THE PFA and charity, Time for Inclusive Education (TIE), have highlighted the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in football, having a conducted a recent presentation to the Youth Academy players at Rangers.
The two bodies were joined by footballer Zander Murray to provide a workshop to help educate the Under 18s side and make them aware of potential issues that they may encounter in their future careers.
The Bonnyrigg Rose forward, who came out as the first openly gay footballer in Scotland back in September, shared his story and says how important it is to speak to young players at clubs such as Rangers to help spread awareness of potential issues within football community.
He said: “I felt it was important because me growing up, I didn't have any role models, I didn't have anyone to look up to, I know how difficult it was for me and I felt if I did that, then hopefully I can help the younger generation to not quit football or not stop just because of who they are.
“I am just glad that I have been given this platform that I now can help others and I have got my chance as well to play in the [professional] leagues, and I am just delighted to now live my true, authentic self and help people, that is the main aim.
“It is important for [the young players] to be leaders on and off the pitch as their first team are, it really means a lot to me to be doing this work, because you don't know what one of the boys are going through, one of the boys might be going through the same thing I did.
“Also, it is for the boys to be aware of things you could be saying in the dressing room, and to get a real-life example of how difficult it can be, so hopefully that helps them and gives them some tools as well to help players if they are going through what I did.”
The striker has stated the support he has revealed throughout the football community has been positive ever since coming out but insists there is still work to be done to tackle the issue moving forward.
He continued: “Overall it has been positive, there is work to be done there is no doubt about that, mainly with the fans. There are two ends to it, when fans are doing it either on Twitter or at a stadium, with not just me but to anyone, they are probably not realising the hurt they could be giving to somebody that is sitting right next to them or someone on the pitch that is struggling with their sexuality.
“They just need more aware, you will get the few that are just intentionally wanting to mean harm, but I am of the opinion that a lot of it is just a lack of education, they are not meaning any harm, they are just so passionate about the game that they are going to shout anything, so I hope I can be a part of that change.”
David McCracken of the PFA feels it is equally important to help spread the message across the country and feels it is key to conduct the presentation to players at a young age.
He said: “I think the importance of the presentation and having Zander there with Liam and Graham from Tie is crucial, we want to raise that awareness, we want to raise the understanding of how important it is and the language that we use in changing rooms and on the pitch.
“Hopefully that breeds and it goes into the fans, it is massively important but it is has been great, the interaction from the players has been super, and obviously hearing Zander's story as well and how important his journey has been from where he was to where he is now has been really important.
“It is crucial to make them aware because we want to change where they are at just now, we don't want them to get to a place where it becomes the normality where they speak like that or they hear language like that and they think that it is ok.
“That is exactly what we want to change. If you hear it then stand up and support your teammate or support your friend to make that change, we have made early steps in that.”