street
Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia


Come support the Melbourne Rovers and Sydney Rangers.

The game is played to commemorate Justin Fashanu who was the first professional footballer to come out. There is no place in sport for Homophobia.

The Rovers and the Rangers have won the cup once each. One team will take the lead.

Justin Fashanu All-Stars win LGBT Champion League final

At the end of May, The Justin Fashanu All-Stars men's team were victorious in The FA-organised LGBT Champions League final, beating a strong London Titans side by a 4-3 margin.

The tournament was part of the UEFA Champions League festival, held at Hyde Park in London, in the run-up to the actual Champions League final on Saturday 29th May.

The finalists even had their picture taken alongside the Champions League trophy itself.

The London Lesbian Kickabouts won the women's trophy in a tournament which also saw The Justin Fashanu All-stars womens' side take part.

The event was superbly organised by The FA and highlighted how much more beautiful the beautiful game is when we are all included.

2 July 2011 / Justin Campaign Tournament in Nottingham, England

From GayUKNews:

Keen sportsmen and women from around the UK are being invited to put their skills to the test at a University of Nottingham tournament in support of a campaign to kick homophobia into touch both on and off the pitch.

Male and female football teams are being sought to compete in this year’s Justin Campaign Tournament Nottingham, which takes place on Saturday July 2 at the Sports Centre on University Park campus.

The competition, now in its second year, has been organised by the University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Questioning (LGBTQ) staff network in partnership with the Justin Campaign, a national initiative that works with the Football Association to show homophobia within football the red card and develop ways to make the sport a safer and more comfortable place for LGBT players and fans.

The campaign — which takes its name from Justin Fashanu, the world’s first openly gay professional footballer — uses football, education, art and events to challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that exist around gay and bisexual men and women, in both football and wider society.

[...]

For male and female teams — no mixed teams — who would like to take part, the cost is £4 per player and stall pitches are available free of charge. Anyone who is interested in submitting a team for the tournament or pitching a stall at the event should contact the LGBTQ Network by email at nottingham.events@thejustincampaign.com before June 1

Read in full HERE.

Video report on Justin Fashanu All-Stars

Jason Hall interviewed on the Justin Fashanu All-Stars.

Thanks to APNtv.