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National Museum to celebrate Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Championship 2008
The National Football Museum is planning a groundbreaking exhibition to celebrate the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Championship 2008. The exhibition, to take place in 2008 will be held at a London based venue, coinciding with the tournament being held in the capital city, before moving to the museum, based in Preston .
The Championship will take place at Regents Park 24–30 August 2008. A bid to hold the Championship in London was successfully launched by Leftfooters FC with endorsement from the Football Association and the Mayor of London's Office.
Messages of support for the museum's plans have been received from Peter Tatchell from Outrage who commented ‘Football is one of the last great bastions of homophobia; although this is changing. I am glad you are doing something positive to help encourage greater inclusiveness in the sport'. Peter Tatchell, Outrage
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said ‘I congratulate the National Football Museum for recognising the impact of homophobia within football and working to document the lives of gay footballers. With the largest, most diverse lesbian and gay community in Europe, London is the centre of lesbian and gay sport in the UK '. His comments were endorsed by Lucy Faulkner, Equality Manager of the Football Association who said ‘I am delighted to support the University of Central Lancashire and the National Football Museum in their proposal for the development of a Gay Football Exhibition for 2008. The Football Association is absolutely committed to tackling homophobia and to ensuring that people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities feel welcome and are involved in football at all levels'.
The planned exhibition is a result of the National Football Museum working in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) on a community outreach project. It will look at the development of gay football teams and supporters networks. It will also celebrate the 2008 tournament and look at the barriers facing gay men and women who wish to become involved in football. It will be a key part of the cultural programme surrounding the tournament and will contribute to the legacy of the championship.
The museum is currently looking for the support of gay men and women in the museum's local area and in London. A spokesperson from the museum said ‘We hope that the project will help to engage gay people in football and in the work of the museum and help to break down stereotypes'.
Two funding applications have been submitted to national funding bodies to support this exciting project.
Notes
• UCLan provided the initial impetus for the project with an ongoing research project by the Dept of Tourism and Leisure carried out into football in the gay community and homophobia in football.
Their research focused on gay men's experiences in football.
• Attached images are from the London Leftfooters and the Leicester Wildecats
• See www.londonwc2008.co.uk for further information on the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Championship 2008.
