Brody's Journal... The World Cup Kiss Off

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) June 25 | Whether you are football crazy or not it won’t have escaped your attention that the planet is currently gripped by World Cup fever. However, with no openly gay professional footballers, homophobia is often cited as the beautiful game's "last taboo". While it's great to see so much male bonding after a goal celebration, there is also a positive action to kick out homophobia -  especially from football.

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation's Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia campaign wants to bring together football fans wherever they are, as well as those who may be looking for other ways to entertain themselves during The World Cup and encourage them to join in 'The World Cup Kiss Off’.  From the Manchester, UK based LGBT charity organisation comes this press release:

"Whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or are a straight ally, we’d love you to send us videos and pictures of you and your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, partner or loved ones puckering up against homophobia."

Why this is important

Justin Fashanu played for Norwich City and Nottingham Forest and was the first black footballer to command a £1,000,000 transfer fee – he was also the first professional footballer to come out as gay. Justin’s immense bravery is still evident today, 12 years after his tragic suicide he remains the only professional footballer ever to come out.

Eudy Similane, might not be quite as well known as Justin in football circles, but they were both footballers and were both gay. Eudy played for South Africa’s women’s football team and was brave enough to live openly as a lesbian in her township in Johannesburg in the face of fear and oppression. Eudy was murdered in April 2008; she was gang-raped, brutally beaten and then stabbed in the face, chest and legs 25 times.

Justin and Eudy’s stories highlight that there are lesbian, gay, and bisexual people all over the world facing persecution. So no matter where you are, no matter who you are supporting in South Africa this World Cup , let’s come together, take positive action and say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia.

People can send their videos and pictures of their World Cup kisses to enough@lgf.org.uk, and at the end of the tournament we’ll send them the film of all the people around the world who have been puckering up against homophobia throughout this World Cup.

For more information about the World Cup Kiss Off contact Joanne.Dunning@lgf.org.uk, or call 0161 235 8006.

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) is a charity based in Manchester offering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay and bisexual communities throughout the North West. For more information, visit www.lgf.org.uk, or call during office hours on 0161 235 8035.