Not for me Clive: Is football becoming a more LGBT+ friendly environment?

Is football becoming a more LGBT+ friendly environment?
And what can we, as fans, do to help?

A study by stonewall discovered that 72% of people who had attended a football match had witnessed some form of homophobic abuse. However, the same study revealed that the majority of those asked felt homophobia at football was a problem. 

Abuse of any kind is unacceptable, abuse that is also a hate crime, even more so. I think the majority of football fans agree that racism, homophobia, sexism, transphobia, have no place in a modern day football ground.

However, the question often comes, what can we do to help? Particularly from heterosexual male fans, a demographic that make up the vast majority of football crowds. Unless you've been subject to discrimination, it's sometimes hard to understand the impact it can have on your mental health. 

So, as three, straight, match going football fans, in our late 20's, we wanted to ask ourselves what we could do to help. 

You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads 

If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk:

Be Gamble Aware
0808 8020 133 for free

https://www.begambleaware.org/

Samaritans 
Call 116 132 for free

https://www.samaritans.org/

Papyrus UK
Call 0800 068 41 41

Papyrus Website

CALM ZONE
0800 58 58 58

https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/