Campaign to tackle homophobia in sport

A new campaign against homophobia in Scottish sport has been launched as part of international Football vs Homophobia Week.

Out for Sport is being run by the Equality Network as part of the biggest research to date on homophobia and transphobia in Scottish sport, which includes a nationwide survey.

The results of the research will form a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government and national sports bodies in attempts to stamp out prejudice, and open the game up by encouraging greater participation among those from LGBT backgrounds.

Scott Cuthbertson, community development coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “For too long, homophobia and transphobia have been allowed to plague Scottish sport, with prejudice and discrimination too often left unchallenged. This will be Scotland’s biggest research to date on homophobia and transphobia in sport.

“With all eyes on Scottish sport in the lead up to the Olympics and Glasgow Commonwealth games, now is the right time to ensure sport is fully inclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”

The Equality Network will team up with LEAP Sports Scotland, a national organisation set up last year to support LGBT sporting groups, with the Out for Sport initiative welcomed by chair Hugh Torrance.

Torrance said: “LGBT people report to us that homophobic and transphobic attitudes, and institutional discrimi- nation, are the biggest barriers to their inclusion in sports.

“This commonly begins in PE at school, and pervades at all levels. As LEAP Sports Scotland will be working to ensure that there is a positive legacy for LGBT people from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, we welcome Out for Sport as an initiative to help lift this barrier and encourage participation.”