ClubLFC supports Rainbow Laces campaign and celebrates LGBT+ community
Liverpool FC players, staff and fans are coming together to celebrate and support the LGBT+ community through specially commissioned artwork, open discussion and high-profile exhibitions of allyship.
As part of its ongoing Red Together campaign and activities, the club has teamed up with Homotopia – a local LGBT+ arts and social justice organisation – to create a bespoke piece of digital artwork that represents the club’s LGBT+ fanbase.
The artwork will be featured on a billboard situated on the side of The Albert pub in front of the Kop at Anfield and will be available to view until the end of October. Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed the artwork while making their way into Anfield on Wednesday evening.
The artwork will also feature as an exhibition in the Anfield LFC retail store for 12 months.
To celebrate the launch of the new artwork, which was created by local LGBT+ photographer and artists Michael Parry and Margie Houlston, the club will host an exclusive panel event to discuss the role of LGBT+ supporters and inclusion in football with contributions from Homotopia and The Anfield Wrap.
LFC’s dedicated Stonewall Rainbow Laces fixtures will take place over the next two weekends at LFC Women v Arsenal at Prenton Park on Sunday October 23 and Liverpool v Leeds United at Anfield on Saturday October 29.
This year’s Rainbow Laces campaign is focused on ‘inclusion has no off-season’ and encourages everyone to play their part by holding conversations about what we can all do to support LGBT+ communities and make sport everyone’s game.
As a sign of allyship and unity, both captains will proudly wear the rainbow armband, and Rainbow Laces-themed LED advertising, pin badges, ball plinths and handshake and substitutes boards will also be in place.
LFC Foundation will also be hosting a series of Rainbow Laces-themed workshops across its programmes, as well as making Rainbow Laces available for all young players to wear in Foundation fixtures.
LFC’s 2022 Pride Range includes a variety of new items and is available to purchase in-store and online. A donation of the proceeds from sales of the LFC Pride Range will be used to support local LGBT+ charities.
Rishi Jain, LFC senior manager for equality, diversity and inclusion, said: “We’re proud to back Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign as part of our wider Red Together activity to incorporate equality, diversity and inclusion into everything the club does.
“I am really excited about our collaboration with Homotopia this year and hope that our supporters take the opportunity to enjoy the artwork that celebrates the role the LGBT+ community plays within our fanbase.
“It’s important that we all continue to be positive allies and show our support for the LGBT+ community both on and off the pitch. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across all that we do.”
Olivia Graham, marketing and development manager at Homotopia, added: “We created this art to help LGBT+ LFC fans to see themselves, their full selves, as being part of this club. Our club. To show the joy, fight and like everything Liverpool, the spirit of being a red.
“The art also sends a message to LGBT+ people in this city who have never thought football is for them. Football is for everyone. Liverpool is a club for all and we’re proud to have worked with LFC to share these important messages.”