Club hosts launch of Football v Homophobia Month of Action

The launch of the eighth annual Football v Homophobia (FvH) Month of Action took place today, hosted by the Club at White Hart Lane.

Organised around the birthday of the late Justin Fashanu, the UK’s first openly gay male professional footballer, the Month of Action calls on football to take visible steps to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the game.

The Club is a longstanding supporter of Football v Homophobia and its LGB&T supporters’ group, the Proud Lilywhites, was formed in 2014, holding regular dialogue with the Club in tackling discrimination and promoting equality.

FvH Campaign Director, Lou Englefield, commented: “We are delighted to be holding this year’s launch at White Hart Lane. Tottenham Hotspur’s support for the Campaign last February had a global impact. It showed how the support of big clubs can reach not only into their own communities, but can also send out a message of inclusion across the game and around the world."

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director at Tottenham Hotspur, opened the event, which also saw senior figures from within the game take part in a panel discussion with sports presenter and journalist, Jacqui Oatley.

Donna-Maria commented: “The Club is delighted to work with Football v Homophobia in hosting the launch of its Month of Action. Tottenham Hotspur is committed to promoting inclusion and highlighting that football is a game for everyone.”

Guests included William Bush, Executive Director, The Premier League; Kelly Simmons, Director of National Game and Participation at The Football Association; Simone Pound, Head of Equality and Diversity at the Professional Footballers Association and Chris Paouros, Co-Chair, Proud Lilywhites.

The panel reflected on what has worked to date in tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football and what remains to be achieved in making football inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.