Scottish football clubs will extend a welcome to LGBTI supporters on the opening day of the season as part of a drive to make the game more inclusive.
The initiative, which will see a message published in every Premiership matchday programme, will welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex fans.
The advert is a joint initiative between LGBTI charity the Equality Network and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and is supported by SPFL title sponsor Ladbrokes.
Scott Cuthbertson, Development Manager of the Equality Network said: “We want to send the message loud and clear that LGBTI fans, players and officials are welcome in Scottish football, and that we are working for a more inclusive game.
“We don’t yet have any openly LGBTI professional players in the men’s professional game in Scotland but we know there are plenty of LGBTI fans, so we want to put out the welcome mat and encourage fans to help remove any barriers, so that footballing talent are welcome to come out in future.”
Hala Ousta, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at the Scottish Football Association said: “The Scottish Football Association is committed to ensuring football is accessible to all and we support this initiative to welcome all supporters.
“We want to create an inclusive environment and ensure all are treated fairly and will be working with groups such as the Equality Network to support our work towards better diversity and inclusion.”
David Macdonald of Ladbrokes said: “We are delighted to be supporting this initiative to reinforce our view that Scottish football is, and always will be, open to all fans who love the sport as much as we do”.
The advert states ‘Plays for the other team… Supports yours’, and goes on to say ‘Scottish football welcomes its LGBTI fans’, using a rainbow flag football design.
The adverts feature in the programmes of the Hearts v Celtic; Kilmarnock v Motherwell; Partick Thistle v Inverness CT; Rangers v Hamilton Accies; and Ross County v Dundee matches on Saturday 6th August and the St Johnstone v Aberdeen match on Sunday 7th August.
