For the third year running, the FWA and Sports Media LGBT+ have linked up to produce Pride Month content that helps to send out a strong message of welcome across our industry.
After putting on virtual events in 2021 and 2022 which were later turned into special editions of the Football v Homophobia Podcast, there is a new episode out now to listen to .
The topic is the Women’s World Cup and the representation of the LGBT+ community within the tournament’s past, present and future.
Joining host Jon Holmes for the conversation is his fellow FWA member colleague Sophie Lawson (ESPN), Brazilian writer Júlia Belas (The Guardian), and Australia-based reporters Samantha Lewis (ABC) and Steven Poletti (freelance).
The FWA and Sports Media LGBT+ began a partnership two years ago to promote inclusion and authenticity more widely in the football media industry while also helping to provide visibility that might encourage more LGBT+ people to pursue careers as writers, broadcasters and content creators.
Sports Media LGBT+ is a network group for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, and their allies. Set up by Holmes back in 2017, it has over 70 core members in a wide range of journalism and comms roles. The group also creates content for major media outlets, produces resources, and offers a range of consultancy services for organisations.
Part of its portfolio is the Football v Homophobia Podcast, which supports the long-running campaign that tackles anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in the game.
FvH and Sports Media LGBT+ also operate the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football Collective, which is bringing together people in pro or semi-pro roles in the game – such as players, coaches, match officials and administrators – who are from the community or who are active allies.
The FWA is proud to support this important work. If you’re interested in finding out more about LGBT+ inclusion, whether how that relates to football media or the wider football industry, or if you’re LGBT+ yourself and would like to grow your own network, please enquire by email to info@sportsmedialgbt.com.
The FvH Podcast episode on Pride and the Women’s World Cup explores the guests’ careers to date; their memories of previous tournaments and the iconic players who have inspired them; the preparations in Australia and New Zealand for the ninth WWC and how the competition and atmosphere will differ from Qatar 2022; plus other talking points, all through a rainbow-tinted lens.
Click here to access or search ‘Football v Homophobia’ wherever you get your podcasts.
Happy Pride to everyone in the FWA family!
