no10. recognition for JUST A BALL GAME? founder.

 

Here at JUST A BALL GAME? we are very proud to announce that our founder LINDSAY ENGLAND has been given a POINTS OF LIGHT award from British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

Below is the media release from no10.

 

 Prime Minister's Office
10 Downing Street   

  

                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Just A Ball Game?

1182. Lindsay England

Lindsay England, originally from Bradford and living in Manchester, is the founder of ‘Just a Ball Game?’, an LGBT+ organisation campaigning to kick homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse and discrimination out of sport.

Lindsay, a lifelong Bradford City FC fan, originally started the organisation as a blog and then as a campaign organisation, which also project manages a women’s Futsal /5-a-side team locally in Manchester and the Bradford City LGBT+ Fan Group, a hub for LGBT+ supporters and non LGBT+ allies which aims to provide a safe space for fans and encourage greater inclusion in football and other sports.
 ‘Just a Ball Game?’ has since grown, aiming to raise the profile of LGBT+ people in sport and working with clubs and organisations at local and national level to promote inclusion. 

This work has included partnerships with ‘Kick It Out’, the anti-discrimination in football campaign, and the Home Office to issue LGBT-inclusive advice to match-day stewards. Lindsay has also worked with the TUC to design a toolkit for union officials offering practical advice on tackling homophobia at club level, and with the FA to host a conference at Wembley earlier this year discussing the most pressing issues facing the LGBT+ community in football.



In a personal letter to Lindsay, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Through ‘Just a Ball Game?’, you are sharing a powerful message of inclusion and equality for LGBT people in sport. Nobody should feel excluded from a sport that they love and your commitment to eradicating homophobia, biphobia and transphobia is truly remarkable. I wish you the very best in your continued work.”

Lindsay said:
“Just a Ball Game? Was founded in 2010 because I wanted to be able to make a difference. The recognition through a Points of Light award is testimony to the hard work and dedication volunteers achieve when they are given support on their journey.
“Today’s LGBT+ celebrations are tomorrow’s LGBT+ history.”


JBG? website:  http://www.justaballgame.co.uk/

Open Letter to IOC FIFA UEFA, HOMOPHOBIA AT RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES MUST BE ADDRESSED.

                                                                                                                  info@justaballgame.co.uk

                                                                                                                                          10.08.2016.
DEAR IOC FIFA UEFA.

OPEN LETTER TO IOC FIFA UEFA, HOMOPHOBIA AT RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES MUST BE ADDRESSED.

Campaign organisation JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) call on IOC and FIFA to condemn the homophobic insults directed at players at RIO 2016 Olympic Games football matches and address these issues as a priority to ensure the safety of everyone including LGBT players/coaching staff and those in the stands.

JBG? believe that the very public chanting of “bicha” in the stadiums witnessed by fans and journalists is unacceptable and urges all Football Authorities globally to take a stand against this type of behaviour.

Moving forward JBG? would like assurances from UEFA that players competing in the Women’s Euro 2017 finals in the Netherlands will be given the protection and support necessary should similar incidents occur. JBG?  would also like to see UEFA  work in collaboration in the lead up to and during the tournament with organisations like ourselves and LGBT fan groups to educate stadium event day staff in dealing with homophobic discrimination promptly, alongside educating supporters on what is acceptable language and we call for official anti-discrimination event days to raise awareness of LGBT inclusion and visibility.

A spokesperson for JBG? says,” Too often it’s a given that homosexuality is fully accepted in all women’s sport and that athletes do not face any discrimination, however during the 2015 Women’s World Cup only 14 of 552 players felt comfortable to speak to the media on being OUT PROUD and KICKING.”

“In England with the popularity of the FA WSL increasing rapidly how long will it be before we have to endure the homophobic chants of the type we have seen at Rio 2016? There is therefore a need for the FA and clubs to be pro-active and nip in the bud isolated incidents of this nature.”

Lisa Durel who writes for Women’s Soccer France had this to say, “Making homophobia commonplace is disrespectful to players/ staff and also fans who identify as being LGBTQ. If we fight homophobia by banning it from the stands this creates the correct atmosphere for players and fans alike and people will gain in confidence in being themselves and women’s soccer will get what it deserves, full recognition and a safe environment to support, cheer and share the best of moments.”

To date all we have read from FIFA is spokeswoman Carolina Almiron present at USA game claiming she didn’t hear any anti-gay slur, and stating, “I don’t think it’s an issue” followed by stating FIFA would not be taking any action unless there was a ‘formal protest’ from the US.

 Yours Sincerly JUST A BALL GAME?