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Gay News: Sheffield Eagles is to become the UK's first professional sports team to wear a kit with an anti-homophobia message
The Eagles will wear the kit on 13 March
Rugby club to wear anti-homophobia strip
The club, who play in the Co-operative Rugby League Championship, will unveil their new strip at their game with Widnes Vikings on Sunday 13 March.
Their shirts will bear the slogan “Homophobia: Tackle It”, and have been jointly funded by LGBT History Month and Pride Sport.
Sue Sanders, Co-Chair of LGBT History Month said: “It means so much to us to have a professional club want to do something to tackle homophobia and celebrate LGBT History Month.
“Our organisation is small and punches well above its weight to reach a wide audience of both youth and adults and raise the visibility of LGBT people and explore how we can be out and safe in sport.”
Lou Englefield, Director of Pride Sports said: “We have been working since 2006 to make sport a more inclusive environment for LGBT people.
“It is fantastic that Rugby League has risen so decisively to this challenge and that Sheffield Eagles have placed themselves at the forefront of the campaign against homophobia in sport.”
The move is part of the Rugby Football League’s (RFL) ongoing efforts to eliminate homophobia from the sport.
“To have
“At the RFL we are committed to eradicating all traces of discrimination from our sport and we have made great strides in recent years and the commitment of the Eagles side to wear the specially designed kit is just the latest step forwards for the sport.”
The RFL recently became the first sporting body to be included in Stonewall’s list of gay-friendly employers, and out rugby star Gareth Thomas was voted Stonewall’s Hero of the Year in 2010, as well as being named the most influential gay man in Britain in the Independent’s annual Pink List..
The RFL has also introduced a match day “Tackle It!” textline which enables fans to text anonymously a dedicated phone line to report any racist or homophobic abuse or behaviour at games.
Replicas of the Eagles’ playing shirts can be bought from www.eaglespride.co.uk
The Sheffield Eagles will wear their anti-homophobia playing strip for the first time in their game with Widnes Vikings on Sunday 13 Match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
Tickets for the game are available from the Sheffield United ticket office line at 08719 951889
