Over Southampton’s last two Premier League matches, the club was proud to back Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, in support of the LGBT+ community.
Saints joined forces with all Premier League clubs across in raising awareness of the initiative for their games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United.
Saints captain James Ward-Prowse wore a rainbow-coloured armband for both matches, while substitute boards, handshake boards and ball plinths all carried the Rainbow Laces branding.
The initiative is just another way the Premier League is striving to strengthen its commitment to LGBT+ inclusion through a new, two-year strategic partnership with Stonewall, which was announced recently.
A key focus of this will be education, encouraging LGBT+ acceptance in children and young people involved in programmes such as Premier League Primary Stars and Premier League Kicks, and within Academies.
The Premier League and Stonewall will develop new resources and programmes for coaches, teachers and leaders in schools and communities to help promote positive attitudes towards the LGBT+ community.
ali Wallace
The club is delighted to continute to support the rainbow laces campaign.
Southampton FC's Diversity and Inclusion Manager
LGBT+ inclusion will also be a key element of player care and support programmes, which will be made available at all team age groups across Premier League clubs.
Southampton FC’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Ali Wallace, said: “The club is delighted to continue to support the Rainbow Laces campaign as part of our ongoing commitment to the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in all aspects of sport.
“Our staff will be undertaking training in collaboration with Stonewall throughout 2021 to improve knowledge and awareness of the LGBTQ+ identities as well as provide additional resources for coaches, teachers and academy players. We are pleased to see this development across the Premier League.”