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UK Government's Sports Charter gains popularity

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Hundreds sign UK Government's Sports Charter 

 

 

 

Hundreds of high-profile UK sports clubs have signed the government's Charter for Action, which aims to make sport a welcoming environment for all gay people.

Volleyball England, Official British Tennis, Union of European Football Associations, the Professional Footballers Association and all 14 Rugby Engage Super League clubs including Huddersfield Giants, Bradford Bulls, Celtic Crusaders, Harlequins and Leeds Rhinos are the latest to sign the Charter.

The campaign sets out to promote qualities such as fairness and equality, respect and dignity within all aspects of the sporting environment, from fans to players, so that all sports can be free of homophobic or transphobic abuse.

 

The Rugby Super League clubs have joined the sport's governing body, the Rugby Football League (RFL), by signing the charter and showing their commitment to help eradicate discrimination at all levels of the game.

Richard Lewis, Chairman of the RFL, said: "At the RFL we are committed to eradicating all traces of discrimination from our sport. The RFL is proud to have shown its commitment to ending homophobia and transphobia in sport by signing the LGBT charter and by continuing to work hard we can all come together to tackle this issue and kick all forms of discrimination in sport into touch. It is great to see all the clubs showing their commitment to this cause as well. The challenge for us now is not to rest on our laurels but to keep developing our entire equality and diversity programmes and continue the impressive progress we have made in recent years.”

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said: "Sport should be about what you can do, not who you are. But too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people feel that the sports field is not somewhere they can be themselves, and that prejudice and discrimination will mean their sexuality is always talked about more than their ability with a ball, bat or racket. Homophobia and transphobia has no place in sport and I'm delighted that so many sporting bodies are backing our campaign to stamp it out at all levels, from local parks to Olympic stadiums.”

 

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