Aston Villa will once again be demonstrating the club’s ongoing support for LGBTQ+ inclusion by celebrating Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign at Wednesday's fixture against Manchester City.
All Premier League matches between December 2-7 are dedicated to marking the 10th anniversary of Rainbow Laces, with the theme of ‘Let’s Lace Up to Keep It Up’. This looks at how sport has become more inclusive over the last decade, while also highlighting the need for ongoing work to ensure it is a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Rainbow armbands will be worn by captains while rainbow pyros, flags, ball plinths, handshake boards, LED perimeter boards and more at Villa Park will also highlight support and demonstrate that football is everyone's game in a variety of ways.
The campaign provides an opportunity to focus on the year-round equality and inclusion work that takes place, as clubs and the League use their platforms to encourage discussion and demonstrate allyship, with education continuing to be an important area of focus.
Aston Villa work closely with official LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Network Villa & Proud, across both the men's and women's game, to help create a welcoming environment at Villa Park.
Villa & Proud are one of largest networks in the country, with over 600 members, and are celebrating their five-year anniversary - with the network visible in the Fan Zone and The Lower Grounds for Wednesday night's fixture against City.
Their membership combines a unity of the LGBTQ+ community, including allies, with one core motto stressing ‘never underestimate the power of an ally’.
Villa & Proud was initially set up in June 2018 after the club identified the need to support the LGBTQ+ community, launching later that year on November 28.
From day one, the group have endeavoured to be the best form of visibility for the community with a clear mission to empower, support and build LGBTQ+ inclusion for fans, players and staff at Aston Villa Football Club and the wider footballing world.
Villa & Proud’s progress over the past five years has been sizeable and can be measured in numerous ways, from participating at Birmingham Pride with club support, to winning awards, providing help in the local community, growing their network globally and building their relationship with the club to promote visibility and provide a sense of solidarity.
The network have some huge plans for the future, including launching their very own ‘#BeVillaProud Pride Shop’, with all proceeds going to a new community fund to support local charities, while also working on an exciting project to bring an annual LGBTQ+ sports event to Birmingham.
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Villa & Proud founder and co-chair Samuel Timms said: “The relationship we have with the club is vitally important and it’s growing year on year.
“Villa & Proud have been running now for five years and we’ve noticed an increase in our communication, the way we lead in events, that Aston Villa are there with us and the continued support we see and feel from the club.
“The growth of Villa & Proud is something I never could have seen or be so successful. I remember when we first hit 23 members and we’re now over 600.
“Looking to the future, we’ve got some big plans ahead and now we’re looking at the next five years for what Villa & Proud is.”
If you or anyone else would like to find out more information about Villa & Proud or would like to join as a member, you can visit their social media channels (X, Instagram and Facebook) or website here www.villaandproud.co.uk.
AVFC Pride Retail Range
Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia have no place at Villa Park, online or anywhere. To report any discrimination, supporters at Villa Park can text REPORT to 60060 along with the location of the incident and details of what you have witnessed.
The text line also includes the reporting of any safeguarding concerns. The text service will be supported by our security team and West Midlands Police. Each text costs one standard message at your network rate. The club may share your details with West Midlands Police if further information is required to assist with a criminal prosecution.
