Wanderers to show their support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign this weekend

Bolton Wanderers will show their support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces initiative at their Sky Bet Championship game against Barnsley this Saturday.

There will be rainbow corner flags, laces, programme articles and even a special captain's armband donned for this weekend's fixture, with the Whites getting behind the nationwide campaign.

Sport has ‘Come Out For LGBT’ equality over the past few weeks in the biggest show of support the Rainbow Laces campaign has ever seen. 

Events kicked off on Friday 24 November and continue through to Sunday 3 December, with activities across sport.

Some of the sporting bodies taking part include British Basketball, the British Olympic Association (Team GB), British Cycling, England Hockey, England Rugby, the English Cricket Board, English Football League, Football Association, Great British Wheelchair Rugby, Premier League, Premiership Rugby, Professional Football Association, Rugby Football League, Scottish Professional Football Association, UK Athletics, Welsh Football Association and Welsh Rugby.   

Every fixture for the English Football League, Premier League and the Scotland Premier Football League over this campaign have featured Rainbow Laces.

Even the Wembley Arch has been lit up in rainbow colours and the Professional Game Match Officials are also joining in across Premier League, English Football League, Premier League with referees lacing up for key matches. 

Ryan Atkin, the first professional referee to speak openly about being gay, said, “Rainbow Laces is the building block to creating a sport that is for all.

“It’s great that the Premier League and the EFL are fully supportive and leading the way using their own initiatives like rainbow corner flags. 

“You don’t have to be LGBT to be a supporter of the campaign - in fact, allies within the sport are more crucial than ever.

“I hope this campaign sees more sports stars, staff and fans publicly support LGBT people and make clear that homophobia and abusive comments are not acceptable.

“However, wearing rainbow laces for a game is not enough. If you are going to wear them, be willing to speak publicly about your support and call out abuse.

“We need to work together to make football and sport inclusive of all. When you change your mind, you will change the game.”

For more information on Rainbow Laces and Stonewall, please visit www.stonewall.org.uk.

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