February marked the annual Football v Homophobia Month of Action, which this year once again coincided with LGBT+ History Month. Across the game, clubs, teams, leagues and fan groups amplified a shared message: that football should be a place where everyone feels safe, welcome and able to participate without fear of discrimination.

Pride Park FC is proud to be part of the Football v Homophobia campaign. As a women’s-only club, we reaffirm our commitment to creating an environment where LGBTQ+ players, coaches, volunteers and supporters can not only take part, but thrive.

To highlight our support for the campaign, our two senior teams played FvH designated matches during the month; the Development team’s fixture against Derwent Ladies on 8th February, and last week’s 1st team fixture against Duffield Dynamo.

Why it matters
Despite progress in many areas of the game, homophobia in football has risen again. Anti-gay language and discriminatory behaviour, whether shouted from the sidelines, shared online or brushed off as a “joke”, continue to spoil football environments and push people away from the sport.

Football clubs and leagues have a responsibility to be clear: there is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game. Silence can be interpreted as acceptance, and setting clear standards matters.

Social media and online harm
For many people, football is now experienced as much online as it is on the pitch. Social media has the power to connect communities and celebrate the game, but it has also become an increasingly hostile space.

Ragebait, bots, engagement farming and AI-generated misinformation are all on the rise. Too often, this results in content that targets LGBTQ+ people involved in football, reinforcing stereotypes and fuelling abuse. Official club channels have a vital role to play here. By choosing what we amplify, and what we challenge, clubs can help shape a more respectful, inclusive online culture.

Women’s football: inclusive, but not immune
Women’s football is rightly praised for its inclusive culture, and that reputation is hard-earned. But it is not a guarantee.

For LGBTQ+ players, women’s football can still be a challenging space. Recent conversations sparked by the experiences of Mary Earps have reminded us that visibility, while powerful, can also come with pressure, scrutiny and vulnerability. Inclusion cannot be taken for granted, and people’s experiences of the game will always differ depending on their personal circumstances.

The impact of homophobia is especially clear at grassroots and youth level. Statistics from the charity ‘Just Like Us’show that around 80% of young people have heard homophobic language at school. Often, this language is used in PE lessons and sports settings.

When discriminatory language goes unchallenged, it creates environments where young people feel unsafe or unwelcome, and many choose to disengage from sport altogether. Sharing the “Football for Everyone” message in youth and academy environments is a simple but powerful way to reinforce that everyone belongs on the pitch.

Everyone belongs in football
In 2025, workforce diversity data published by professional clubs in England and Wales revealed that more LGBTQ+ people are working in football than previously thought. This visibility matters. It challenges outdated assumptions about who football is for and who can succeed within it.

With no Rainbow Laces activation last season, the Football v Homophobia Month of Action offers an important opportunity for clubs and community teams to lead meaningful, in-season inclusion work, not as a one-off gesture, but as part of everyday football culture.

Alongside homophobia, reports of transphobia in football are rising. Reports submitted to ‘Kick It Out’ doubled last season, reflecting a wider increase in misinformation and disinformation targeting trans people. Transphobia in football often intersects with misogyny and sexism, particularly in discussions around women’s sport. By helping people understand what transphobia looks like- and why it causes harm- clubs, players and supporters can play a role in reducing it and protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved in the game.

Our commitment at Pride Park FC
At Pride Park FC, inclusion is not limited to a single month or campaign. By signing up to the Football v Homophobia initiative, we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to respect, safety and belonging. Football should be a space where everyone can play, support and participate without fear, on the pitch, on the sidelines and online. That is what “Football for Everyone” means to us.

To learn more about the campaign, visit Football v Homophobia
and join us in standing up for a game that truly welcomes everyone.