Honorary president of the Gay Gooners supporters group, comedian and actor Matt Lucas, spoke at half-time during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brighton.
Patron of the Gay Gooners supporters group, comedian and actor Matt Lucas, spoke at half time during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brighton, a club that’s suffered from an horrendous amount of homophobic abuse over the years due to their city’s support of the LGBT+ community in hosting Gay Pride.
The life-long Gooner praised Arsenal for their inclusivity and was positive regarding the direction that football seems to be headed when it comes to homophobia in the sport. He insists that it’s improved over recent years.
He also recalled watching the Gunners as a child and revealed that he has an Arsenal carpet in his house.
Look out for our Patron (aka "gaytron") @RealMattLucas giving the half time talk at the #emiratestadium tomorrow! #ArsenalforEveryone pic.twitter.com/zu3sxQaQ9X
— Arsenal's LGBT fans (@gaygooners) September 30, 2017
Matt spoke movingly and honestly in celebration of the Gunners’ Arsenal for Everyone event.
A study reported by Sky Sports back in August found that 72% of football fans have witnessed homophobic abuse at a game. Although it was also found that nine in 10 fans would be proud or neutral if their favourite player was to come out.
While ignorance towards members of the LGBT+ community is still rife in football, it is showing signs of slowing down.
In August, Leicester banned two fans from the King Power Stadium after they were heard chanting homophobic abuse at Brighton fans. This is what all clubs need to be doing.