{"id":40012,"title":"Rangers and Proud","description":"This article was first published on 19 October 2022 in the QPR matchday programme ahead of the game with Cardiff City. \n\nAs we celebrate Rainbow Laces under the lights, the new Chair of our LGBTQ+ supporters group, Richard Young, explains why initiatives like this are still needed in 2022.","content":"

This article was first published on 19 October 2022 in the QPR matchday programme ahead of the game with Cardiff City.<\/em><\/p>

As we celebrate Rainbow Laces under the lights, the new Chair of our LGBTQ+ supporters group, Richard Young, explains why initiatives like this are still needed in 2022.<\/strong>

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Why do we have a Rainbow Laces match every year? Why do we need an LGBT supporters group? Don\u2019t we already have equality in 2022? \u2028<\/p>

In my short time as Chair of QPR\u2019s LGBTQ+ supporters group \u2013 Rainbow Rangers \u2013\u00a0these are just a few of the questions I\u2019ve been asked. The simple answer, and the sad fact of the matter, is that things might not be quite as rosy as you think. In fact, YouGov research for Stonewall found that 43% of LGBTQ+ people felt unsafe and unwelcome at public sporting events. <\/p>

Not so long ago it seemed that we were finally on an upwards trajectory with a number of high profile men\u2019s players finally feeling safe enough to come out. Only last month, Zander Murray became the first openly gay Scottish men\u2019s footballer. But anyone who witnessed the Casillas \u2018coming-out\/not coming-out\u2019 debacle on Twitter last week couldn\u2019t have failed to notice to sheer volume of hateful comments that followed. And let us not forget that this year\u2019s men\u2019s World Cup is being held in a country where it\u2019s not even safe to talk positively about being LGBTQ+, let alone come out.<\/p>

So our purpose as a fan group (and the idea behind Rainbow Laces) is simple \u2013\u00a0let\u2019s make football a place for everyone. A place for everyone to feel safe. A place for everyone to feel welcome. And a place for everyone to be their true selves. <\/p>

It\u2019s not all doom and gloom either \u2013\u00a0the response we\u2019ve had in recent weeks from fellow QPR fans has been nothing short of amazing. Not just from the LGBTQ+ fans \u2013 of all ages, races and backgrounds, dotted throughout the stadium \u2013 but the allies, the parents of gay kids, the fans who remember a time when there were no conversations about inclusivity. It\u2019s you fellow Rs that give me hope that one day we might not need an LGBTQ+ supporters group and we might not need to light up the stadium with rainbows to share our message. But that day hasn\u2019t come yet.<\/p>

Like all clubs, we have our fair share of keyboard warriors, and we have our fair share of fans who don\u2019t think before they shout or don\u2019t think what the words they\u2019re singing might be doing to the person sat next to them. Not through spite or hatred or malice necessarily, but through a lack of understanding or experience. <\/p>

That\u2019s why we\u2019re really proud to be able to work so closely with the Club and the Trust to plan events like Rainbow Laces. To get people talking. To get people thinking. And slowly but surely, to help make Loftus Road that place where everyone feels welcome.<\/p>

Passing on the baton<\/u><\/p>

QPR has been part of my family for generations. But as a gay women, I didn\u2019t know how to find and connect with others like me within the club. That\u2019s why, with the full support of QPR Trust, I set up Rainbow Rangers.<\/p>

I've enjoyed every minute of building this community but, after five years, one child and a move up north, it\u2019s time to hand over the reigns to someone who can give more time and energy to growing the membership. Over to your new Chair, Richard Young\u2026<\/p>

Emma Miller-McCaffrey<\/p>","urlTitle":"rangers-and-proud","url":"\/blog\/rangers-and-proud\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/rangers-and-proud\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/rainbowrangers.teemill.com\/blog\/rangers-and-proud\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1717959431,"updatedAt":1717960184,"publishedAt":1717960183,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":342254,"name":"Rainbow Rangers"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehoa37bcvbbd6epqxt82hhdq2ta1klbyqkgg6ie1temn8a6f.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehoa37bcvbbd6epqxt82hhdq2ta1klbyqkgg6ie1temn8a6f.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehoa37bcvbbd6epqxt82hhdq2ta1klbyqkgg6ie1temn8a6f.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":40021,"title":"Why I'm introducing as many queer people to football as possible","url":"\/blog\/why-im-introducing-as-many-queer-people-to-football-as-possible\/","urlTitle":"why-im-introducing-as-many-queer-people-to-football-as-possible","division":342254,"description":"This article first appeared on Out and Out Football on 5 May 2023\n\nLGBTQ+ fan groups are relatively new to football. But they play a vital role in bridging the gap between the queer community and football. This week, Richard \u2014 who chairs QPR\u2019s group, Rainbow Rangers \u2014 explains his mission to change football.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xe24zp0qkucdupsqtoyrap7rdh6e0k1qeggxkfizoeuao3na.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xe24zp0qkucdupsqtoyrap7rdh6e0k1qeggxkfizoeuao3na.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":40022,"title":"Ol\u00e9, ol\u00e9, ol\u00e9, homophobia\u2019s never ok","url":"\/blog\/ole-ole-ole-homophobias-never-ok\/","urlTitle":"ole-ole-ole-homophobias-never-ok","division":342254,"description":"This article first appeared in the QPR matchday programme on 24 February 204 ahead of our game with Rotherham United. \n\nWith February marking LGBT+ History Month and the Football v Homophobia Month of Action, lifelong Rangers fan Jack Fidler talks about the importance of fan groups and the impact we can all have on young fans.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/bvqysh6cafupegjbjgpsiept7hlvwp4bwspoklvdesf9mlww.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/bvqysh6cafupegjbjgpsiept7hlvwp4bwspoklvdesf9mlww.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":40016,"title":"Keep it up for inclusion: 10 years of Rainbow Laces","url":"\/blog\/https-www-qpr-co-uk-news-community-news-qpr-rainbow-rangers-280223\/","urlTitle":"https-www-qpr-co-uk-news-community-news-qpr-rainbow-rangers-280223","division":342254,"description":"This article first appeared in the QPR matchday programme on 28 October 2023 ahead of our game with Leicester City\n\nAs the Rainbow Laces campaign rolls around for its tenth year this winter, we hear from Rainbow Rangers, Foxes Pride and Stonewall on the progress that\u2019s been made and the work still to be done.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/mlumrahkox5sestzb2prhgsmhrszbrivtnj02vx0elsyh36f.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.502&fx=0.51793983223028&fy=0.58908906388892","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/mlumrahkox5sestzb2prhgsmhrszbrivtnj02vx0elsyh36f.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.502&fx=0.51793983223028&fy=0.58908906388892"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}