Background

Rainbow Laces is a campaign run by Stonewall (Rainbow Laces | Stonewall), a LGBTQIA+ Charity. The campaign was started in 2013 to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community in sports and increase diversity in sports. The initial motivation to start the campaign was the large amount of homophobia in sports. Since the campaign launched, it has been supported by sports organisations across the world, for example, Sky Sports and The Premier League. 

The main aspect of the campaign is encouraging players to wear rainbow coloured laces to show support and increase visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community. Wearing rainbow laces is a small thing people can do to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community. People underestimate how small acts of visibility, like rainbow laces or a pride flag badge, can make a huge impact on members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It shows the community that someone is a safe person and that they are supportive.  

Why is this campaign so important this year?

This year, more than ever, the rainbow laces campaign is really important. LGBTQIA+ regulations, especially regulations regarding trans people, have been brought back and more and more organisations are excluding trans individuals from gendered teams. Transgender athletes make up a tiny percentage of all players, however in the past year transgender athletes have been the head of many sports related articles saying transgender people should not be able to compete.  

How can I get involved?

This year the LGBTQIA+ Student Community at the SU will be running it's own Rainbow Laces Campaign to show the support Sports Coventry has for the LGBTQIA+ Community and that it supports inclusivity across all of its clubs and facilities. During Varsity, a competition against Warwick University, we are going to be encouraging clubs and members to wear rainbow laces and learn about why people are wearing them and they think they are important.  

If you just want to grab a pair of rainbow laces yourself, come along to any of our LGBT Delivery Events or email community.su@coventry.ac.uk!