User:Justaballgame?

 Just A Ball Game?

A campaign group which will help both grass roots and professional sports groups, organisations, authorities, along with governments, education establishments and trade unions build on the delivery of their existing work to deliver the core values of 'SiR' SAFETY-INCLUSION-RESPECT around LGBT people, sexual orientation and gender identity.

We hope to step OUT and be public to become role models for others.

We will raise awareness and challenge what is seen as homophobia/anti-gay.

"Open the doors for them, give them hope" - Harvey Milk We aim to raise awareness around LGBT issues, promote LGBT history, achievements change mind-sets, help to dispel myths and widen education in different cultures in a healthy active way.

for more info www.justaballgame.co.uk

www.justaballgame.blogspot.co.uk

@justaballgame

'CAMPAIGN'. Think Before you Chant!

AFC Rushden & Diamonds launched the "Think before you chant!" campaign in September 2012 United Counties League Cup match against Wellingborough Whitworth.

The Diamonds have teamed up with two national campaigns “Just A Ball Game?” and “Kick It Out” which tackle homophobia and racism respectively within football.

CAMPAIGN. JBG? - Time for Change NOW!

The project was initiated by chance as an outcome of a consultation meeting to discuss preparations for the Olympic Torch passing through Bournemouth. At the conclusion it was suggested that the LGBT population is, along with its ethnic communities and retired population, one of Bournemouth's major distinctive communities, and it would therefore be good to have it represented in some meaningful way on the day.

Whether gay or heterosexual, it is not enough to passively absorb awareness of the many cruel and psychologically disturbing acts of homophobic bullying – this is a recipe for depression or worse. What is required to effect real change and release from such a vicious circle is that the sources of homophobia be fully identified, recognised, and seen for what they are: that those who in consequence are influenced by them and cause so much harm, are also seen for what they are – incomplete and easily influenced people.

Just a Ball Game? Organisation anti-discrimination in sport partnership initiative Campaigns organisations Just A Ball Game? which looks at homophobia and other issues faced by Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people who participate in varying ways in football and other sports is proud to be a supporter and delivery partner for the ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA IN SPORT EXHIBITION project.

Sport as a whole at present only touches on diversity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBT, and although a number of LGBT people are involved in sport at grass roots level are 'out' to family, friends, team mates and club officials, those who participate at elite level and are 'out' publicly are few and far between.

Founding director of Just A Ball Game? Lindsay England says: "We hope to make use of the wonderful and dynamic exhibition as part of our on-going campaign work to raise awareness around homophobia and help mainstream sport to be more inclusive of a number of diversity issues and help create a safe space for both LGBT people and those who are perceived to be 'lgbt' to achieve their potential.

The education element of this exhibition encourages an understanding of issued faced by LGBT people and at the same time highlights role models for a younger generation to aspire too. We at Just A Ball Game? would like to thank Alan Mercel-Sanca and the final year students of Bournemouth and Poole College for their inspiring efforts in the creation of these panels."

Anti-homophobia educational partnership with Just a Ball Game? organisation:

We are delighted to announce that the Olympics Legacy Anti-homophobia in Sport Exhibition Project [AHS], TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW! has developed an educational partnership with Lindsay England’s Just a Ball Game? Organisation.

Lindsay through JBG? have for over 8 years been at the forefront of anti-homophobia in football and sport in the UK, pioneering work in this field in direct partnership with the TUC, and national and European football and sports governing bodies and professional associations, and a number of lgbt friendly grass roots teams and lgbt groups. It is particularly welcome to be working directly with Lindsay England at this time, with a major expansion of the JBG? organisation taking place.

Through the collaborative partnership with Lindsay England and JBG? an exceptional opportunity has been provided for the anti-homophobia educational resources of the AHS project to reach many people as an on going legacy resource.

We are really delighted about and appreciative of this on behalf of the many individuals and representatives of the AHS exhibition project supporting and partnering organisations that gave so much time, care and enthusiastic input to create the project’s articles and graphic designs.

Alan Mercel-Sanca Olympics Legacy Anti-homophobia in Sport Exhibition Project [AHS] Lead

OUR PARTNERS. HYDE FC to tackle homophobia in football

A little bit of history was made last night (05/12/11) at Ewen Fields when HYDE FC become the first Blue Square Bet North football club to officially sign up to the Government 'charter against homophobia and transphobia in sport' after their 4-1 home win against Eastwood.

The Tigers pride themselves on being very much a community club and they welcomed Lindsay England from football's LGBT campaigning organization JUST A BALL GAME? as a guest for the home fixture, and Manager Gary Lowe and player Gianluca Haveren were more than happy to add a signature to the charter committing the club to challenging homophobia and taking a zero tolerance to any anti-gay abuse or chanting within the game.

The club have also stated they will look at hosting a celebrity match or training session and invite LGBT players to attend to help celebrate LGBT History Month in February of next year.

Until stepping down early this year former Director of Hyde FC, Julie Whitehead was the only 'out' lesbian involved in the semi-professional game in a senior managerial role, showing Hyde FC are one of the most inclusive teams in the country.

Visit Hyde FC website

OUR PARTNERS. AFC Rushden and Diamonds

AFC Rushden & Diamonds launched the "think before you chant" campaign in September 2012 United Counties League Cup match against Wellingborough Whitworth.

The Diamonds have teamed up with two national campaigns "Just A Ball Game?" and "Kick It Out" which tackle homophobia and racism respectively within football.

Supporting the club in this initiative is local company Creation Signs who have generously donated a pitchside board for each of the campaigns and sponsored the match on Tuesday.

Just A Ball Game Lindsay England, Founding Director of Just A Ball Game? which is a campaign group which challenges issues with homophobia and anti-gay prejudice and helps raise awareness around the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, spoke before Tuesday's game:

"We are delighted to have this welcome support from AFC Rushden & Diamonds and are very much looking forward to being part of the club’s respect programme of events this month, and the steps the club are taking to tackle issues around homophobia which sadly still exist in the game at all levels."

Kick it Out – RESPECT The anti-racism campaign is well known throughout the football world and is designed to challenge discrimination and encourage inclusive practices and work for positive change.

Think before you chant Chairman Ralph Burditt felt the two campaigns should be brought under the one umbrella and the club have had a number of signs manufactured to ask fans to think about what they are saying/chanting.

I am delighted that we have the opportunity to support Just a Ball Game?, Kick It Out and the RESPECT campaign. Discrimination of any kind has no place in football and I hope that the presence of the new advertising boards at the ground and the advertisements in the programme will serve as a gentle reminder to both home and away supporters that it will not be tolerated. I am particularly pleased that we are becoming only the second club in the UK to display a permanent advert for the Just a Ball Game? campaign.

The news story regarding Hyde FC's support for the campaign was what originally lead me to contact Lindsay from JBG?, and I would like to think that this story will similarly inspire another football club. It’s time that we all started speaking out against the institutionalised homophobia in football, much as people began to speak out about racism all those years ago.

Read the full story on the AFC Rushden and Diamonds website