Pars sign the LGBT Charter

Dunfermline Athletic has today joined other professional football clubs in the SPFL divisions by signing up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter.

Dunfermline Athletic has today joined other professional football clubs in the SPFL divisions by signing up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter.

Chairman, Ross McArthur said: “Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are fully committed to implementing this charter, and believe that football should be inclusive, diverse and welcoming to any individual or group.

Our Club an players have a vital role to play in sending out strong signals that everyone has the right to be included and treated with respect and dignity.

Scott Cuthbertson, Development Manager of the Equality Network said, “We’re delighted that Dunfermline Athletic has joined many other SPFL clubs by making a commitment to LGBT supporters, officials and the next generation of LGBT players.

Today’s message is loud and clear, everyone is welcome at football and we are working for a more inclusive game.

We don’t yet have any openly LGBT professional players in the men’s professional game in Scotland but we know there are plenty of LGBT fans.

The charter states as its aim that “Scotland will be a country where everyone can take part, enjoy, and succeed in sport at all levels whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity”, it was developed in consultation with sports governing bodies (SGBs), other sports stakeholders and LGBT people.

The Equality Network say this is the first step in coordinated efforts that they hope will encourage more LGBT people to get involved in football. A study by the Equality Network launched in 2012 showed that 57% of LGBT people would be more likely to participate in sport if it was more LGBT friendly, and that football was the sport identified as having the biggest challenges to overcome in relation to LGBT inclusivity.

For more information on the LGBT Sports Charter visit - http://www.equality-network.org/sports-charter/