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Author Topic: Quins breaking new ground again...  (Read 726 times)

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Fearless Fred

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Quins breaking new ground again...
« on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 18:53* »
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.

MaidstoneQuin

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 19:02* »
Do these virtue signalling affairs actually change or improve anything?
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Mayor West

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 19:08* »
Yes
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Quins_on_Toast

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 19:36* »
Yes they do
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InsertQuinsPunHere

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 19:37* »
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... )
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DOK

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 20:42* »
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.
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Comet

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 21:24* »
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.
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Mayor West

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 21:31* »
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.
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Quartered

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 22:38* »
Good that we still have a few weeks to increase the number of gender-neutral facilities around the ground.

Quinky

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #9 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 23:17* »
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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Quins_on_Toast

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #10 on: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 23:35* »
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.

Let's leave it to the words of one of several very positive commenters on Facebook:

"As a LGBTQ+ Season Ticket holder along with my GF & Bestie I look forward to it.
I know there will be people who can’t see a need for you to do this. I hope they enjoy the day & can respect how important this will be to others, even if they don’t understand it themselves.
It’s hard to put into words how much this truly means to me. Like many I struggled to accept myself & I know seeing support like this will help those currently struggling.
While I’ve always felt safe to be myself at the Stoop, elsewhere I have had Homophobic abuse from strangers just for being myself.
In regards to the day itself I look forward to finding out what the day will entail."

Not everything has to appeal to each of you to be worthwhile.
« Last Edit: Thursday 23-Jan-2020, 23:39* by Quins_on_Toast »
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InsertQuinsPunHere

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Re: Quins breaking new ground again...
« Reply #11 on: Friday 24-Jan-2020, 06:55* »
Thank you all those who helped improve my understanding.

QoT, I agree that something doesn't have to appeal to me to be worthwhile; for the record that wasn't my point.

So spreading the word and demonstrating that the club is inclusive appears to be the order of the day... Grand. :-)
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