Labour candidates welcome 'Football v Homophobia' launch

On February 19th, The Justin Campaign are launching an initiative, Football v Homophobia, to raise awareness of homophobia in amateur and professional football; to unite clubs, players and fans internationally by using the game of football to bring communities together in opposing hate and intolerance in the world’s favourite sport.

The idea is that Football v Homophobia will become the one day out of each year where individuals, community groups & teams and clubs internationally can express their disapproval of homophobia in football by celebrating under the banner of Football v Homophobia.  For information on the campaign, see www.thejustincampaign.com.

The three Labour candidates for Brighton & Hove, Simon Burgess, Nancy Platts and Celia Barlow MP, jointly supported this initiative:

"We wholeheartedly support the launch of 'Football v Homophobia', football needs a day recognised internationally to tackle homophobia head on, homophobia is completely unacceptable and offensive to us all. This campaign is particularly pertinent for our city because the Albion team and supporters still suffer homophobic abuse on a regular basis. Justin Fashanu, the only professional football player to have come out, used to play for the Albion but tragically he took his own life. We want to play our part in creating an environment where other footballers can feel able to come out without them suffering in the way that Justin did."