Arsenal Football Club are celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month in February. The club will mark the event officially at two fixtures, the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and the Premier League home game against Brentford.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: A rainbow flag is seen as clubs show support for the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on November 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 27: A rainbow flag is seen as clubs show support for the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on November 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the GayGooners supporters’ group, which exists to unite LGBTQ+ Arsenal supporters and allies around the world. GayGooners has grown from being the first LGBTQ+ supporters’ club in football to the largest of its kind in the world.

The group has worked to spread the message that love is love and to ensure visibility for the LGBTQ+ community in football and beyond. Co-chair Carl Fearn said that GayGooners is like family to him, and the diversity in the group reflects an ‘Arsenal for Everyone’.

Arsenal in the Community has taken an active role in providing LGBTQ+ education and tackling homophobia. The community team is trained by Stonewall to deliver LGBTQ+ awareness sessions to staff and community groups, and they are delivering education sessions in local primary schools in partnership with Camden and Islington LGBT Forum.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Martin Oedegaard of Arsenal runs with the ball wearing the Rainbow Laces captains armband during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Martin Oedegaard of Arsenal runs with the ball wearing the Rainbow Laces captains armband during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at Friends Provident St. Mary’s Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The club has also partnered with Adidas to create the Adidas x Arsenal Love Unites kit, inspired by the activists of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. In July 2022, the club sent off GayGooners with a special send-off by the men’s players as they participated in the Pride in London Parade.

Everyone in the Arsenal family can make a difference by having conversations, listening to others, understanding the stigma that still surrounds the LGBTQ+ community, and calling out discriminatory behaviour when they see it.

The club’s actions this month builds on its continued support for Stonewall and the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign to eradicate homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia from football.

Arsenal asks supporters at Emirates Stadium to report any form of discrimination and abuse by texting 67777 with their block, row, and seat number.