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#Post#: 36843--------------------------------------------------
Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: January 23, 2020, 12:53 pm
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HARLEQUINS LAUNCH FIRST EVER LGBTQ+ PRIDE FIXTURE
HTML https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-launch-first-ever-lgbtq-pride-fixture/
Thursday, 23rd January 2020 @ 14:48
HARLEQUINS’ GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP FIXTURE AGAINST LONDON IRISH
ON 15TH FEBRUARY 2020, (KICK OFF 15:00) HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS
THE INAUGURAL LGBTQ+ PRIDE GAME.
Following on from Premiership Rugby’s Rainbow Laces campaign in
December 2019, Harlequins will become the first professional
rugby club to host an LGBTQ+ Pride game, in an innovative step
to break down barriers and drive inclusivity.
As part of LGBT History Month, the fixture is designed to be a
celebration of diversity within a sport known for acceptance and
progress and Harlequins wants to champion inclusivity as a club,
show support for the LGBTQ+ community, and use the Club’s
platform to positively impact the experience of the LGBTQ+
people within the sports space.
The purpose of the game is to further demonstrate the Club’s
commitment to creating an inclusive environment, continue to
emphasise that rugby is a sport for everyone and communicate
that Harlequins welcomes supporters from all backgrounds.
In addition to the Club’s matchday commitment, The Harlequins
Foundation has partnered with Monash University to conduct
historic research to support efforts to promote inclusion within
community rugby clubs and are aiming to develop education
programmes to tackle sexist and homophobic language, which would
be delivered throughout the year.
Harlequins’ Club Captain Chris Robshaw said: “It’s genuinely
brilliant to see Harlequins take this step to help tackle stigma
and drive inclusivity within our game.
“I speak on behalf of the whole playing group in supporting this
fantastic initiative and truly hope that we can help the LGBTQ+
community realise that sport is a safe environment that all can
enjoy.”
Harlequins is currently working to develop the matchday
experience which will include a panel from leading individuals
working in sports in the LGBTQ+ community and further
information will be released by the Club in the coming weeks.
#Post#: 36844--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: January 23, 2020, 1:02 pm
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Do these virtue signalling affairs actually change or improve
anything?
#Post#: 36846--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Mayor West
Date: January 23, 2020, 1:08 pm
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Yes
#Post#: 36848--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Quins_on_Toast
Date: January 23, 2020, 1:36 pm
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Yes they do
#Post#: 36849--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: InsertQuinsPunHere
Date: January 23, 2020, 1:37 pm
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Difficult to phrase this right, so please be forgiving...
What exactly do events like this do to promote or drive change,
and how?
I am very much a liberal, have grown up in locations and
settings with a diverse group of people, and have no issue with
people's gender decisions, nor their sexualities. I'd like
nothing more than for our society to continue progressing.
But I'm a scientist at heart, and like to delve into the things
I don't understand or know little about. And I know little about
what benefit comes from simply naming a game "LGBTQ+ friendly"
(for that is how my naive understanding perceives this).
(And having written all this, perhaps at least one benefit is
people like me asking questions and learning more... )
#Post#: 36852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: DOK
Date: January 23, 2020, 2:42 pm
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I think maybe (and I have no expertise/experience of this) you
need to look at it from the other side. If you are LGBTQ+(thank
you, I never know how many letters that is!) then what does it
mean to hear a rugby game is labelled LGBQT+ friendly? Perhaps
you quite like rugby, perhaps you watch the 6N and RWC when its
on, but perhaps you've always been a bit leary of going to a
premiership game because of the belief that rugby crowds are
somewhat homophobic.
This could be enough to make you come to a game, see what a nice
tolerant (Unless you're an LGBQT+ Saracens supporter - and then
we're quite happy with the LGBTQ+ thing!) bunch of people we
are, see how irrelevant your sexuality is for rugby supporters.
Certainly, if anyone out there would like to come to a
Harlequins game but is worried their sexuality might be an
issue, then we're not giving off the right vibe for how
tolerant/inclusive we are as spectators/a club. If the club
chooses to emphasise this, then I'm all for it.
#Post#: 36857--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Comet
Date: January 23, 2020, 3:24 pm
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Well done Quins. Really proud of our club.
It's important to champion good causes, raise awareness and help
to make the world a more understanding place.
#Post#: 36858--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Mayor West
Date: January 23, 2020, 3:31 pm
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These events help the LBGTQ community to feel more accepted and
included without prejudice whilst hopefully educating those that
might need to be. For example, if your idea of rugger was
blazers and toffs singing obscene songs and drinking too much
then you would probably avoid it if you were from the LBGTQ...
community. But if your local Premiership rugby club promoted an
event such as we have then you might turn up to have a look
whilst feeling comfortable and realise that today’s modern rugby
is nothing like the old school. You could see that it’s
inclusive with a relaxed atmosphere (mostly) exciting,
entertaining and there is also a Women’s team. You might even
come back again . Everybody wins.
#Post#: 36862--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: dogger
Date: January 23, 2020, 4:38 pm
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Good that we still have a few weeks to increase the number of
gender-neutral facilities around the ground.
#Post#: 36864--------------------------------------------------
Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
DIR By: Quinky
Date: January 23, 2020, 5:17 pm
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In my playing days I played alongside, and against non-straight
people. I've watched games with people who are gay. Never known
there to be an issue where someone didn't feel welcome or
included. As for the banter, most gay people that I've met are
pretty strong on that and don't mind jokes at their expense - in
my experience, groups of friends usually joke about each other,
finding a specific characteristic/trait/taste to make fun of.
It's humour. I also get that some people on the outside of these
groups don't like what might be termed ribald humour... but
that's their issue.
My point is that I agree that this smacks of virtue signalling.
What really is the point? Making people feel welcome, when
they're already welcome.
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