NEWS | THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE x FOOTBALL v HOMOPHOBIA

Committed to making football more inclusive for the LGBTIQ+ community - designated matchday this weekend

Throughout our four divisions this weekend, clubs will be giving their support and showcasing the fantastic work of the Football v Homophobia campaign.

The Southern League has joined hundreds of other clubs, Leagues and organisations within the game to back this initiative, which is committed to making football more inclusive for the LGBTIQ+ community.

February is LGBTQ+ History Month and as part of this Month of Action, events have been organised far and wide to spread the message and acknowledge the journey and progress made by the community both within football and society as a whole.

This is why it is important to back the Football v Homophobia campaign:

• Results of a 2024 survey showed 74% of respondents - all LGBTQ+ - said they had experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching men’s football. Less than a quarter of those people said they had reported the incidents, suggesting a lack of confidence or awareness of available reporting channels (Out and Out Football, 2024);

• FvH is aware of various proven charges for anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in non-league football (Steps 1 to 4) in recent seasons;

• Across football, reports of transphobia received by Kick It Out doubled last season (KIO, 2025);

The Southern League believes that LGBTIQ+ people deserve a place in football and that clubs hold the key to making football welcoming and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ people.

We thank those member clubs who are spreading this very important message at their games, not only over the course of this weekend but also on an ongoing basis.

Please send details and photographs to Southern League Director Stephen Hyde, via: sfl.diversity@gmail.com