QPR and Fulham have united to back the Rainbow Laces campaign, which takes place this weekend.
The Rainbow Laces weekend – which takes place this Saturday and Sunday, 26 and 27 November, follows research by ICM that reveals homophobic language is still regularly heard at live sporting events.
According to the study, 72 per cent of football fans have heard anti-LGBT remarks at live games in the past five years.
Despite this, the majority of people support LGBT people in sport according to the research, with nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) saying more should be done to make LGBT people feel accepted.
This weekend Stonewall, the leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, is calling on fans, players and governing bodies to visibly show their support for LGBT people in sport.
GetWestLondon have contacted the Championship pair and have had confirmed that they will be supporting the cause.
A QPR spokesman confirmed: “Several QPR players will be wearing the laces this weekend.”
Fulham have also sported the laces in training on Thursday and players will have the choice as to whether they play in them at Brighton.
Ruth Hunt, Stonewall’s Chief Executive, said: “Such high-profile support is crucial for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who want to take part in sport, either as players or fans, but feel unsafe, unwelcome or unable to be themselves. We need fans, players, clubs and governing bodies to stand up as allies so that we can make sport everyone’s game.
“Homophobic abuse has absolutely no place in sport, either at grass roots or professional level, yet there is a persistent, and vocal, minority who believe anti-LGBT language is harmless.
"The majority of people believe homophobic chants and abuse are a problem, and this weekend is about encouraging that majority to step up and show they will not stand for this abuse.”
Stonewall has developed a range of measures to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport.
This includes a training programme for sports coaches who work with young people so they can ensure they are making sport inclusive.
The charity has also developed a sports toolkit for grassroots and community sport to build awareness and understanding of the issues affecting LGBT people, and how they can help ensure all sports offer an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign is supported by TeamPride, a group of global organisations committed to LGBT equality.
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