The nature of THIS project is to work towards fulfilling the Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Trans (LGBT) Centre mission by tackling the many forms of discrimination and prejudice that can affect the opportunities to be involved, specifically in sport, in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Therefore, THIS project’s main aim is to work towards eliminating homophobia from sports in and around Leicester. To address the main aim, staff and volunteers affiliated with the Leicester LGBT Centre and DMU students will hold seminars for teachers who teach sports, head teachers, and sports coaches who teach youth sports in Leicester in order to raise awareness of LGBT bullying in sport (e.g. the negative use of the word gay) and its long-term and damaging effects.

 

​Tackling homophobia in sport in local schools/collegesHomophobia is endemic in Britain’s schools and Stonewall (2013) report that nine in ten secondary and two in five primary school teachers say young people, regardless of their sexual orientation, experience homophobic bullying, name-calling or harassment. Homophobic bulling impacts on pupil’s school attendance, attainment and future prospects (Stonewall, 2013) which also has an impact on their participation in school sports. There are approximately 200 primary schools and 60 secondary schools in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and so there is huge scope of this project to make a direct impact.

 

Leicester is a city well known for its sporting achievements. For example, Leicester is the only city in the East Midlands selected to host matches in the prestigious six-week Webb Ellis Cup Rugby Tournament, which will see the top 20 teams in the world competing against each other. Additionally, the ‘Football Investment Strategy’ is an investment that is going into the city’s sporting infrastructure to transform grassroots football in Leicester and encourage more people to get fit and active. Alongside these investment strategies where Leicester sports (e.g. football and rugby) are in the limelight nationally and internationally, there is a need to ensure that this sport development is accompanied by a project that is working to raise awareness of LGBT bullying and tackling homophobia in sport. Sports clubs (including sports such as, tennis, football, rugby, badminton, netball, basketball, dance, gymnastics, hockey, cricket) in the area will be approached.