'Visibility isn’t enough': So what do LGBTQ football fans want? With Rainbow Devils and Proud Forest
For the first time in more than seven years, LGBTQ supporters’ groups from across British football are gathering for a major event.
There are now more than 50 groups within the Pride in Football alliance, and at ‘Stronger Together’ in Nottingham on October 3, the rise in reports of homophobia in the game and recently introduced EHRC guidance will be among the talking points.
On this episode of the FvH Podcast, two LGBTQ fan group leaders join host Jon Holmes to preview the event and share their stories.
Cass Hyde is the co-chair of Rainbow Devils, Manchester United’s group, and also a Pride in Football committee member. She has advice for trans and non-binary fans and explains why the new LGBTQ Supporters’ Group Toolkit is such a valuable resource.
Martin Hyland founded Proud Forest in 2023; earlier this year, he collected an FvH Award on behalf of the group for its impactful work. He talks about the importance of making regional connections and has a message for any newcomers thinking about attending in Nottingham.
The FvH Podcast is produced by Sports Media LGBT+.
Links…
Rainbow Devils - https://rainbowdevils.com/ (https://rainbowdevils.com/)
Proud Forest- https://proudforest.co.uk/ (https://proudforest.co.uk/)
Pride in Football - https://www.prideinfootball.org.uk/ (https://www.prideinfootball.org.uk/)
‘Stronger Together’ on Oct 3: Info and tickets - https://thefsa.org.uk/event/the-forum-stronger-together/ (https://thefsa.org.uk/event/the-forum-stronger-together/)
Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ (https://sportsmedialgbt.com/)
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We're at @football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can find us on other social platforms too. Our website is https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ (https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/)
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24 Jun 2026
Gay former footballer Ouissem Belgacem on his impact in France, the World Cup Pride Match, and his sporting heroes
How many talented players give up on football at a young age because of homophobia? Ouissem Belgacem was one of those players, a highly-rated defender in Toulouse’s academy and a Tunisia youth international. But he quit football, aged just 20, pushed out by the sport he still loves.
Belgacem is now one of the most influential LGBTQ voices in France. He’s an author, public speaker and now a documentary film-maker, and he’s just been named on the Outsports Soccer Power 26 (https://www.outsports.com/2026/6/11/24134803/world-cup-2026-outsports-soccer-power-26-lgbtq-leaders/) list of impactful LGBTQ people in the men’s game, from around the world.
In 2021, he gave FvH Podcast host Jon Holmes an exclusive feature interview for Sky Sports (https://www.skysports.com/football/story-telling/11095/12337686/ouissem-belgacem-on-growing-up-gay-in-french-football-turning-shame-into-pride-and-fighting-homophobia). Five years later, Jon and Ouissem reunite for a conversation about his inspirational work, his disappointment in the French league and FIFA, his thoughts on the World Cup and the ‘Pride Match’ between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, and why his current role-model athletes come from tennis and basketball, not football.
Tune in to hear from one a former footballer who didn’t just come out publicly as gay but has now dedicated his life to making the game better for the next generation.
“I'm not sure I feel proud of being gay or being Arab. I think what I'm proud of is the journey I took to be OK with who I am and to celebrate my identities."
Please support the FvH Podcast by leaving a rating and a review. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share far and wide to help us build our audience.
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Links
Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ (https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/)
Ouissem on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ouissembelgacem (https://www.instagram.com/ouissembelgacem)
Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden (https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden)
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com (https://www.free-stock-music.com)
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
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8 Jun 2026
Pride and the 2026 World Cup: What should our LGBTQ football goals be?
The build-up to the 2026 World Cup has been stormy and turbulent… any sign of a rainbow?
Possibly! Football unites the world (apparently) - and as always, LGBTQ+ football folks look set to make themselves seen and heard during the biggest sports event on Planet Earth.
This special episode of the FvH Podcast looks at the Men’s World Cup through a queer lens. Host Jon Holmes (https://bsky.app/profile/jonhholmes.bsky.social) from FvH and Sports Media LGBT+ is joined by:
Becky Thompson: (https://www.instagram.com/beckythompson16/) A London-based Canadian sports journalist covering the impact of the World Cup on the LGBTQ+ community, for Sky Sports
Dr. Nas Mohamed: (https://www.instagram.com/dr._nass) A Qatari-American LGBTQ+ rights activist based in the Bay Area, who is spearheading a new World Cup campaign
Marion Reimers: (https://www.instagram.com/lareimers) An award-winning Mexican sports broadcaster and prominent women's and LGBTQ+ rights campaigner
Eric Wahl: (https://bsky.app/profile/ericwahl.bsky.social) An LGBTQ+ advocate, educator, and Seattle Pride Match Impact Committee member, based in another of the U.S. host cities, Kansas City
Whether you’re excited for the tournament or have complex feelings about this World Cup, this Pride-themed episode offers vital perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else.
Don't forget to share, subscribe, rate, and review!
Links...
Football v Homophobia - footballvhomophobia.com (http://footballvhomophobia.com)
Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/ (https://sportsmedialgbt.com/)
Becky’s World Cup reporting on Sky Sports - https://sportsmedialgbt.short.gy/41Lz1O (https://sportsmedialgbt.short.gy/41Lz1O)
‘Love is the Goal’ on Alwan Foundation - https://www.alwanfoundation.org/ (https://www.alwanfoundation.org/)
(https://sportsmedialgbt.com/)
Me & You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden (https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden)
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com (https://www.free-stock-music.com)
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US)
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