LGBT Liverpool and Everton fans urge clubs “to do more”

LGBT Liverpool and Everton fans have called upon the clubs to do more to combat homophobia on social media.

Fans were keen to stress that they have felt safe at games and believe the clubs do support them, but that the hate on social media needs to be addressed.

Liverpool fan James, 25, said: “When I’ve been at games at Anfield, I’ve felt safe and included, and I believe the club is supportive, but it ought to do more.

“Especially on social media to condemn homophobia, they’ve called out racism, so why not homophobia?”

Meanwhile, Everton fan Tom, 30, said: “I do feel safe when going to games, but not on social media.

“I'm not sure what could improve, other than either turning comments off or addressing the hate when they make posts in support of LGBT people.”

Whilst all fans interviewed agreed they felt safe when attending games, they recognised that it is still a very masculine sport.

Liverpool fan George, 18, said: “I definitely feel safe going to games, but don’t necessarily want to express myself too much.

“I think gay men who present more effeminately than I might feel a greater level of discomfort than I do.”

This was a sentiment shared by Liverpool fan Brandon, 21.

He said: “I have felt safe going to games, but I do think we live in a world where if I were to go to a football game showing off my sexuality, then the mood would be different, and I'd get a lot of weird looks.

These calls come only weeks after the attack on Pascal Kaiser.

Pascal Kaiser is an openly LGBT referee in the German Bundesliga.

Kaiser proposed to his boyfriend in front of a crowd, which was met with a positive reaction, but social media was not the same.

Moreover, Kaiser twice became the victim of attacks in the following days and weeks.

This raised the question of whether LGBT fans believe a player will come out, and the answer was clear.

Brandon said: “Do I think any gay players will come out soon? Hell no.

“We've seen what the world does to gay refs. No player would be willing to come out with the dangers it poses.”

George shared this sentiment, he said: “I don’t see a gay player coming out anytime soon.

“The modern social media landscape breeds homophobic abuse online, and this would only be amplified if a player came out.”

The fans did believe that fellow supporters in the ground would be supportive, however.

Tom said: “I think most supporters of Everton and other clubs wouldn’t care if someone was gay.

“But the smaller minority of people who do care would overpower that and make their thoughts and feelings known.

“It would be down to the club to police it with bans and police action should a player be subject to abuse.”

Although questions were also raised over whether players do enough to voice their support.

James said: “On the player side, I think there’s a distinct apathy towards LGBTQ+ people and issues.

“Jordan Henderson was the one who really upset me.

“He was really embracing the whole rainbow laces campaign and looked like a good LGBTQ+ ally.

“Then he basically ditched it all to make a ton of money in Saudi Arabia for 6 months. It felt really disingenuous.”