Over 800 footballers in Germany have joined a campaign, set up by sporting magazine 11Freunde, pledging to support LGBTQ+ players in the game where queer people have historically been discriminated against.
According to a 2017 BBC report, many LGBTQ+ football fans reported experiencing harassment when attending games. While movements such as Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign have seen more people push for inclusivity in sports, Germany’s professional football leagues continue to lack LGBTQ+ visibility.
From 11FreundeIn a bid to change this, the group of German 800 players signed an collective statement reading: “It’s now 2021 – and still there is not a single openly gay football professional in the men’s game in Germany.