Following the launch of the Government’s Charter for Action on Tackling Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport http://www.facebook.com/lgbtsportcharter yesterday, LGBT Sports Equity Organisation, Pride Sports, launched a new award to acknowledge the work of sports organisations making progress in this area. The new award is launched as part of the Pride Games Community Sports Awards, which each year celebrate the achievements of LGBT sports groups in the UK.

Lou Englefield, one of Pride Sports’ Founding Directors explains:

“We wanted to support the Charter in a tangible way and to give National Governing Bodies of Sport and other sports organisations something to aim for over the next twelve months. The Award will celebrate the achievements of sports bodies which sign up to the Government’s Charter and the steps they take to make sport a safer, more positive place for LGBT people over the next twelve months.”

The award will be given annually and applications for this year’s award will open in October 2011. The winner will be announced at the Pride Games Dinner in February 2012, LGBT History Month here in the UK. Judges on the independent panel will include Sarah Williams, Equality & Diversity Manager at the Rugby Football League (RFL), the National Governing Body at the forefront of the national campaign against homophobia and transphobia in sport, who comments:

“I’m thrilled to be part of the judging panel for this award. At Rugby League we are delighted to support any initiative within any sport, from grass roots to the professional game which challenges homophobia and transphobia”

The announcement comes after the hugely successful rugby league match on Sunday between Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Widnes Vikings RLFC, during which Sheffield Eagles players wore a kit carrying an anti-homophobia message sponsored by Pride Sports and LGBT History Month.

www.pridesports.org