A new study has revealed that football, cricket, and tennis are among the sports where LGBTQ+ fans experience the most homophobic and transphobic abuse at live events. The research, conducted by OnePoll, surveyed 1,000 LGBTQ+ adults and found that one in three had experienced anti-LGBTQ+ hate at live sporting events. More than half of those surveyed had witnessed homophobic or transphobic abuse aimed at another person, with football, rugby, basketball, and Formula 1 being named the sports where this was most likely to occur.
According to the study, 53% of participants reported encountering problems at live events while watching men’s football, compared with 23% while watching women’s football. Cricket, swimming, and tennis were also highlighted as events where LGBTQ+ adults have experienced homophobic or transphobic abuse.
The study also found that 34% of participants had been subjected to hateful conduct an average of four times while attending live sporting events. Four in 10 of those surveyed said they felt unwelcome due to their gender identity or sexuality. Unfortunately, the discrimination didn’t end there, as 38% of those who play in a team shared that they had come up against abuse from their own side due to their sexuality. Three-quarters of those who raised their concerns said abusers justified their comments as “banter”.
Jon Holmes, the founder and lead of network, advocacy, and consultancy group Sports Media LGBT+, told PinkNews that the findings are in line with those from other research. Holmes said the results are likely to reflect a recent surge in anti-LGBTQ+ language and behavior in men’s professional football, which is the live sporting event most frequently attended by UK fans.
The research comes ahead of the TCS London Marathon, where automotive partner Nissan UK has created an inclusive Cheer Zone for the queer community, offering a welcoming atmosphere for spectators at the Rainbow Row section of the course. Adele Roberts, one of Nissan UK’s diversity, equity, and inclusion ambassadors, commented on the poll’s findings and said they show “why the Cheer Zone” is so important.
While some progress has been made in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity in sports, especially with the addition of a non-binary gender marker option for the 2023 London Marathon, eradicating discrimination in sport, especially football, has a long way to go. It is essential for sports organizations to take action to prevent and address anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in all sporting events, to ensure that all fans and players can enjoy the game without fear of discrimination or harm.
